Leesburg, Va. — For most high school student-athletes, playing in a state championship game is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But, for the girls who play volleyball at Loudoun County High School, it has become more of a routine. Despite the expectation they’ve created for themselves to not only play in, but win, a state championship every season, the opportunity to play in a game of that magnitude isn’t any less exciting and winning one isn’t any less memorable. And that couldn’t have been more true as the Captains won their ninth straight volleyball state title—this one a VHSL…

Ashburn, Va. — In one of the oddest seasons of high school football on record, the Briar Woods High School football team was excited to suit up when it mattered most: the playoffs. Led by a core group of seniors, the No. 2 Falcons executed in all three phases of the game to cruise to a, 26-8, win over No. 3 Woodgrove in a VHSL Region 5C semifinal on April 9 in Ashburn. The Briar Woods’ offense was slow to get going as senior quarterback Christian Greene threw an interception in the Falcons’ first-and-only possession of the first quarter. However,…

Leesburg, Va. — A pass by sophomore libero Alayna Johnson, a set by junior setter Sarah Jordan, and a monster kill by senior middle Ella Solomon on the first play of the game really set the tone for the Captains. And in front of a capped but sold out crowd, No. 1 Loudoun County used the energy from that first play to dismantle No. 2 Loudoun Valley—25-16, 25-14, 25-15—to claim their eleventh straight Dulles District tournament title on April 8 in Leesburg. “It’s just the best feeling to have worked hard and have that hard work pay off,” Solomon said.…

Purcellville, Va. — After defeating the Titans in their regular season matchup, the Loudoun Valley Vikings knew they would have their work cut out for them against a tenacious Dominion defense which defends every part of the floor and can hit at all six positions. However, led by senior hitter Faith Nguyen, senior middle Kayla Bolen, and junior setter Rebecca Nguyen, the Vikings were able to navigate past the Titans—25-18, 25-21, 25-18—on April 6 in Purcellville. “My girls played every ball, they were going after every ball. We have such a great group of kids. They’ve worked really hard to…

Purcellville, Va. — A lot of the time, football is about winning the battle in the trenches: who can slowly and steadily control the clock, the running game, and the line of scrimmage. Other times, it’s the big play that makes all the difference. Well, in their regular season finale the Woodgrove High School football team did a good job running the football and used two big chunk plays to get on the board while their defense did enough to hold off Potomac Falls—spoiling the Panthers’ region playoff hopes—20-13, on April 3 in Purcellville. “We’ve been in some competitive games…

Purcellville, Va. — Daughter. Sister. Athlete. Friend. Maddie Elias has always strived to be the best she can be in all aspects of her life. The Loudoun Valley High School senior is the daughter of a PGA professional and former Division I softball player. Athletics is in her blood. Growing up, softball was her passion, and she would spend hours and hours every week honing her craft alongside her sisters Erika and Natalie, and at one time, she had dreams of playing college softball. Her freshman year at Loudoun Valley, Elias made the varsity softball team where she helped the…