What to Watch For
1) Beach Baby – The top three teams are from the Beach District, and almost in the same order as at the end of 2024. Kellam, with 2024 757Teamz Player of the Year Joel Eanes, Austin Makovec, and a host of key contributors, won the Class 6 state title at VCU last season. However, they lost six seniors, including Eanes and Makovec. Yet after a sweep at last weekend’s Jamboree, hosted by Great Bridge, they will retain the top slot. First Colonial returns 16 players, including last year’s first team selection Bo Sawyer, and kill specialist Zia Peterson, and will begin the season at the second spot. Kempsville, with Wyatt Strawbridge coming back, fills the #3 spot.
2) Heritage and the Peninsula District – The top four teams were 11-5 out-of-district last season, including the state playoffs. With Heritage leading the way, the PD looks to become more of a force among the Hampton Roads elite. The Hurricanes, and Denbigh Patriots qualified for the Class 1-4 state tournament (as did Lakeland and Churchland). Churchland knocked out Denbigh with a 3-1 win in the semis, but Heritage captured the East Region, knocking off the Truckers in the region final with a 3-0 sweep.
3) Private influence – In 2024, only Catholic (8-4) stood in the final 757Teamz rankings, and that was as a “Team to Watch,” heading into the playoffs. Can a Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) break into the rankings?
4) Jamboree – the season started in rare form, with Friday’s Jamboree, held in Chesapeake. Great Bridge coach Bryan Stambaugh got the idea from Denbigh, who held a similar tournament up until 2018. After it dissolved, Stambaugh got together with GB athletic director Matthew Small to revive the concept of a top-tier tournament every August. Now in its third year, the Jamboree saw eight of the top teams in the 757 region do battle against each other in four two-set matches with Kellam, the area’s top-ranked team, going 4-0 and winning all eight sets to prove themselves as the cream of the crop team in late August.
5) State rankings – Speaking of the Knights, one season after Kellam was the nation’s top-ranked team, it will be interesting to see who is included this year. First Colonial finished at #26, Granby at #29, Kempsville at #34, and Grassfield at #49 to round out the Hampton Roads squads in the Top 50.
The Fabulous Five
1) Wyatt Strawbridge – Kempsville senior setter – Strawbridge tallied 186 kills, 92 aces, 289 assists, 44 blocks and 112 digs for the Chiefs, while earning All-Class 6 and All-Region A first team selections.
2) Bo Sawyer – First Colonial senior outside hitter – Sawyer was also a first team selection for All-Class 6 and All-Region A. The Patriot captain nailed 376 kills to lead Kempsville to a Top 5 ranking in last year’s final 757Teamz poll.
3) Gabe Sol – Granby senior middle blocker – Sol has been a force for the Comets over the past two seasons, and with the graduation of AJ Angeles, he will take over the leadership role for Granby. On the side, he is also the top runner for the cross-country team this fall.
4) Andrew Burke – Grassfield senior outside hitter – Burke led the Grizzlies with 205 kills and 45 aces while earning All-Region and Second Team All-State honors.
5) Marcus Dozier – Heritage – The 6-foot-1 outside hitter scored more than 240 kills last season to highlight the Hurricanes surge. The reigning 2024 Region 4 East Player of the Year is a prime example of an outstanding athlete who happens to play volleyball, as the senior also plays basketball and was an outdoor Class 4 All-State track standout with bests of 6’5” in the high jump and 22’8” in the long jump.
Top 15 Teams (last season’s record)
1. Kellam (28-1) – The reigning Class 6 champion and national #1 team (according to MaxPreps) lost 757Teamz Player of the Year Joel Eanes, Austin Makovec and a host of seniors, but the Knights appear to be rolling along just fine. Junior Dylan Calkins (OH, MH) had 118 kills and 36 aces on last year’s team, and with the Pyka brothers, Nathan and Bennett, make for the core of a solid Kellam unit. Nathan led the team in digs (169) last year, while Bennett totaled an astounding 905 assists to lead coach Aaron Campbell’s team, which has started 4-0 after the Jamboree.
2. Kempsville (23-4) – Strawbridge stirs the drink for the Chiefs, but he has ample help. Junior Trent Beeson is a force as the outside hitter, with 175 kills in 2024. The cross-court lob for kill from Strawbridge to Beeson could be one of the most important combinations in Hampton Roads. Senior Rylan Patterson is a strong defensive setter who gets the ball to the front for the Chief combo.
3. First Colonial (20-4) – With 16 returning players, and Bo Sawyer as the team captain, it’s hard to ignore the Patriots when considering the top boys’ team in Hampton Roads. Sawyer led last year’s team with 376 kills. “Every year he has gotten bigger, better, and stronger,” states coach Austin Mehl. Not far behind is junior outside hitter Zia Peterson, who is just an inch shorter than Sawyer at 6-2. Peterson scored 324 kills last year, and the two are confident and persistent around the net. Senior middle Brian Rizzi broke his ankle the day before the playoffs last year, and it hurt FC as they suffered a pair of losses to Indian River. Says Mehl, “This team is hungry for revenge. Senior libero Lucas Hills is a key three-year starter.
4. Granby (25-3) – Comet coach Michelle Neaves returns a good core of players from last year’s Class 6 state semi-finalists. Along with Sol, senior setter Will Findlay “has accepted and stepped into AJ Angeles role beautifully,” notes Neaves. Six-foot-five opposite hitter Andrew Hunter could be an All-State candidate and significant roles will be filled by seniors Alijah Lamp (OH), libero Davis Mendoza, and middle backer Brandon Layne.
5. Heritage (18-6) - under coach Nehemiah Carter, the Hurricanes improved from 11-12 to 18-6 last season, ending with a state playoff berth that was eventually ended by Mechanicsville. With two returning Class 4 All-State second teamers in Dozier and Isaac Ward-Payton, the Canes may be ready to take the next step – meaning a win or two in the Class 1-4 state volleyball finals, which will be held on November 22 at Virginia State University. Of his dynamic duo, Coach Carter says, “Ward-Payton, fresh off a season with 170-plus kills, provides a powerful complement to Dozier’s offensive game.”
6. Kecoughtan (19-2) – The team to challenge Heritage in the Peninsula District, as well as the defending PD champions. Key cogs look to be Gavin Holbrooks (Jr., OH/OPP), Isaiah Vette (Soph., OH) and senior setter Hunter Lively.
7. Grassfield (15-6) – Along with Burke, the Grizzlies return five important players from last season’s state playoff quarter finalists. Caedan Agustin led the team with 500 assists and was a first team All-Region 6A. Owen Griffiths has moved from defensive setter to libero. Sophomores Shayne Wallen and Marcus Berry will share time in the middle, replacing Colton Amerson, a junior who is moving to opposite hitter. Amerson had 41 kills and 17 blocks in 2024, marks that coach Paul Emler feels he will improve upon.
8. Warwick (16-7) – Another potential challenger at the top of the PD.
9. Maury (17-6) – Granby’s biggest threat in the Eastern District.
10. Menchville (18-4) – The last of four Peninsula teams crowding the top of the district standings. Could the Monarchs be the last PD team standing in Class 5 this November?
11. Hickory (14-7) – The Hawks pulled off a 5-3 record at the Jamboree and placed a surprising second, giving the Southeastern District a finalist among their Beach District brethren.
12. Western Branch (16-6) – The Bruins will rely on senior 757Teamz honorable mention players Elijah Quintana and Billy Marietta to bolster a potentially strong showing in the Southeastern District.
T-13. Indian River (13-11) and Great Bridge (13-10) – the Jamboree host Wildcats and Braves tied in their final match at last Friday’s tournament. Both teams finished 2-2 for the day, squaring off in a fifth-place match of two sets that saw each team win a set by two points. No separation yet.
15. Princess Anne (17-8) – Coach Jeff Kinzer lost most of his starting lineup from last year’s senior-laden team. It could be tough rowing for the Cavaliers, who had a rocky start at the Jamboree losing their first three matches before defeating Cox in the seventh-place game.
Others to Watch: Norview (9-5), Churchland (10-13), Denbigh (11-12), Catholic (8-4).
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