Congratulations to all MVSA players in the MCPS 3A and 4A Finals and Semifinals!
As the 2024 high school volleyball season wraps up, we want to extend a huge congratulations to all MVSA players who participated this year. Whether competing at the Varsity, JV, or freshman level, your dedication and passion for the sport have been inspiring! Read More
It takes a tremendous amount of hard work, countless hours of practice, and unwavering determination to compete in high school volleyball. This year, many MVSA athletes showcased their skills on the biggest stages, making notable contributions in the 4A and 3A divisions during the semifinals and finals.
Here are the varsity player highlights from our MVSA teams in the 3A and 4A Montgomery County finals and semi-final matches:
- 4A State Champions – Richard Montgomery High School
- 4A State Semifinalist – Winston Churchill High School
- 3A State Finalist – Thomas S. Wooton High School
To every player, whether your season ended with a championship match or a hard-fought game along the way—well done, ladies! MVSA is proud of each of you for representing our community and showing what determination and teamwork can achieve.
Keep striving for greatness both on and off the court. We look forward to seeing even more amazing accomplishments in the seasons ahead!
| Team | Player's Name | High School |
|---|---|---|
|
18 Chaos |
Corinne Howard | Richard Montgomery HS |
| Ema Djordjevic | Richard Montgomery HS | |
| Isabella Brennan | Richard Montgomery HS | |
| Kareena Rathnam | Winston Churchill HS | |
| Sherry Ye | Winston Churchill HS | |
| 18 Mavericks | Hadley Mongan | Richard Montgomery HS |
| Hannalee Chevez | Winston Churchill HS | |
| Lilly Zimerman | Thomas S. Wootton HS | |
| 17 Blaze | Charlotte Deraleau | Winston Churchill HS |
| Elizabeth Mitchell | Richard Montgomery HS | |
| Sara Foster | Thomas S. Wootton HS | |
| Shawnie Wang | Winston Churchill HS | |
| 17 Storm | Eleanor Acheson | Winston Churchill HS |
| Hannah Flood | Winston Churchill HS | |
| Julia Kleinbussink | Thomas S. Wootton HS | |
| Laila Specht | Winston Churchill HS | |
| 16 Sparks | Ana Djordjevic | Richard Montgomery HS |
| Haile Ma | Thomas S. Wootton HS | |
| Lucille Deraleau | Winston Churchill HS | |
| Meera Patel | Winston Churchill HS | |
| Siyena Fitsum | Winston Churchill HS | |
| 16 Fusion | Mariam Saleh | Winston Churchill HS |
| Saesha Dhote | Richard Montgomery HS |
And Congratulations to the Richard Montgomery Rockets as Repeat Maryland Class 4A Volleyball Champions!
It was a season for the history books, with a perfect 20-0 run that solidified the Richard Montgomery Rockets as one of the top performing Maryland high school volleyball squads. Led by Ema Djordjevic (MVSA 18 Chaos), the reigning Montgomery County Player of the Year, and Corinne Howard (MVSA 18 Chaos), the dominant senior middle, the Rockets captured their second consecutive Maryland Class 4A Volleyball State Championship, completing an undefeated season that showed just how dominant they were on the court.
Even though the final was a lopsided affair, the journey to that point had not been without its challenges. The Rockets had a target on their backs, as defending champions often do, and their perfect season had not been easy. In fact, their most harrowing test came in the state semifinals against the Winston Churchill Bulldogs, a team that had already shown its own resilience earlier in the season. Down 2-0 in sets, Churchill fought back with everything they had, winning the third and fourth sets, and thus – Churchill roared into the fifth set with a 9-5 lead and later a 12-10 advantage. The Rockets, seemingly on the brink of collapse, found a way to dig deep. It was a thrilling back-and-forth, but in the end, Richard Montgomery weathered the storm and won the fifth set 15-12, completing a 3-2 victory and securing their place in the 4A State Finals for the second year running.
Despite this adversity, the Rockets had proven themselves as one of the most talented and resilient teams in the state. Their roster was stacked with current and former MVSA club players, creating a team chemistry that was unmatched at the high school level. With this deep talent pool, they had not only dominated their division and region but also emerged victorious in the Montgomery County Championship against Walter Johnson. And then, there was the Battle of Bethesda Tournament, a prestigious event that had long eluded the Rockets. This year, they claimed the title for the first time ever, which started the Rockets’ journey to the 4A State Finals. Winning that tournament was a significant milestone for the program, an achievement that gave them extra confidence heading into the state tournament.
Beyond their two captains, the Rockets' roster was filled with talent, chemistry, and leadership. Ema and Corinne, both seasoned leaders who had been captains for the last three years, are set to continue their partnership as teammates on MVSA 18 Chaos, where they will finish their final club season together. Their connection, honed through years of high-level club volleyball, was a key to the Rockets' success.
But the heart of the team wasn’t just limited to these two standouts. The Rockets boasted a deep and talented core, many of whom are also part of the MVSA volleyball family. Junior outside hitter Ellie Mitchell (MVSA 17 Blaze) and freshman Katie Mitchell (MVSA 12 Vortex - 2022) were key contributors on the outside, giving the team a versatile offense. Alongside them, Ema’s younger sister, Ana Djordjevic, the sophomore libero (MVSA 16 Sparks), provided a defensive rock in the back row. Senior middle Carly Nunez (MVSA 16 Warriors - 2023), another starter for the Rockets, brought both experience and power, while senior defensive specialist Bella Brennan (MVSA 18 Chaos) was a steadying presence on the court. Amy Ye, a dynamic setter/opposite, rounded out the core.
In addition, the team was bolstered by talented role players who contributed to the team's success: seniors Hadley Mongan (MVSA 18 Mavericks) and Alicia Nguyen (MVSA 16 Sparks - 2023), juniors Catie Chung (MVSA 16 Warriors - 2023), Jessica Yao, and Emma Sotomayor, sophomore Saesha Dhote (MVSA 16 Fusion), and freshman Ellyn Kim (MVSA 13 Wahoo! - 2023).
All of them were guided by the coaching staff lead by reigning Washington Post Coach of the Year Gretchen Barber Strunk (MVSA 12 Thunder - 2024) and two long time MVSA coaches Jacob Achten (MVSA 18 Chaos) and Wes Carver (MVSA 16 Starz).
The Rockets were a well-oiled machine, with only a few bumps along the road. During the regular season they lost only four sets. They dropped one to Class 3A finalist Wootton, and another one to Churchill, winning both matches 3-1. On senior night, the team won a thrilling 3-2 matchup with Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
When the playoffs arrived, the Rockets were fully focused on defending their title. The regional bracket was a success, and with their perfect regular-season record, they entered the state tournament as the #1 seed. However, their path wasn’t without challenges. In the state quarterfinals, they faced a tough opponent in Urbana, the last team to win a 4A title before Richard Montgomery’s back-to-back championships. The Rockets delivered an excellent performance, sweeping Urbana 3-0 to move on to the semifinals.
After the dramatic win in the semifinal (Richard Montgomery vs. Churchill, the third time the two teams played this season) came the grand finale. The Rockets’ strength, both physically and mentally, was on full display against the Broadneck Bruins. From the first serve to the final point, they proved they were a cut above, winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-17) and clinching their second consecutive title. Every player contributed in some capacity, but it was the leadership of Ema Djordjevic and Corinne Howard that shone the brightest, exemplifying what made this team so special. Their teamwork, their commitment to each other, and their ability to perform under pressure had brought them to this moment. Ema led all scorers with 20 points (12 kills on .632 hitting %, 5 blocks and 3 aces), which, together with her play in semifinal ensured her the AVCA High School Player of the Week in Maryland award. Corinne finished with 12 points (9 kills on .500 hitting, 2 blocks, 1 ace), while Katie Mitchell added 11 (7 kills, 4 aces).
Once again, congratulations to the players, parents, and coaches of the Richard Montgomery Rockets girls’ volleyball team!
