This story is part of The Washington Sun’s All-DMV coverage. All-DMV is a new collaboration between The Sun, Fox 5 DC, NBC4 Washington and WTOP News, aimed at covering the D.C. area’s best high school athletes. You can find past players of the week and more information about All-DMV here.
This week’s standouts hail from some of the winningest volleyball teams in the local area. From two outside hitters who have helped their teams to unbeaten starts to a crafty setter quarterbacking one of the most historically dominant programs in the DMV, here’s who earned Player of the Week honors for volleyball in Week 4:
Haile Ma, Senior, Outside Hitter, Wootton
After graduating a bevy of seniors from a Wootton team that advanced to the state quarterfinals last season, the Patriots have leaned on Ma as a steady source of offense at the outside hitter position. Last Friday against Walter Johnson, Ma poured in 19 kills in a four-set victory. Against Bethesda-Chevy Chase days earlier, Ma put down 21 kills in a thrilling five-set win. The senior ended the week averaging nearly 15 kills per match on the season along with 18 total aces and 44 digs.
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“I thought the B-CC game was very hard-fought by both teams, and it was a really even match,” Wootton coach Mary Malinauskas said. “I was glad to see my girls hang in there and not panic when it was a five-set match.”
Nadia Wooten, Freshman, Outside Hitter, Bishop O’Connell
O’Connell is the hottest team in the area so far this season. Despite facing a loaded schedule against some of the area’s premier volleyball programs, the Knights have yet to drop a set amid a flawless 21-0 start, including tournament play.
Wooten, a nationally ranked freshman outside hitter, has been a major key to O’Connell’s early success. Against league rival St. John’s last week, she finished with 25 kills to just one error in an impressive victory. Wooten and the Knights will travel to Phoenix for the Nike Tournament of Champions to test their mettle against some of the best programs in the country this week.
“The way [Wooten] plays, you can’t tell she’s a freshman,” Knights coach Mehdi El-Alaoui said. “It’s another level. … She had a phenomenal week.”
Ava Zender, Senior, Setter, Flint Hill
Over the first month of the season, Flint Hill coach Thai Nguyen has watched his team gel into one of the most highly productive offensive teams in the area. Much of the Huskies’ offensive success starts with Zender, whose passing ability sets up the squad’s talented outside hitters to thrive. Last week, Zender helped lead her team to victories over Georgetown Visitation and Collegiate — Zender dished 24 assists in the latter win as Flint Hill picked up its 12th victory.
Zender’s connection with senior Hunter Ross, a UCLA commit, makes the Huskies one of the most feared programs in the area this season.
“We’ll continue leaning towards [Zender] for the rest of the season to make smart decisions,” Nguyen said. “Her mental toughness has really impressed me this year.”
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