Middleburg Academy girls’ team wins state volleyball championship

Middleburg Academy’s Girls’ Volleyball team won the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division 2 state championship at Saturday’s finals.  The 3-0 victory over Peninsula Catholic (#2) capped a season for the Dragons who finished with an impressive 30-2 record. 

Key wins in the season were home and away victories over Flint Hill (who won the Division 1 State Championship) where Middleburg Academy won the Flint Hill Tournament Championship.  “We have a lot of respect for Flint Hill and the tradition they have built, but those wins did give us the confidence to make a run at the State Championship” said junior Megan McDonald ‘17.  It was in that same tournament that Middleburg also defeated the team they lost to in last year’s championship game.

“The season had some question marks when the girls arrived in August,” Coach Maureen DiClementi said.  Last year the Dragons graduated key seniors and all indications looked to a rebuilding year.  “We had great leadership and talent that graduated, but I knew the core of the team was special – and would step up,” DiClementi added. 

The team is led by Megan McDonald ‘17 and Lilly Reilly ‘18 who also lead the team in kills.  Middle blocker, Allison Thompson ‘17, was a major presence in the middle of the talent corp.  Joining the team this year was setter Lillian Vargo ’19 who had a lot of setting choices with not only McDonald and Reilly, but Elle Benfield ‘17 and ninth grader Chelsea Penfield ‘19. 

Middleburg Academy began their march to the title with a win over St. Margaret’s.  The Final Four was hosted at Richard Bland College in Petersburg, VA on Friday and Saturday.  “We were not looking at the bracket, so it didn’t matter who was waiting for us” said sophomore Lilly Reilly, adding “we just play who is there.”  And there waiting for them was the defending state champion Nansemond-Suffolk Academy who defeated Middleburg Academy in last year’s final.

“I think we were a little nervous in the first game, our Head of School was the former Head at NSA and he’s our advisor – so there’s some fun in this with him and NSA,” said Reilly and McDonald.  The nerves were over early in the second game when Middleburg dominated the NSA team, winning 3-1.

In the minutes before the Finals against Peninsula Catholic, Coach DiClementi was heard telling a friend, “How do I get them ready for the Finals?  Are you kidding, it’s the finals, if you can’t get ready for this – there’s nothing a coach can do at this point, it’s on the girls.”  And so it was on the girls as they soundly defeated Peninsula Catholic 3-0.  Middleburg Academy will be returning all its starters next year, and DiClementi is looking forward to another spectacular season.