This story is part of The Washington Sun’s All-DMV coverage. All-DMV is a new collaboration between The Sun, Fox5 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.
From a steady setter in Montgomery County to two potent outside hitters from Prince George’s County and D.C., this week’s Players of the Week showcase the diversity of volleyball talent across the DMV area.
Here’s who shined the brightest in a busy week of play:
Ariel Callwood, Junior, Setter, Sherwood
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Callwood has keyed a strong start for Sherwood and is one of several key returners to a Warriors team that advanced to the region finals a season ago. The junior, who was named first team all-county last fall, tallied 70 total assists in Sherwood’s first three matches of the season. She then led her team to a resounding victory at the Magruder Invitational last weekend; the Warriors won all five of their tournament matchups without dropping a set. Callwood’s performance earned her all-tournament honors.
“She knows where to deliver the ball, and that’s absolutely critical,” Sherwood Coach Kaitlyn Jain said. “We have the talent, and so having a setter that can recognize that talent and can deliver and execute on it is just an amazing feeling to have as a coach.”
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A’vielle Lewis, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, CMIT North
Lewis has been the catalyst of CMIT North’s blazing start in Prince George’s county play. The sophomore outside hitter notched double-digit kills in each of the Tigers’ matches so far this season, including a 19-kill outing against county power Oxon Hill. Lewis racked up kills at an efficient clip —– against the Clippers last week, she committed just two errors and posted a .739 hitting percentage as the Tigers beat Oxon Hill for the first time in program history. Days later against Laurel, she picked up 14 kills on just 17 swings in a dominant 3-0 sweep.
With Lewis in full command of her team’s offense, the Tigers dropped just one set in their first four matches.
“It’s kind of terrifying when she hits the ball,” CMIT Coach Mark Snyder said. “She’s just a competitor, she wants to win at all costs. … If the game’s on the line, she wants to be the person to get the ball.”
Alexa Telly, Senior, Outside Hitter, Georgetown Day
Telly has picked up right where she left off for the defending DCSAA and ISL champion Hoppers. The senior outside hitter posted 25 kills and 23 digs in a four-set victory over Flint Hill last week. Two days later, the Hoppers picked up a dominant 3-0 sweep over Maret.
With Telly, who is committed to American University, and senior Columbia commit Zora Dimbo providing a dominant one-two punch along the outside, Coach Brandon Wiest’s team looks to once again be a top contender in city and league play.
“[Telly] was insane, unstoppable,” Wiest said of Telly’s performance against Flint Hill. “Everyone in the gym knew she was getting the ball and she was able to score pretty consistently.”
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