Langley Volleyball defies the odds, earns back-to-back state titles in Virginia Class 6

FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — For nearly 30 years, Langley High School Volleyball head coach Susan Shifflett has built the program from the ground up, building a standard right along with it.

“Everyone has to buy in, and everyone has to know they’re important,” Shifflett told 7News Sports Anchor Natalie Spala.

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But after losing four of her six starters from last year’s Virginia Class Six state title team, this year, her Saxons were counted out early.

“What everyone else was saying that this year we didn’t have the same chance, and I think we took that to heart,” said senior outside hitter, Ana Toumazatos.

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“It was the same exact gym we walked in, same exact energy, same expectation, but there was a little bit more pressure to work hard this year,” added senior libero, Amber Smith.

The hard work quickly translated into wins. As the season progressed, the Saxons knew they had something special.

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“Two years ago it was a lot more about individual skills and that slowly graduated to working together as a team more and having to put together what we all had as one whole,” Smith said.

The team blew through district competition and found themselves once again in the title game: a five-set thriller against Fairfax County foe, Chantilly.

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“They are a very good team,” Shifflett said. “And we did not fare well against them the first time. We had a lot of work to do, and we knew that.”

“Emotions were high,” Toumazatos admitted. “Everyone was really anxious, like it could go either way.”

“We were just so caught up in that energy,” Smith added. “We had to win, we just had to. There was no other option.”

With the Chargers on the ropes and the match point up in the air, the winning hit came off the hand of a freshman.

“I just hit the ball and I prayed that it would work,” said outside hitter Rujuta Singh. “I wasn’t really focused on me. I was more focused on that the seniors that were so nice and so welcoming to me got to win their senior year.”

In a season where nothing was given and everything was earned, the Saxons picked up their fourth state title in program history.

“What’s really exciting as a coach, you set up a game plan and they don’t always do it. They did it, and some,” Shifflett said. “When it was over, I actually said to the kids I have to go back and watch film because I don’t remember what happened.”

The journey to the top was worth every practice and drill, even every moment of doubt.

“We continued the Langley standard and the legacy," Smith said. "The hard work is just amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better season."

“It’s a grind, which is a good thing because if it was easy, it wouldn’t mean as much,” Shifflett said. “I’m very fortunate to have these kinds of kids and these families in this community to work in.”