Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) seventh- and eighth-grade students took to the court recently for the middle school volleyball tournament. Seventh graders played on Jan. 21, with eighth graders competing Jan. 23. The boys events were held at La Plata High School, while Henry E. Lackey High School hosted the girls tournaments.
Boys in eighth grade gathered in the La Plata gym to face off over the net. As they will head to high school next year, they shared some advice for middle schoolers who might want to test out a different sport.
“You always should try something out,” Jaylen Bannister, a Benjamin Stoddert Middle School eighth grader, said. Karsten Villanueva, an eighth-grade student at Theodore G. Davis Middle School, has been playing volleyball since he was in fifth grade. “It’s fun and I like the competition,” he said. Villanueva had advice for younger players, in a blunt eighth grader fashion. “Don’t let the ball hit the floor,” he said. “And if you’re not going to hustle, just don’t join the team.”
La Plata and Lackey students studying sports officiating served as officials at the tournaments.
Middle school students can participate in different activities throughout the year including a golf tournament, archery contest and basketball tournament.
Middle school volleyball results for 2025.
Seventh-grade girls
- Milton M. Somers Middle School, first place.
- Piccowaxen Middle School, second place.
- Theodore G. Davis Middle School, third place.
Seventh-grade boys
- Somers, first place.
- Piccowaxen, second place.
- Matthew Henson Middle School, third place.
Eighth-grade girls
- Piccowaxen, first place.
- Davis, second place.
- Mattawoman Middle School, third place.
Eighth-grade boys
- Somers, first place.
- Piccowaxen, second place.
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, third place.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).