Other Players of Note at Chesapeake Regional
Last week I wrote about the players of the two teams Metro and Paramount that dominated the Chesapeake Regional bid 16 and 17. This article will focus on those players from some of the other teams that should be watched. …
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Continue ReadingLast week I wrote about the players of the two teams Metro and Paramount that dominated the Chesapeake Regional bid 16 and 17. This article will focus on those players from some of the other teams that should be watched.
Virginia Jrs 17 had to be disappointed in their performance. They were the third seed in the tournament but finished second in their bracket, losing to the eventual third place team East Coast Power Delaware. In the playoff bracket they lost a second round match to the eventual fourth place team Liberty Elite.
Last year Grace Maria Grace Maria 6'2" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State #150 Nation VA was a solid passer and at 6’1″ a good blocker on the right side. Her hitting was inconsistent. She has eliminated the dip in her right shoulder which allows her to open up more resulting in more consistency and velocity in her spikes. That will make her more attractive to Division I schools.
Setter Ava Ray stands only 5’7″ making it difficult to play six rotations. She moves quickly to the ball with a nice touch to the pins. She jump sets which tells me she could set a 5/1, but the team would sacrifice some blocking in the process.
Vienna Elite 17-L lost to Paramount in the second round of the playoffs after finishing second to Metro in bracket play. So their only two losses were to the top two teams.
Marguerite Barvick stands just 5’8″ but as a setter plays a solid front row. She is also a class of 2024 playing up so there is time for improvement. Marguerite needs a little more consistency setting the pins, sometimes leaving her sets a little inside, but her hands are soft and her movements quick. There is tremendous upside here.
The last time I saw the 5’7″ Zaylie Tamishiro she was a setter. It was a surprise to see her as a six rotation outside, attacking the ball with serious velocity. She seemed to hit as much from the back row as she did from the front row. McLean High School had their best season in history with Zaylie hitting left side.
Loudoun Elite 17 has to be happy with their fifth place finish. They only lost to Paramount and Metro, pretty impressive for a ninth seed out of 12 teams.
When libero Sakura Shimozono was 13 she wanted to be an outside hitter. Reality set in when she only reached 5’5″. She moves her feet well to the ball, even dropping her hips to receive short serves. After passing “3”s against Metro in a 25-20 first set battle they stopped serving her. Sakura is relatively new at the libero position so she only improve.
The two outsides 5’10” Corinne Bonamassa and 6’2″ Sheridan Stephens were able to shred the Metro block in game one. They both played six rotations but struggled a bit when playing the back row with passing and defense. Given more experience they will improve. Sheridan has the length to be an impact player given time.
Vienna Elite 16-L finished fourth in the tournament, losing to Maryland Juniors in the third place game after defeating them in bracket play.
The Jones sisters from Metro were not the only twins playing in the 16 bracket. Jacklyn and Samantha Van Vollenhoven are also twins that play right side and middle. They are not as polished as the Jones sisters but they do have length.