Nationals Notebook: Metro and MVCA Charge Playing for Gold
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On the first day of play Metro lost perhaps their best hitter in right side Jada Aksu Jada Aksu 6'0" | RS Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA . She was sitting on the bench on day two wearing a…
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Continue ReadingOn the first day of play Metro lost perhaps their best hitter in right side Jada Aksu Jada Aksu 6'0" | RS Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA . She was sitting on the bench on day two wearing a boot. This did not seem to bode well for Metro. They adjusted their style of play, turning a handicap into a strength, going 8-0 (16-1) the first three days of the tournament to earn their way into the gold bracket, one of four undefeated teams to do so.
Metro went to a 5/1 offense, keeping setter Isabelle Bardin Isabelle Bardin 6'3" | S Flint Hill | 2025 State #121 Nation VA in the front row to set. The other setter Ryan Hicks Ryan Hicks 5'11" | S Broad Run | 2025 State VA played defense in the back row.
It all jelled when it became game time. The middles Kristen Moore Kristen Moore 6'2" | RS Virginia Academy | 2025 State VA , Caitlin Johnson and Sierra Evans Sierra Evans 6'2" | MB John F. Kennedy (MD) | 2024 State VA seemed to have a good connection with Isabelle as they hit on some quick sets which opened things up for the outsides. Madison Smith Madison Smith 6'1" | OH Homeschool | 2025 State VA benefited from that opening. She may not bury the ball like a Sellman or Spears, but she hits with good velocity in the deep areas of the court to score points. The other outside Sarah Jeremias Sarah Jeremias 5'11" | OH Holy Cross | 2025 State VA benefitted too. She is an atypical Metro outside. While she is listed at 5’11″ I would hazard to guess she is closer to 5’10. What sets her apart is her intelligence and ability to hit the open spots on the court. With fewer hands in her line of vision those open spots were easier to find.
Having a libero like Evie Huang helps. She passes nails and plays a very solid defense, pushing balls right into the hands of the setter. Her sister was a setter for Metro and Evie has the hands to be setter as well, but she choose to use those hands for out of system sets behind the 10 foot line.
The matches will get tougher now that they are in the gold division. Their first match will be against BVA Mizuno (8-0, 16-1), who have an identical record as Metro, but BVA has the better point percentage. Metro will have to win three games to win the American Division championship and they may have to go through three undefeated teams to achieve that goal.
Quick note: Despite being in a boot, Jada was quick enough to join some of her teammates for a picture with Stanford coach Kevin Hambly, who was wandering around the convention center a little early to look at next year’s recruits. What are the odds of those pictures appearing on social media?
MVSA Charge
After the first two days MVSA was 4-1. The path they took to get to the gold medal round was not so easy. They lost their second match to Dynasty Blue, going down in the third set 15-13. They had to win two other third sets to keep their gold hopes alive. Dropping down to mediocrity was not an option.
Day three saw some more tough competition. Their first game was against Arizona Sky Blue, who play a very solid defense. MVSA relies on their offensive fire power from outside Ema Djordjevic and middle Corinne Howard to dominate opponents. Corinne has improved her game by leaps and bounds since I first saw her at the Chesapeake Showdown. One would not think from watching her that last year she was a basketball player and just got into volleyball
In the first game the Sky defense prevailed, and three missed serves after MVSA reached the 20 point mark also did not help. Sky seemed to dig everything hit at them, extending rallies until MVSA made a mistake, eventually winning 25-22.
MVSA showed you can’t keep a good offensive team down, winning the next two 25-21 and 15-10. Against another offensive jugger naught in Texas Fury they were not so lucky, losing in two 25-20 and 25-23. The last on the list was Memphis Volleyball Academy. A win and it would be an advance to gold. A loss and it would be silver. They pulled it out 25-21, 25-12, putting them in the gold bracket in the Freedom Division where they will play the undefeated Valley Venom,