Chesapeake 16 All-Nationals Tournament Team
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The 16 group at Indy had to be the most talented group. Much of that group was huddled around Metro and Paramount. MVSA won their first two games on the first day but then lost three on day two to…
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Continue ReadingThe 16 group at Indy had to be the most talented group. Much of that group was huddled around Metro and Paramount. MVSA won their first two games on the first day but then lost three on day two to drop out of gold contention. Only Paramount and Metro were able to advance to the first bracket after the first round of pool play.
Left Sides – This is the cream of the crop. The Metro duo of Macaria Spears Macaria Spears 6'3" | OH Prestonwood Christian | 2025 State #5 Nation TX and Emerson Sellman Emerson Sellman 6'4" | OH Academy of Holy Cross | 2024 State #5 Nation VA had to be one of the top five left side combinations in the country. Spears is the most explosive of the two, with the ability to hammer a ball through a block. There were some impressive line shots from her right arm that had the spectators in awe. She is a six rotation player, but her passing could use a bit more polish. And she is a 2025 grad playing up. Sellman has the length to hit a ball over a block or high off the hands. She also can cut balls to use angles. Her passing is nails and she can get her 6’4″ frame on the floor to play some impressive defense. She is one of the more complete players I watched in the nationals.
Like Spears, Lameen Mambu Lameen Mambu 6'0" | OH Chantilly | 2025 State #64 Nation VA (Paramount) is a 2025 playing up. She is also difficult to stop with long arms that get plenty of extension on her 6’0″ frame and good hops to get high over the net. She hits cross court and line with equal velocity and her back row attacks are difficult to defend. Like Spears, her back row play could use some polish but the potential is there. Grace Tucker (Vienna Elite) would be another outside. I like the way she plays the game. She hits the ball hard, plays a solid back row and always has a smile on her face like she really enjoys playing the game. Those are the players you want on your team.
Middles – Don’t really know if Kiylah Presley Kiylah Presley 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2024 State #114 Nation VA (Paramount) is a middle or outside. Most of her sets were twos and not quicks, but she still put the ball away. Paramount was playing in the National Division so the blocking was not as strong as open. Something tells me she could still hit those high sets in the middle even if two blocks were up. Playing middle deprived her of any back row play. When you watch her play there may not be a more intense player on the court.
Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA (Metro) had no problems hitting the quicks. With the blockers keying on Sellman and Spears she took advantage of the open space in the middle and buried some balls into the floor. Avery Beall (MVSA Sparks) also seemed to prey on the higher sets but had no problem finding the floor whether she hit the ball right or left. Her 5’10″ frame also put up a solid block.
Right Sides – At 5’9″ Lilah Stevens Lilah Stevens 5'9" | OH Stone Bridge | 2024 State VA (Metro) may lack the height you want to see from your right side. She gets a good vertical and has a fast arm swing that puts some velocity on the ball. She surprised some left sides with some solid blocks when they tried to go line. Claudia Balfour (MVSA Sparks) has the height at 6’0″ and carries a hard left handed swing. She is built for the right side.
Setter – Another Metro duo of Erin Debiec Erin Debiec 6'1" | S Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State #92 Nation VA and Natalie Nguyen Natalie Nguyen 5'5" | S Flint Hill | 2024 State VA made this team one of the top clubs in the country. .Erin has the height (6’1″) and the touch to set a 5/1. She could even play right side if Metro did not have so many options. Natalie has been playing with Metro since 13 and has perfected the fast paced offense. She also plays an incredible defense. She may only be 5’7″ but she can play with the giants.
Paige Ahakuelo Paige Ahakuelo 5'8" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA (Paramount) has a wide repertoire of sets. She can set the quick middle, but for Presley that is not needed. She also distributes the ball to all areas of the court, keeping the defenses guessing. Most of the time you will find her jump setting, drawing up a block even when she is back row. Paige is the straw that stirs the drink for Paramount.
Libero – Mailinh Godschall Mailinh Godschall 5'7" | DS/L Centennial (MD) | 2024 State #183 Nation VA (Metro) always seems to get her hand on the ball before it hits the floor. Whether it is a roll shot short, or a kill in the corner she somehow finds a way to get to the ball. Her passing is also consistent, but you rarely see her do that since teams avoid serving to her. Ava Dunnigan Ava Dunnigan 5'4" | DS/L Musselman | 2024 VA (Paramount) is another scrappy player who moves quickly to the ball. Her passing is also solid when she gets the rare opportunity to pass the ball.