Metro 15 Powers it’s Way to a Gold

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more I watch this game the more I learn what I don't know. In a tune up for the Mid Atlantic Power League this weekend Metro Travel 15 powered their way to gold in the MDJRS 15 Open. No opponent reached 20 in the 10 sets they played. The talent and length on this team is impressive. A lot of new names came to the forefront. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest of those new names starts with left side team captain <strong>Caydence Doolan</strong> a 5'10" outside who started as a frosh for North Hagerstown High School in their Class 3A state championship run last year. A six rotation player with a nice platform for passing. She hits well left side, right side and from behind the three meter line. Nice to discover this Hagerstown talent. Her sister Baylee ranks in our class of 2025 and plays for Metro 16. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another player who impressed was the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='D. Williams']</strong>. Metro used her length at both middle and left side. She gets good arm extension to put the ball to the floor. She still struggles with her passing, restricting her to just three rotations for now but she has a long road to travel to improve in that area. My only exposure to her prior to this had been through video so it was nice to watch her perform live.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A name familiar to me is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']. </strong> She rotates between right and left side. In the semi-finals she put together five early kills on the right side to carry the offensive load. At 6'1" many of her hits travel over the block. When she gains more strength in her legs she will be scary. Emma played six rotations for Woodson High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another right side is 6'1" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt'].</strong> She ranks as the number two prospect in our class of 2026. Watching her swing she could easily transition to left side if the need arose. The Cedar Run District voted the frosh to the second team. <strong>Nadiya Johnson</strong> also ranks as a newbie to my eyes. She stands as a tower of strength from the right side as well, standing at 6'1" with an approach jump four inches over 10 feet. It will be fun to watch her develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was also my first time watching <strong>Gabriella Wigglesworth </strong>play. She is far from being the tallest player on this team, however she runs the quicks in the middle well and led the team in blocks. Few players embrace the middle position but she appears to enjoy playing it. When she hits the ball her shots show variation, travelling to both the left and right side of the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Giselle' last='Norris']</strong> shared the libero role. In this tournament Laila started the game while Giselle came in for the finish. Both have good serves. Laila finished off a game with 15 points on serve. When receiving short serves they both move their feet well, dropping their hips to pass the ball low, rather than diving for balls and spraying it to who knows where. Laila belongs to the class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The setting duties are shared by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant']</strong> and <strong>Charis Burge</strong>. Charis showed off a nice one handed set to the middle, a beautiful jump back set and lots of quick sets to the outside. Both are subbed out when they reach the front row because Metro has the right side talent in bunches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238593' first='Tehillah' last='Garrison'] </strong>broke out a pretty consistent top spin serve. It comes across the court with pretty good velocity. One fan watching the game gasped "she serves like a boy" after one of her jump spin serves were shanked by the opponent. She was restricted to back row play but can play left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro Travel played their sisters Metro North in the finals. While Metro dominated the games there was also talent on the Metro North side to get them to the finals. <strong>Elaina Murphy</strong> stood tall when displaying that talent. She gives up some height when playing across the net against Metro travel. Her attributes are a good jump and quick wrist snap to put the ball down. She also plays excellent defense in the back row and can also initiate an attack from the three meter line. I liked her quickness on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players who impressed from Metro North were <strong>Taylor Simpson</strong>, a right side who carries some length but her swing lacks consistency. <strong>Simone Assasie </strong>switched between middle and left side. She carries a powerful swing no matter the position she plays. Against Metro her jump serve produced three consecutive aces. <strong>Sofia Sossa</strong> set well, but what impressed me most about her game was her ability to play defense. She stayed low and dug a number of hard driven balls. And finally, <strong>Talia DoCarmo</strong> a left side who plays six rotations. When she hits the ball they travel deep to the court, whether cross court or line those deep shots are tough to dig. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lots of new faces were discovered. I'm sure there are more on the horizon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->