Capitol Hill Classic – The Past and Present Award Winners

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes you can tell a lot from the present by looking at the past. Capitol Hill Classic has been issuing individual awards since 2012 for many different categories. Below is a blast through the past and into the present as we take a look at some of the past award winners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2014</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jenaisya Moore</strong> won a ton of hardware on her way to Ohio State stardom. While playing for MVSA Wahoo in the 13 Open she won the best attacker award. I have to wonder if Skip was coaching her then. She repeated the best attacker award in 2015 and 2018 while playing for Metro. In 2017 and 2019 she won MVP awards. She also won best digger in 2019.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2015</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elena Shklyar</strong> set for Michigan State back in 2018-2021. She won best setter in the 15 Open while playing for Virginia Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2016</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Milan Gomillion</strong>, the current libero for Maryland won the best digger award for Metro for 14 Open. She would go on to repeat that award in 2017 and 2019. In 2020 she was voted the MVP for 18 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rainelle Jones </strong>won best blocker for Metro in the 16 Open. While playing for Maryland she spent many of her years leading the NCAA in blocking. Her younger twin sisters would follow in her footsteps and win the best blocker award in later years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2017</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233010' first='Mickhaila' last='Murray']</strong> won best receiver at 12 club while playing for American. In 2020 she would win the best server award for Metro South in the 16 club Division. Mickhalia currently plays for the Metro 17 team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Laila Ricks</strong> won the best blocker award while playing for Metro. She would repeat that award win in 2018. Laila currently plays for Maryland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2018</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 13 Open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181183' first='Pam' last='McCune']</strong> would begin her blocking dominance. She won best blocker for Metro and would repeat the feat in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Pam won the DC Gatorade Player of the Year award this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the 14 Patriot Division <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209175' first='Trisha' last='Guevara'] </strong>won the best digger award while playing for Areyto.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morgahn Fingall </strong>won the MVP Award while playing for Metro. She would go on to have a great career at the University of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2019</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong> won the best blocker award while playing for Vienna Elite in the 12 club division. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang']</strong> was her teammate and won best digger. They both play for Metro 16. Jada plays right side while Evie covers the libero position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180288' first='Emerson' last='Sellman']</strong> made her first appearance in the awards, winning the best server award for Metro in the 13 Open. She would go on to win MVP awards in 2020, 2022 and 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180300' first='Mailinh' last='Godschall'] </strong>won her first award at the 13 Open as best receiver while playing for Metro. She would win best digger in 2022. Also at the 13 Open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180295' first='Ryla' last='Jones']</strong> would emulate her sister Rainelle by winning the best blocker award. Her twin sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181232' first='Renee' last='Jones']</strong> would win this award in 2022 and 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181097' first='Safi' last='Hampton'] </strong>won the best attacker award in the 14 Open Division while playing for Metro. She would repeat that award in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant']</strong> would win the MVP award that year, as she would do in 2022 and 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> must have been 12 years old when she won the best digger award at 14 club while playing for Roanoke United. The next year at 15 Patriot she won the best digger and the MVP award.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rachel Richardson</strong>, who is now playing for Duke and was involved in the BYU racial incident, won the best attacker award in the 16 Open. In 2020 she also won the MVP award. Rachel plays libero/defensive specialist for Duke.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2020 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the 13 Open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> began her setting career by winning the best setter award for Metro. A year higher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180289' first='Lilah' last='Stevens']</strong> won the best attacker award for Metro in the 14 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the 15 Open Division <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex']</strong> won the best server award. [player_tooltip player_id='245596' first='Alden' last='Roberts'] from Beach Elite won best setter. Milan would win the Virginia Gatorade Player of the year award. From Paramount, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='111508' first='Haley' last='Gill']</strong> would win the best digger award.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181563' first='Emma' last='Kerwin']</strong> would win the best attacker award for DYS Thunder in the 15 club division. Capitol Hill moved their tournament to Atlanta in 2021 but when they returned in 2022 Emma won the MVP award in the 17 club division. She also won the MVP award in 2023 in 18 club.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Laila Ivey</strong> would win the 16 Open best attacker award while playing for Metro. She also currently plays for Maryland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong> won best setter while playing for Virginia Jrs. She would repeat that award while setting for Metro this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321678' first='Elaina' last='Murphy']</strong> won the MVP at 14 club while playing for Metro. Since Metro normally plays Open I will assume it is Metro North. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> won the MVP award for 14 Open for Metro. This year she won the award for top reciever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 15 Open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235282' first='Adriana' last='Perodin'] </strong>won the best server award for Paramount. [player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker'] snagged the top blocker award while playing for Virginia Juniors. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> won the MVP for Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 16 Open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White'] </strong>won the best receiver award playing for Blue Ridge. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180282' first='Paige' last='Ahakuelo']</strong> took the top setter award. In her one year playing club in the DC area <strong>Macaria Spears </strong>won top attacker while teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181232' first='Renee' last='Jones']</strong> was voted best blocker. Renee would repeat best blocker in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181201' first='Hannah' last='Howard'] </strong>won best server for Paramount in the 17 Open. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181208' first='Gabby' last='Allen'] </strong>won the best receiver award for Paramount.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Patriot - <strong>Megan Hiltner</strong> top server for VAVA 15. <strong>Ava Engelson</strong> top receiver for SRVC Surge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Open - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> best receiver for Metro. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']</strong> top blocker Metro. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong> MVP for Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Patriot - <strong>Josephine Eliot </strong>voted best blocker for Metro North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Patriot - <strong>Bailey Monahan</strong> won best setter for VAVA Blue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Open - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> won the best attacker playing for Metro. Also for Metro <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181232' first='Renee' last='Jones'] </strong>won best blocker while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180288' first='Emerson' last='Sellman']</strong> won MVP, both repeating their awards from last year at 16. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White']</strong> from Blue Ridge was voted the top reciever. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Club - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231669' first='Dryden' last='Rancourt']</strong> voted the best attacker for DYS Thunder. Teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181563' first='Emma' last='Kerwin'] </strong>won the MVP for the second year in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Open - I have always commented that the 6'1" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria']</strong> passed like a libero. She won best receiver award passing for Paramount. From Metro <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209171' first='Samantha' last='Dorn'] </strong>won top attacker, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor']</strong> best blocker and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] </strong>the MVP. For Sydney it was her third MVP award. She will be going to Maryland next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->