Metro Captures Gold at the Capitol Hill Classic
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The first Capitol Hill Classic was held on Presidents’ Day in 2007. A total of 144 teams registered to play on 18 courts. Barry Goldberg, who owned a club called Metro American, ran the event. Barry also coached at American…
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Continue ReadingThe first Capitol Hill Classic was held on Presidents’ Day in 2007. A total of 144 teams registered to play on 18 courts. Barry Goldberg, who owned a club called Metro American, ran the event. Barry also coached at American University at that time. In 2015 he sold his club to their current owners and they shortened the club name to Metro, but Barry continued to run the volleyball tournament. Capitol Hill Classic did have to move the event to Georgia in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown but it continues to remain the most popular volleyball tournament in the DC area.
This weekend there were 966 teams playing on 122 courts. Metro dominated the event by winning gold in 5 of the six open events. Below is a summary of the Open winners in the 15-18 category. Later this week I will write about other teams who competed in the event and played well.
18 Open
Metro and Paramount have already won bids to the junior nationals. They were the top two seeds to begin the tournament. They justified that seeding by playing in the championship match.
Metro did not lose a set as they entered the championship match with Paramount. They were led by Virginia Gatorade player of the year setter Milan Rex Milan Rex 5'11" | S Alexandria City | 2023 State #147 Nation VA and D.C. Gatorade player of the year middle Pam McCune Pam McCune 6'2" | MB St. Johns | 2023 State #186 Nation VA . Brielle Kemavor Brielle Kemavor 6'5" | MB Charles J. Colgan | 2023 State #148 Nation VA and Isabela Fowlkes Isabela Fowlkes 6'1" | RS Maret | 2023 State VA also plugged up the middle lanes. Gabby Allen Gabby Allen 5'6" | DS/L Reservoir (MD) | 2023 State VA handled the libero role while Sydney Bryant Sydney Bryant 5'8" | S Virginia Academy | 2026 State VA played outside.
Paramount was led by left side Grace Maria Grace Maria 6'2" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State #150 Nation VA , who shared a two passer serve receive with libero Hannah Howard Hannah Howard 5'8" | DS/L Musselman (WVA) | 2023 State VA . The 6’3″ Helen Frankovich Helen Frankovich 6'3" | RS Justice | 2023 State VA provided terror to opposing defenses with her missiles from the right side. Setting duties were shared by Chloe Wilmot Chloe Wilmot 5'9" | S Alexandria City | 2023 State VA and Madeline Stewart Madeline Stewart S Broadneck | 2023 State VA . Rylah Robinson Rylah Robinson 5'10" | OH J. W. Robinson | 2023 State VA contributed kills from the other left side. Their defense and passing may be the best in the Chesapeake Region with Carley Zimmett, Haley Gil and Tiana Brasby all contributing, along with Grace and Hannah.
Unfortunately, Paramount had to play right after finishing off a tough Revolution Pittsburgh White team (25-20, 25-22). For the second time this year Metro proved their dominance by beating Paramount 25-21, 25-15. They had beaten them earlier this year in the Ohio qualifier.
Beach Elite Black finished fifth, losing to Revolution Pittsburgh White 25-23 and 25-17. Beach Elite is led by setter Alden Roberts Alden Roberts 5'11" | S Norfolk Academy | 2023 State VA and right side Aulie Huff Aulie Huff 6'1" | RS Kings Fork | 2023 State VA . Aulie plays six rotations and provides offense from the back row, showing off a powerful lefthanded swing.
17 Open
Metro 17 showed their depth by playing without many of their starters in this tournament. They still rolled through the tournament without losing a set, finishing off Carolina Juniors in the final 25-17, 25-19.
Left side Ohio State commit Emerson Sellman Emerson Sellman 6'4" | OH Academy of Holy Cross | 2024 State #5 Nation VA just dominates the competition. Last year I thought her three meter attacks could use some improvement, but Emerson fired on all cylinders in this tournament. She had back row players ducking with her three meter shots blistering the back end of the courts. Nothing tougher to dig than a high velocity deep court shot.
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 mystified their opponents with their range of sets. It appears Erin has improved her sets to the middle where Natalie defines accuracy. The close to 6 foot Eve McLaury handled most of the libero duties while Mailinh Godschall Mailinh Godschall 5'7" | DS/L Centennial (MD) | 2024 State #183 Nation VA sat out the first day. Mickhaila Murray Mickhaila Murray 5'11" | OH Flint Hill | 2024 State VA hammered from the left side and provided unmatched enthusiasm to the court. The 6’5″ Renee Jones Renee Jones 6'5" | RS Flint Hill | 2025 State #132 Nation FL provided length to the right side, proving to be a road block to the left sides trying to find the court.
Blue Ridge finished in third place. They lost a tough three set match to Carolina Juniors 23-25, 25-15, 11-15. In the gold medal bracket they had to play three matches that went three sets, downing Elite Volleyball Training Center from Ohio and Revolution Pittsburgh White before losing to Carolina. Fatigue had to be a factor.
Class of 2025 Berkeley Konrady Berkeley Konrady 6'1" | OH Millbrook | 2025 State VA leads from the left side and plays all six rotations, providing offense in the back row. Greta Barvick Greta Barvick 5'10" | S Chelsea Academy | 2024 State VA hits harder than most right sides, especially on balls down the line. She can also hammer from the left side. She played left side in high school so it appeared her setting carried a bit of rust at the beginning of the year. Her setting was on fire during this tournament, especially her jump setting. Emma White Emma White 5'6" | DS/L Legacy Christian Academy | 2025 State VA provided steadiness with her libero play.
Paramount and Virginia Elite tied for fifth. Carolina Juniors eliminated Paramount in a tightly played 15-13 third set. East Carolina Juniors from North Carolina swept Virginia Elite in a quarter final match.
Kiylah Presley Kiylah Presley 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2024 State #114 Nation VA hit left side for Paramount. Last year she played middle taking advantage of the quicker “2” sets. Once she works out her timing issues she will be a force. Currently, it still needs more repetition. Riley Buddie Riley Buddie 6'1" | OH Langley | 2024 State VA played the other left side. Middle Harlan Wyche Harlan Wyche 5'11" | MB South Lakes | 2024 State VA seems to have improved her game in the middle. A little growth spurt has helped.
Chloe Hokenson Chloe Hokenson 6'1" | S Langley | 2024 State VA leads the Virginia Elite team with her setting and right side play. Karen Cao Karen Cao 5'4" | DS/L Montgomery Blair (MD) | 2024 State VA played an impressive libero. Last year she got little playing time for Metro, but for Virginia Elite she shows the back row belongs to her. The 6’4″ left side Azavia Thomas Azavia Thomas 6'5" | OH Archbishop Carroll | 2024 State VA shows so much potential. Still new to the game she can dominate with her athletic ability, but the rawness still shows.
16 Open
Highlights
Virginia Elite finished in third, the highest finish for a Chesapeake team in the 16 Open Division. They lost in the semis to Elite Volleyball Training Center in Ohio 23-25, 25-21, 12-15. Elite finished second to Pittsburgh Elite.
Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA leads Virginia Elite with her offense on the left side and from the three meter line. She also provides consistent passing, at times being used in a two person serve receive. The 6’1″ Evelyn Jurden Evelyn Jurden 6'2" | RS West Springfield | 2025 State VA can set, but her approach jump that reaches nearly 10 feet provides a potent attack. She swings hard left or right side, but needs to be more aware of the block.
Shylah Swope Shylah Swope 5'10" | S Herndon | 2025 State VA sets a 5/1. You have to love a setter who jump sets and once in the front row uses the pineapple to drop a ball in the four spot. Skylar Giulani Skylar Giulani 6'1" | MB Potomac | 2025 State VA and Olivia Hatcher Olivia Hatcher 6'0" | OH Bishop Ireton | 2025 State VA share the middle duties. Libero Kadi Pynchon Kadi Pynchon 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2025 State VA brings consistency to the passing game and provides solid defense.
Lots of Chesapeake teams finished in the ninth spot. That means they lost their first match in the gold bracket. Blue Ridge, MVSA Sparks, and Paramount join Beach Elite in that club.
Blue Ridge pulled off one of the bigger upsets by beating Metro 16. They only lost two matches the whole tournament, both to Jersey Jrs, once to start the tournament, the second to end it. The two outsides Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA and Ada McCoy Ada McCoy 5'11" | OH Musselman (WVA) | 2025 State VA lead this team. They may be the two best left side combo in the Chesapeake Region at the 16 age group. Kennedy belongs to the class of 2026 as does their amazing libero Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA . Ava Dickerson hits the high middle sets like a true outside, always avoiding the block to bury the ball to the floor.
MVSA Sparks had not lost a match entering the gold bracket, including a victory over Virginia Elite. The Puerto Rican team Borinquen Coqui finished their tournament in the first round of gold. Ema Djordjevic Ema Djordjevic 6'0" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA leads this offense while Kareena Rathnam Kareena Rathnam 5'3" | DS/L Winston Churchill | 2025 State VA provides the defense. This team brings height to a game.
Paramount lost to the eventual champions Pittsburgh Elite in the first round. It went three sets but Paramount lost the third 15-13. They have a stacked roster with Simone Schaefer Simone Schaefer 5'11" | OH Riverside | 2025 State VA and Brianna Holladay Brianna Holladay 6'2" | MB Riverside | 2025 State VA forming one of the better middle combinations in the Chesapeake Region. Libero Sadee Gedse Sadee Gedse 5'6" | DS/L Oakton | 2025 State VA contributes quality defensive play and setter Claire Mo Claire Mo 5'10" | S Langley | 2026 State VA orchestrates the offense.
The second place Elite Volleyball Training Center eliminated Beach Elite. Unfortunately, I did not get to see Beach Elite play but they are on my radar.
15 Open
Highlights
Metro came close to losing their first match of the tournament, pulling out a 16-14 third set win. They almost lost their first match of the second day as well, losing the first set 25-19 then bouncing back to win the next two 25-18 and 15-11. They did not lose a set once they played in the gold bracket. winning the final against a tough Puerto Rican team Criollos 25-22 and 26-24.
Left side Caydence Doolan Caydence Doolan 5'11" | OH North Hagerstown | 2026 State VA leads Metro with her offense and her ability to play six rotations. At 5’10 she may be one of the smaller outsides on this team, but her velocity stands tall by creating chaos in many back rows. The 6’1 tandem right sides are Emma Gardner Emma Gardner 6'3" | OH WT Woodson | 2026 State VA and Nadiya Johnson Nadiya Johnson 6'2" | RS North Point | 2026 State VA . The 6’3″ Morgan Williams Morgan Williams 6'4" | OH Lake Braddock | 2026 State VA brings the fireworks to the other left side. Another 6’1″ right side Soleil Rancourt Soleil Rancourt 6'2" | OH Patriot | 2026 State VA contributes offense to the game. Liberos Laila Chadwick Laila Chadwick 5'8" | DS/L James Madison | 2027 State VA and Giselle Norris Giselle Norris 5'6" | DS/L Millbrook | 2026 State VA bring the defensive component to the team.
Paramount finished fifth, losing to Northeast Volleyball Club in Connecticut. Charlotte Arrington Charlotte Arrington 5'10" | OH Loudoun County | 2026 State VA and Lindsey Canty Lindsey Canty 5'10" | OH North Stafford | 2026 State VA bring a strong left side tandem. Teodora Stamenkovic Teodora Stamenkovic 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2026 State VA brings length and a powerful right arm to the right side.
MVSA Charge lost a three set opener in the gold bracket to Northeast, a team that went on to beat Paramount in the next round. Eden Tardy Eden Tardy 5'10" | OH Quince Orchard | 2026 State VA brings the offense to the left side while Sydnee Peters cracks the whip from the right side. Reagan Lentz impresses with her strong middle play.
Seven of the ten teams from the 15/16 Divisions advanced to the Gold Bracket. Only Metro 16, Virginia Jrs 16 and Blue Ridge 15 failed to advance to the gold bracket on the final day.