Paramount Earns Bid in the Ohio Qualifier; Metro Double Qualifies

Last year this group of Paramount girls upset Metro 17 in the Chesapeake Bid Regional finals, earning a bid to the USA Division. In the subsequent qualifiers Metro won an open bid but Paramount fell short of doing the same. Paramount did play well in the USA Division of the Junior Nationals that year. They fought their way to the gold bracket before losing in three sets in the first round of the playoffs.   Early this year the now Paramount 18U team did well on the first day of the qualifiers but struggled on the second day. They found themselves falling a couple points short of winning a match that might have got them an open bid. After falling short in the Florida Fest qualifier, a tournament in which Metro won a bid, the team picked up their intensity in practice and focused on developing a mental toughness that would allow them to advance.   The first day of the Ohio Qualifier had to be a little disappointing. Though they finished 2-1, they lost their last match to rival Metro 25-19, 25-22. The loss knocked them down to third place in their pool. If they were going to qualify they had to do well on the second day. This is what they had focused on at practice after the first two qualifiers came up short.   On Day 2 they won their first set against Legacy Addidas 25-20, then fell short in the second 25-18. Mental toughness? They found that in game three winning 15-7. In the first set of their second match against REV Avengers Paramount found themselves down 24-21. Mental toughness? Again, they found that and won the first set 26-24 while also winning the second set 25-9. They swept a CUVC Titan team that had also won their first two pool matches to earn their way to the gold bracket.   Three bids would be issued. Six teams were in the gold bracket. Metro and A5 had already won their bids. That made four teams shooting for three bids. It would really be disheartening if they fell short now. Mental toughness? They found that the third day as well, sweeping both their matches against Triangle Black and AVC Cleveland to put themselves in the finals against A5. They lost in three but a bid to the Open had been secured.   [player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot'] continues to be a steady presence on this team. In her three years at Alexandria City High she set the team to two championships. In the non-championship year they lost in the semifinals, their only loss of the year. During her three years setting at Alexandria City the team lost only three matches. For Paramount she shares the setting job with [player_tooltip player_id='209176' first='Madeline' last='Stewart'] to make this engine churn. Winning for Chloe has become a habit.<img class="wp-image-211276" style="width: 150px" src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/chloe.jpg" alt="">   One of the biggest changes this team made was picking up [player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] to hit left side. At times she was a one woman army for Bishop O'Connell, leading them to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship. The 5'8" [player_tooltip player_id='181201' first='Hannah' last='Howard'], the West Virginia Gatorade player of the year from two years ago, had hit left side for Paramount last year. She moved to the libero role this year. As our national writer Chris Fitzgerald learned, she plays an awesome libero.<img class="wp-image-295133" style="width: 150px" src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/DSC08785.jpg" alt="">   [player_tooltip player_id='181102' first='Rylah' last='Robinson'] returns as the other left side. Last year she earned a spot on the Junior Nationals All Tournament team. With the 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='181205' first='Helen' last='Frankovich'] a tower of strength on the right side Paramount has improved themselves on the pins and the back row with just one big addition.   In the back row they have some of the best depth in the Chesapeake area. Hannah won the libero spot but [player_tooltip player_id='111508' first='Haley' last='Gill'], [player_tooltip player_id='209185' first='Carly' last='Zimmet'] and Tiana Brasby can also provide spectacular back row play. Even at 6'2" [player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] handles passes like a libero and plays superb defense.   The team improved up the middle as well with a treasure of depth. [player_tooltip player_id='244502' first='Elysa' last='Pulliam'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181187' first='Tiffany' last='Moore'] combined to each hit over .400 in Ohio. They also have [player_tooltip player_id='240022' first='Maya' last='Van Wyngaardt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='236647' first='Elizabeth' last='Stackpole'] to contribute when called upon. [player_tooltip player_id='209181' first='Sonja' last='Meyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181105' first='Lauren' last='Brown'] also contribute to the right side. With so much physical talent finding that mental toughness has gotten them their bid.   Metro had already qualified for the Open at Junior Nationals by finishing third in the Florida Fest. They finished third in the Ohio Qualifier as well, which would have earned them a bid. Instead, that bid trickled down to Triangle Black.   Metro has a star studded lineup, with Gatorade Players of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] (Virginia) at setter and [player_tooltip player_id='181183' first='Pam' last='McCune'] (DC) at middle. Milan won her Gatorade Player of the Year award as a left side hitter. They also have 6'5" BYU commit [player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor'] at the other middle. Milan and Brielle were opponents in the Class 6 Virginia State Championship game. They feel better about being teammates for Metro 18.   [player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181097' first='Safi' last='Hampton'] are two electric left sides. [player_tooltip player_id='209171' first='Samantha' last='Dorn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] are offensive weapons on the right side. Very few teams can match that power with their pins.   The 6'0" [player_tooltip player_id='181196' first='Arleigh' last='Hanson'] is the other setter when Milan rotates to the front row. [player_tooltip player_id='181208' first='Gabby' last='Allen'] ranks as one of the top liberos in the area, voted along with [player_tooltip player_id='181097' first='Safi' last='Hampton'] to the Baltimore Sun All Met first team.   This is the first time two Chesapeake teams have finished as high as second and third in an open qualifier. It speaks volumes about the depth developing in the area. To add a little tickler, remember the name Blue Ridge.   Blue Ridge has a very strong beach program. They are located in the Winchester area. Many of their girls prefer to move from hard court to sand when April turns to May. Some still love the indoor game. Blue Ridge sent a 15U team down to Orlando last year to compete in the AAU Nationals. The team lost only one match in the gold final of the Premier Division to Santa Barbara Volleyball Club Blue, with the match going to a third set. Blue Ridge came up short 20-18.   With Metro and Paramount securing open bids at the Open level that leaves two spots free for new 18 teams to compete for a Junior National spot. March will identify who those teams are.

Last year this group of Paramount girls upset Metro 17 in the Chesapeake Bid Regional finals, earning a bid to the USA Division. In the subsequent qualifiers Metro won an open bid but Paramount fell short of doing the same. Paramount did play well in the USA Division of the Junior Nationals that year. They fought their way to the gold bracket before losing in three sets in the first round of the playoffs.