Additional Teams and Names to Know from Northeastern Qualifiers

On Monday I wrote about the teams from the 18U and 17U Open Division from the Northeastern Qualifiers. In the non-open 18 age brackets these are some of the other teams and names to know that did well. Unfortunately, no Virginia or Chesapeake team earned a bid from the other Divisions, but there were still some good performances.   American Division   Metro North    They were the one team to earn a spot in the gold bracket playoffs. While they lost in the first round to a strong Revolution Pgh White team it was a good effort to get that far. They finished tied for fifth with two of their three match losses coming against the second place Revolution team. The other loss came against a strong fifth place Colorado Spring Altitude team, who only lost one match all tournament.   Normally, when you think of Metro you think of the travel team. But they have some regional teams as well, and they have been competing so well that they are doing some travelling too. As with many of the Metro travel teams, the North brings some length. They also bring a scrappy defense, with players spending a lot of time hitting the floor to make some spectacular digs.   They rotate three middles. [player_tooltip player_id='338948' first='Anna' last='Feuer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='338949' first='Ever' last='McLaughlin'] both play for high schools in Frederick, Maryland and stand over 6 feet. They run the quicks in the middle well and can put up a good block. Logan Burge also spends time in the middle despite being a shade under 6 feet. She brings a high school championship to her game, having led Urbana to the Class 4 Maryland State championship. The 6'1 right side [player_tooltip player_id='338950' first='Kristen' last='Jennings'] provides some potent offense. Montgomery County voted the Magruder High standout to their first team.   Left side [player_tooltip player_id='181108' first='Jordan' last='Pryor'] and right side Carlee Darden are teammates at Middletown High School in Maryland. Jordan led her team in kills and plays an aggressive game of volleyball. That includes a jump spin serve and hard swings at the net no matter where the location of the set. She plays all six rotations. They both started their frosh season with Middleton winless then ended their senior season getting to the finals of the Class 2A Maryland State championship before losing to Liberty.   The setting duties are shared by [player_tooltip player_id='515542' first='Kaylee' last='Fang'] and Ariana Inamdar. They run the quicks to the middle well and play a hustling brand of defense. Mekenna Scott and Julia Gustafson share the libero roles. Julia also plays for Class 4 state champion Urbana High.   A talented roster that may still find their way to Nationals when they play in the Chesapeake Regional Bid this weekend.   Liberty Division   [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] Blue (pictured above from National Harbor win)   [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] got off to a slow start to their tournament. They lost the first two matches they played, to teams who ended up finishing third and seventh in the Liberty Division. After that, they won their remaining six matches. Granted, the schedule is much easier when you drop down to the second division. The last three matches went three sets, but they won them all.   The team relies on precision passing from their back row players, libero [player_tooltip player_id='238097' first='Angelina' last='Barrera'] and [player_tooltip player_id='239319' first='Emma' last='Cortez'] to ignite the offense. left sides [player_tooltip player_id='209168' first='Zaylie' last='Tamishiro'] and [player_tooltip player_id='314723' first='Emma' last='Sawruk'] also contribute to the passing game and provide offense with their three meter attacks. With this foursome on the court the team usually wins the long rallies.   They rotate setters [player_tooltip player_id='209175' first='Trisha' last='Guevara'] and [player_tooltip player_id='314725' first='Madeline' last='Schamaun']. Trisha plays the back row. She plays a tenacious defense, standing her ground against all hitters, but at 5'5 she can be a liability in the front row. That is when Madeline comes in. At 6'1" she provides a more menacing block and has the hands to set. She played for Wheaton High School and was named to the All Montgomery first team as a setter and outside hitter.   Madeline brought with her to [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] her Wheaton teammate [player_tooltip player_id='309029' first='Prinzez' last='Zeck'], who has spent most of her time playing basketball. She found some time to play volleyball her senior year and played well enough to earn Montgomery County second team honors for her strong presence in the middle. Her play still lacks consistency but when she finds her zone she is tough to contain. At 6'1" she carries a strong physical presence at the net.   [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] will also be playing in the Chesapeake Regional Bid this weekend.   USA Division   Virginia Juniors    Virginia Juniors did the opposite of [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite']. They started out strong with three victories that pushed them into the first division. On the second day against better competition things did not go quite as well. They lost all three of their matches, with two of them going three sets. That dropped them to the bronze bracket where they recovered to win their last two matches to end the tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='200199' first='Ava' last='Ray'] was not available to set for this tournament. This left the setting responsibilities to her Riverside High School teammate [player_tooltip player_id='238096' first='Sage' last='Duggal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181180' first='Kelsey' last='Holmes']. Sage can be sneaky with her two handed dumps to the center of the opponent's court that usually fall untouched. Kelsey stays in the front row to hit right side and can provide some offense.   At 5'9" [player_tooltip player_id='224016' first='Kezia' last='Francis'] may be small for a left side, but she brings a good vertical and plays all six rotations. Virginia Juniors sometimes breaks out a two person serve receive with Kezia and libero [player_tooltip player_id='239270' first='EllaMae' last='Fitzgerald']. Defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='209182' first='Sofia' last='Hardy'] can also be part of that two person serve receive.   The 6'3" Auburn commit [player_tooltip player_id='209180' first='Jasmine' last='Okeoma'] clogs up the middle with her blocking. She can be an intimidating presence.   Virginia Juniors will also be competing in the Chesapeake Regional Bid for 18U this weekend.   Othe Players who stood out   [player_tooltip player_id='231680' first='Natalie' last='Brown'] RS (American) - She brings a good left handed swing to the right side and carries a good presence on the court. At 5'9" she may lack the height to block the taller left sides. Nice jump and good arm extension to get her share of kills.   Prisha Francis MB (MVSA Chaos) - At 6'2" she brings some length to the middle. Her main strength is her blocking. She plays both basketball and volleyball for Holy Cross.   Jada Willams MB (Club 540) - She played middle but can also hit outside. At 6'0" she carries some length. Watched her ring up six points with her serve. During that run she scored three aces, put up two digs and showed off some nice hands dishing out a set to the outside. Jada was a first teamer All Commonwealth performer for Stafford High School.

On Monday I wrote about the teams from the 18U and 17U Open Division from the Northeastern Qualifiers. In the non-open 18 age brackets these are some of the other teams and names to know that did well. Unfortunately, no Virginia or Chesapeake team earned a bid from the other Divisions, but there were still some good performances.