The Showdown Surprise and Some Rumble Prospects

Chesapeake Showdown   Ironic that Paramount 18 completed a surprising 5th place finish in the Open Division at the USAV Junior Nationals 18 in probably their last junior's tournament of their career. During the same weekend Paramount 14 shocked the Chesapeake Region with a first place finish at the Chesapeake Showdown in the 15-16 age group. This class of 2027 are just beginning their junior volleyball careers. Quite a contrast.   The Paramount 14 team came into the tournament listed as the fourth seed in their pool. Joining them in the pool were two 16 teams and a 15 MVSA Charge team ranked fourth in AES. Paramount disposed of the first 16 team pretty easily and then beat the Charge in three, winning the third game 15-4. Colombia 16 Black created some problems for Paramount in the first game (27-25) but were beaten pretty handily in set two (25-18). First hurdle accomplished.   To advance to the gold bracket Paramount had to beat another 16 team, MVSA Warriors. They accomplished that 25-18, 25-21. The gold bracket was next. The first match came against Liberty Elite 15, the sixth rated 15 team according to AES. Paramount pulled off another upset 25-22, 27-25.   Their final challenge came against the top seed in the tournament and the 6th rated Chesapeake 16 team according to AES. MOCO Mayhem had swept all five of their opponents up until this point. The team filled with a roster of girls who have yet to see high school swept their sophomore opponents 25-23, 25-8. What a tournament and quite the Cinderella story.   Though Paramount may be young their roster burns with talent. They won the Chesapeake 14 Regionals, Volley by the James and finished third in Capital Hill Classic. Now they can add the Chesapeake Showdown first place finish to their list of accomplishments. These girls will be playing in Chicago at the Junior Nationals in the National Division.   They have two middles in [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='437452' first='Jolie' last='Vignier'], who both stand 6'1" and reach 9'9". The two outsides can also bury the ball in the 5'11" [player_tooltip player_id='437448' first='Eva' last='Collingham'] and the smaller 5'8" [player_tooltip player_id='279856' first='Kayla' last='Luther']. Kayla played some libero for Metro but got little playing time as a 12 playing on the 13 team. She moved to Paramount where she now covers the court as a six rotation left side.   Paramount runs a 6'2" with [player_tooltip player_id='325403' first='Annabelle' last='Kim'] and [player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks'] taking on the setting responsibilities. The two rotate out for taller right sides who can pack the offense. Sophia DelaRosa at 5'10 is one of those taller right side players. Last year Sophia made her high school team (Bishop McNamera) as a frosh. Diane Nzoupet plays a solid libero.   As one Paramount team finishes their junior's career another is just getting started.   Revolutionary Rumble   This past weekend I coached two teams in Williamsburg at the Revolutionary Rumble. I got a chance to watch a little bit of the 15 and 16 Division. Below are some of the players who impressed.   15s   The most impressive team came from the Carolinas, Sandhills Doug and Val. They lost only one set to Braddock Road in the semifinals but won the third set 19-17 to advance and win in the finals. They have a gifted athletic team that includes two tall middles in Logan Scott and Rama Diop. Their quick sets were a little slow in developing, but they put the ball down. They also had a solid setter in Terry Khloe who distributed the sets well. She also brought a good serve to the game. Libero Kathryn Kittinger played a quick back row. A solid team.   The team Sandhills swept in the finals was a talented team from the Old Dominion Region Peake Volleyball Academy. Three of their players were last minute additions to the class of 2026 rankings. [player_tooltip player_id='389652' first='Makayla' last='Waiters'] impressed the most with her vertical jump in the middle. Her hands reached so high over the net that she touched almost everything on the block. She also showed the ability to hit a higher set in the middle. Her ranking at 35 was the highest of the trio.   Left side [player_tooltip player_id='389651' first='Alani' last='Kincaid'] ranked at 43. She seemed taller than her listed height of 5'9". Her hits had good velocity, but it would be nice if she developed a roll or tip shot rather than the two hand set shot over the net. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='389663' first='Peyton' last='Ashworth'] slotted in at 61. She is a smaller player with a quick, whippy arm swing that delivers the ball to the floor quick.   16s   Only saw the last point of the final at the 16 level. Peake Volleyball Academy defeated NKJV Coyotes 15-11 in the third set. I did watch the semifinal match between NKJV Coyotes and DYS Thunder. The Coyotes won in two.   Two players who impressed me for the Coyotes were left side Fallon Greenawalt and right side Lexi Powell. Fallon stands about 5'8" but brings a good vertical to her game. She played six rotations. Fallon plays for New Kent High School and ranked second on her team in kills. Lexi also plays for New Kent, stands smaller than Fallon at 5'6" but strokes the ball hard. On the roster she is listed as a left side, but in the game I watched she played right side. She ranks third on the New Kent High team in kills and first in ace serves.. She belongs to the class of 2024.   DYS Thunder middle Kate Workman hits the ball hard. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='240029' first='Juliet' last='Correll'] moves well in the back row. She brings a good platform for passing. Last year she set for Dominion High School and ranks number 85 in our class of 2025.

Chesapeake Showdown