Blue Ridge and 540 VB 16 Elite Strike Gold at Shamrock

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was my third time reporting on the Shamrock tournament at Saint James. Finding parking to get to the tournament can be a challenge, but once that task is accomplished the volleyball excels. On Saturday I was able to watch 20 different teams play as we get ready to update the rankings in April. Later this week there will be a post on some of the new names discovered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 540 16 Elite team surprised the older competition by taking the 17 and 18 open. This was supposed to be a tune up for their Old Dominion Regional Bids coming up this weekend, but I think winning the tournament against the older age group states they are ready. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] cruised to victory in the 16 and 15 open while the 18 and 14 teams settled for silver. MVSA won the 14 Open. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a summary of the events. We focused on watching the Open competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17/18 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["435745"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f86eb473259"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This consisted of two 6 team pools with the top two teams from each pool advancing to a four team single elimination bracket. <strong>540 VB Elite 16 </strong>surprised their older competition by winning their pool without losing a match. They lost just one set a 25-11 stomping by [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 in the opening set. 540 Club 16 bounced back to take the next two sets 25-15 and 15-12. On the last match of the first day they barely squeaked past <strong>MOCO Matrix</strong> 26-24, 25-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']18 recovered from their loss to <strong>540 VB Elite 16 </strong>with a sweep over the eventual third place team [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] 18, 25-16, 25-14. They lost a set in each of their next two matches to <strong>EC Power Bucks</strong> and <strong>MOCO Matrix</strong> but recovered to win the third set and earn a spot in the gold playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other pool turned into a battle between three teams, [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17, <strong>VAVA 17 Blue</strong> and <strong>540 VB Elite 17</strong>. VAVA had lost a three set match to [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17, but then came back to upset 540 VB Elite 17 on the last match of the first day. Each team swapped 26-24 victories, but VAVA came back and won the third 15-11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This put pressure on <strong>540 VB Elite 17 </strong>to beat [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17. If they had beaten VAVA on that first day this final match would only determine seeding since both would have qualified for the playoffs. <strong>540 VB Elite 17 </strong>relies on middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309022' first='Peri' last='Linterman']</strong> and <strong>Elsie Affu</strong>l for much of their offense while [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']17 counts on left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> to string together their points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>540 VB Elite 17 </strong>took the first set 25-22 after a kill from right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523341' first='Makailah' last='Ford']</strong> put them up by one 22-21. She followed that up with two aces to extend the lead to 24-21. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> kill returned the serve to [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] down 22-24. <strong> Linnea Rouse </strong>gave the victory to 540<strong> </strong>with a tip kill extending just over the block for a 25-22 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='290899' first='Ava' last='Dickerson'] </strong>finished off the second set for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 with a kill in the deep corner to put them to within one point of victory. She blocked the next attempted kill to even the series, giving [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] the 25-21 win. The third set was close early but two kills each by setter/right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy']</strong> and an ace by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> advanced the score from 5-4 to 10-4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy']</strong> contributed two more kills to finish off the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15-5 third set victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That knocked 540 VB Elite 17 into the silver bracket. There, they were swept by<strong> MOCO Matrix 17 </strong>25-23, 25-22 in the first round of their playoffs. MOCO Matrix would then beat Liberty Elite 17 25-22, 25-22 to win the silver bracket. Moco brings some talent to the floor with middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson']</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='397545' first='Katelyn' last='Strike']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the gold bracket matches <strong>540 VB Academy 16 </strong>swept past <strong>VAVA </strong>25-19, 25-18. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 would pull off what they considered an upset by beating their younger sisters [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17, 27-25, 20-25, 15-13. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 was led by middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523314' first='Sarah' last='Starling'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523308' first='Madison' last='LaRue']</strong>, as well as left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523337' first='Ana' last='Smithson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360562' first='Keleigh' last='Chrisman']</strong>. Madison hit left side for <strong>Loudoun County </strong>and won player of the year for the Catoctin District. She played middle for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and showed off her beach skills by staying in the back row for defense and passing. Keleigh plays left side for West Virginia power house Musselman. With that kind of talent perhaps it was not so much of an upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third set [player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady'] contributed a block and a kill to close the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 lead to 13-14. A time out was called which was followed by a service error clinching the win for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 and an advance to the finals. Coaches love those missed serves after a time out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the finals <strong>540 VB Elite 16 </strong>had earlier beaten [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 in pool play. They proved this win was no fluke by squeaking past them in the first set 25-23. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] took advantage of four aces by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360562' first='Keleigh' last='Chrisman']</strong> to take the second set 25-20. Just as they did the first time these two teams played it came down to a third set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In that third set [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. The youngest player on the court, class of 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> went on a seven point service run that included two aces to give 540 an 8-5 lead. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] never got to within two points after that. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='360562' first='Keleigh' last='Chrisman']</strong> brought [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] to within two 12-14 with a kill and a block. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> ended the match by burying a quick set to the floor giving 540 VB Elite the 15-12 third set win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Open</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181280"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f86eb4732d8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in February [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']16 attempted to play in the 16 Open of the Charm City Challenge in Baltimore. That age group had filled so they instead played in the 18 open division. They were seeded 20 out of 20 teams. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']16 ended up winning all their matches up until the semi-final of the gold bracket. They lost that lone match to <strong>Virginia Elite </strong>to finish third. Perhaps the 17/18 Open in Shamrock would have offered them more competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They played in the only three team division, sweeping through their opponents in two three set matches. In those matches they gave their opponents no more than 12 points. Four of their six wins they kept their opponents to just single digits. This gave them a bye in the first round of the gold bracket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They played [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] 16, who captured a 16-14 third set victory over <strong>Academy 16</strong> in the first round of the playoffs. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] swept them in both sets 25-11. They are led by the number two ranked player in the class of 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong>. Class of 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs']</strong> quarterbacks the offense with her setting, running a 5/1 while the back row is controlled by libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> and defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320814' first='Alycia' last='Miller'].</strong> Alycia even got the opportunity to execute a couple back row attacks in the championship match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River City Volleyball Academy</strong> earned the bye on the other end. They lost their first set of the tournament 25-23 to Academy but then won their next five sets. They did not give up more than 14 points in those wins. River City relies on smaller middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='527009' first='Ella' last='Sumser']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='760164' first='Emma' last='Corker']</strong> to run quicks in the middle and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='519343' first='Dylan' last='Cline']</strong> and <strong>Emerson Combs </strong>to score points from the left side. <strong> Mackenzie Dodge</strong> orchestrated the offense running a 5/1. <strong>Anika Dodge</strong> kept the offense clicking with her back row play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River City</strong> kept the games close early but too much [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] resulted in 25-17 and 25-13 disappointments. Middle <strong>Drue Patterson</strong> had a solid outing for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 16 in the championship match, including the final kill to end the second match, rewarding [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 16 with the gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] only had to play four matches to win that gold. They won their 10 sets by an average score of 25 to 10.6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["499249"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f86eb47332b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15 had an easy go of it the first day. They swept through their opponents without giving up more than 18 points. Left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> appears to have grown while hitting the ball with greater velocity since the last time I watched her play. She brings an approach jump of 10 feet with her 5'9" height (but she looks taller than 5'9"). Class of 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>has yet to enter high school but stands 5'11", sets a strong game and hits the ball harder than many in the class of 2027. She will rank at the top of our class of 2028 once rankings are put together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The win earned them a bye for the gold bracket playoffs. Their first opponent <strong>American</strong> gave them a handful. Led by setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367784' first='Alexis' last='Steinmetz']</strong> and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437452' first='Jolie' last='Vignier'] </strong>they gave [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] their first defeat by beating them in the second set 25-18. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] recovered and took over the third set 15-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] then lost their first set to Premier Edge from Delaware 25-23. They recovered in the second set to win 25-12. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>contributed four kills while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> buried three to the floor, including the last point to give [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] the 15-8 set three win. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='521531' first='Natalie' last='Huck']</strong> impressed in the back row with her hustle. <strong>Olvia Allis</strong> brings a deadly left handed swing to the right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chesapeake Chirps</strong>: <strong>Metro 16</strong> earned a spot in the gold bracket at the Mid East Qualifiers in Indy. They had to win their three team pool against two powerhouses in <strong>Wave</strong> and <strong>Madfrog</strong> to earn a bid. They fell short so that means we will see them at the Chesapeake Bid Regionals at Adventist this weekend....It does appear <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']</strong> will focus on playing in AAUs this year. As far as I can see none of their teams are playing in the Chesapeake Regionals. Last year was their first appearance in the USAV junior nationals.....This year <strong>Virginia Elite </strong>teams are playing for appearances in the USAV nationals. Most of their teams have a chance to qualify for bids. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->