Columbia Wins Chesapeake 18 Bid Regionals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whoever did the seeding for this tournament did a pretty good job. Perhaps their one major fault was to identify Columbia as the number two seed when they actually won the tournament. They will now earn a National bid at the 18 Junior Nationals in Baltimore. <strong>Metro</strong> did not participate in this event because they already qualified for an Open bid at the Ohio Valley Qualifier. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] also did not play but as far as I know they have yet to qualify for a junior national bid. Those at the tournament thought they had qualified but I found no record of that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams were broken out into four pools of three teams each. Pool play went as expected with the number one seeds finishing 2-0, the two seeds 1-1 and the three seeds 0-2. All matches resulted in sweeps except the last one where it took <strong>Metro North </strong>three sets to beat <strong>American</strong>. <strong>Virginia Elite</strong>, <strong>Columbia</strong>, <strong>Renaissance Black</strong> and <strong>Metro North</strong> all earned byes for the first round of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first round of the playoffs the 1-1 teams were pitted against the 0-2 teams. All the matches resulted in sweeps except one. It took <strong>Virginia Juniors</strong> three sets to eliminate <strong>MVSA Chaos</strong>. The losers in the first round of the playoffs, <strong>MVSA Chaos</strong>, <strong>Virginia Acadamy Volleyball Club</strong>, <strong>Liberty Elite </strong>and [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] were all eliminated. For the rest of the tournament the loser's bracket would be double elimination, except when the final two teams were decided.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once it got to the second round of the playoffs the matches became more intense. We break out the top four teams based on their finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia Volleyball Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["224123"],"_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-65e69d3485158"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A second place finish to Metro at the Capitol Hill Classic gave them a second seed for the tournament. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235746' first='MacKenzie' last='Calhoun']</strong> earned my vote for the MVP of the tournament based on the way she ran the offense in the tournament. She set a 5/1 using all areas of the net and her tempo to find her hitters on the quick sets always seemed spot on. She set low inside twos to the outsides, slides to the middle, shoots to the middle and bics to the back row attackers. As far as I know, she only missed once in connecting with her hitters, pretty good when you consider the number of locations and heights she incorporated in her offense. MacKenzie will take her craft to Lafayette. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To open the second round of the playoffs Columbia took care of MOJO 25-17, 25-19. In the next round they crushed a strong Renaissance team 25-14, 25-16. However, taking the game into the finals did not come as easy. Once there they fought an intense battle with Maryland Jrs 25-18, 25-27, 15-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first set middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517924' first='Rayah' last='Howell']</strong> ran back to back slides, getting dug on the first one but putting the second slide down. Later, she added a traditional quick middle kill to give Columbia a 17-14 lead. They never let Maryland Jrs. get to within three points after that kill. <strong>Morgan Harris</strong> finished the game off with an ace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second set went overtime with Columbia running out of substitutions. Defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517927' first='Neve' last='Norris'] </strong>had to stay in the front row to hit but showed she was capable. For her high school team she hit outside. During the tournament she also powered some back row attacks. Towards the end of the second set [player_tooltip player_id='235747' first='Natalia' last='PeBenito'] made a nice dig and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517924' first='Rayah' last='Howell']</strong> finished it off with a block to give Columbia match point at 24-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> returned to her middle position with the availability of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517498' first='Ziqing' last='Zhou']</strong> to hit outside. Her quick hit in the middle tied the score 24-24. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517924' first='Rayah' last='Howell']</strong> returned the favor with her quick kill in the middle to give Columbia match point again 25-24. A free ball kill in the triangle tied the score and swung the momentum to Maryland Juniors. Harmon completed a monster block and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='517498' first='Ziqing' last='Zhou'] </strong>finished off the game with a kill to give Maryland Juniors the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortunately for Columbia the free ball kill did not cost them the match. They got down early 7-4 in the third set but back to back aces by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235747' first='Natalia' last='PeBenito']</strong> tied the game at 7-7. The set remained close with Maryland Juniors taking a 13-12 lead on a quick set kill from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481857' first='Kaley' last='Maclellan']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517929' first='Abena' last='Asomani'] </strong>countered with a critical kill from the left side to tie the game at 13-13. That was followed by a [player_tooltip player_id='235746' first='MacKenzie' last='Calhoun'] ace to move Columbia to match point again at 14-13. This time they closed it out when right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517932' first='Valerie' last='Ashamu']</strong> hit one off a Maryland Junior block. It became a perfect slow motion moment as the ball traveled across the Columbia side of the court until finally landing just out on the left side to give Columbia the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399506' first='Jocelyn' last='Rogers']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517934' first='Selah' last='Brashear']</strong> also made significant contributions to the Columbia gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Juniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["319714"],"_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-65e69d34851d3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Maryland Juniors had won the last set my MVP of the tournament could have gone to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517498' first='Ziqing' last='Zhou']</strong>. She hit well whether striking the ball from the front row or back row, played a solid defense and passed well. She even showed off some good hands with a number of out of system sets. Her serve was strong but she did not show the jump spin serve she broke out at the National Harbor tournament. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> moved to the middle while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='361569' first='Malani' last='Martin'] </strong>hit from the other left side. Kiara put together some timely kills from the middle and contained the opponent offense with her blocking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their first two playoff matches Maryland Juniors played the revenge card. Last week in an 18 open tournament they lost to Metro North in the finals. They had a rematch with them in the second round of the playoffs, crushing them in the first set 25-14 then getting crushed in the second set 25-13. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third set a Metro North hitting error and a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> overset kill gave Maryland a 4-2 lead that they would never relinquish. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='361569' first='Malani' last='Martin']</strong> ended the match with a kill for a 15-10 win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second revenge match came against Virginia Elite, who beat them in the finals at National Harbor. In the first set Virginia Elite appeared to have the game under wraps with a 24-20 lead. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='319714' first='Maya' last='Ogbogu']</strong> tip kill and a couple lasers from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517498' first='Ziqing' last='Zhou']</strong> gave Juniors a 25-24 lead. Virginia Elite recovered with a [player_tooltip player_id='180301' first='Elle' last='Jubeck'] ace sandwiched between two [player_tooltip player_id='181233' first='Aaliyah' last='Howell'] kills to give Virginia Elite a 27-25 first set win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Elite had the lead for most of set two. A tough serve by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='395680' first='Kaila' last='Baker']</strong> tied the score 23-23. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> followed that up with a block and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye'] </strong>finished it off with a tip kill from the right side to cement a 25-23 win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third set Maryland Juniors kept a slim lead for most of the set, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237239' first='Azavia' last='Thomas']</strong> made a statement kill to pull <strong>Virginia Elite</strong> to within one 12-13. It could have been a momentum shifting event but [player_tooltip player_id='361569' first='Malani' last='Martin'] responded with her own kill to pull them to within one of match point. [player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon'] finished the set off with a kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398249' first='Kaiyana' last='Rawlins']</strong> played most of the tournament as the libero. She kept the offense flowing with her passing and played a solid defense. Most of the setting was done by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399506' first='Jocelyn' last='Rogers']</strong> running a 5/1 but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']</strong> contributed to switch things up. Amy would do most of her setting from the front row and it paid off with a set two winning dump. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180301"],"_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-65e69d348523a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the past Virginia Elite did not participate in the Chesapeake Bid Qualifiers. Their policy was to only play at the open level qualifiers and since the Chesapeake Qualifiers did not give them an open bid they went to AAUs instead. Their third place finish at the tournament could make it their first appearance in a USAV Junior Nationals tournament since I moved to the area more than twenty years ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They came into the event as the number one seed. In their opening match they beat a strong Virginia Jrs. team 25-18, 25-22. Defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180303' first='Karen' last='Cao']</strong> played some hustling defense, making some great plays to keep the ball from hitting the floor. She made a diving one handed dig of a spike and while she was lying on the floor saw the ball from the second contact come toward her. Struggling to get off the floor she dove forward and put the ball over the net. Virginia Juniors responded with a hitting error. If she had not made that play the score would have been 23-23 instead of 24-22. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='515601' first='Claire' last='Burducea'] </strong>finished off the match with a kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They next lost a heartbreaker to Maryland Juniors, after winning the first 27-25. The next two sets they fell short, losing 25-23 and 15-12. You can read about that match in the Maryland Jrs section. Virginia Elite earned a third place finish by defeating Renaissance 26-24 and 25-7. Renaissance finished fourth and also earned a bid,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others who played well for Virginia Elite included middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180298' first='Alice' last='Holoubek']</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson']</strong>, libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180301' first='Elle' last='Jubeck']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237239' first='Azavia' last='Thomas']. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Juniors</strong> (Edit - Read the bracket incorrectly. Renaissance took fourth and earned the bid. Virginia Jrs. finished fifth and are next in line.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Normally, when Virginia Jrs enters local events they are given a high seed. For this tournament they were the seventh seed. After their loss to <strong>Virginia Elite</strong> they had to topple a strong <strong>Metro North </strong>team (25-22 and 25-16) and eliminate MOJO 25-9, 28-26 to earn the second third place slot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players who had strong performances were left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243772' first='Charizma' last='Lofton']</strong>, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='413247' first='Madison' last='Smith']</strong> and right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209789' first='Seliz' last='Aktuglu']</strong>. Even though she still hit right side Seliz played six rotations, being used as an attacker in the back row. At 5'9" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='413247' first='Madison' last='Smith']</strong> is a small middle who brings a good vertical to the game. She had some key hits and blocks that allowed Virginia Juniors to advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others Who Impressed</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["233000"],"_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-65e69d348529f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> (MOJO) - The left side was clearly their go to player when MOJO needed a kill. At 6'1" she has length for a left side. Maura will take her game to Salisbury college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235295' first='Hannah' last='Kotb']</strong> (MOJO) - She always plays incredible defense. Hannah gets low to the ground to get those rally saving digs. She actually belongs to the class of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='348735' first='Audrey' last='Monlux']</strong> and <strong>Caroline Christensen</strong> (MOJO) - They did a solid job of running the offense. Caroline pulled off a nice one handed quick set that resulted in a kill and started a large celebration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235276' first='Taelin' last='Connolley']</strong> and <strong>Caroline Towle </strong>(American) - Two smaller six rotation left sides who provided the bulk of the offense for American. Taelin played some incredible defense and could be a plus as a libero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Claudia Arjona </strong>(American) - Liked her soft hands and her ability to dump the ball into the four spot for what we call the pineapple kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517920' first='Lena' last='McCarthy']</strong> (Metro North) - Her libero play was excellent. She always seemed to be in the right spot to dig the hard driven balls. It appeared she was playing pepper with the Maryland Juniors pins during their match the way she dug so many hits. She also passed well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309025' first='Payton' last='Swinton']</strong> (Renaissance) - Payton may be small for a right side but she brings a powerful left handed swing that always found the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All tournament team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235746' first='MacKenzie' last='Calhoun']</strong> (Columbia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>left sides - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517498' first='Ziqing' last='Zhou']</strong> (Maryland Juniors), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243772' first='Charizma' last='Lofton']</strong> (Virginia Juniors), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> (MOJO)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middles - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> (Maryland Juniors), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180298' first='Alice' last='Holoubek']</strong> (Virginia Elite), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517924' first='Rayah' last='Howell'] </strong>(Columbia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309025' first='Payton' last='Swinton']</strong> (Renaissance), </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero/Defensive specialist - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235747' first='Natalia' last='PeBenito']</strong> (Columbia), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='517920' first='Lena' last='McCarthy']</strong> (Metro North)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235746' first='MacKenzie' last='Calhoun']</strong> (Columbia), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson']</strong> (Virginia Elite) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Utility - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235276' first='Taelin' last='Connolley']</strong> (American) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->