17U DMV Teams to Watch at AAUs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the last age group to play in AAUs. They play June 25-28. No DMV teams play in Open and the 17U lacks an Elite Division. For this age group 39 Chesapeake and Old Dominion teams play. Just nine DMV teams below play in the Premier Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Premier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beach Elite Black</strong> (1/250)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - They are the top rated team in the Old Dominion Region. [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] and [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] represent the Old Dominion Region in USAV Junior Nationals. Based on their National ranking they only earned a second seed in their pool. They did finish first in their last tournament (Coastal Clash) where they beat [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club']. Beach Elite played in two National Qualifiers and fell short of a bid in the USA Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='245600' first='Peyton' last='McGee'] </strong>(38, Bucknell), right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481962' first='Gabby' last='Taylor']</strong> (115, Iona), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434854' first='Sadie' last='Wilkinson'] </strong>(115), Libero/DS <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434856' first='Sydney' last='Stone']</strong> (144), left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='333654' first='Santina' last='Martcheva']</strong> (46, class of 2026), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484970' first='Sofia' last='Barnes'] </strong>(94, class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] </strong>(4/80)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181299"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6676e2c36e1e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ada was voted by Max Preps as the top player in West Virginia. She led her high school team Musselman to the semi-finals of the West Virginia State championships. The six rotation left side remains one of the top ranked players who has yet to commit. Her left side contributions along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> place [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] among the top 100 club teams nationally at 17U.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] ranks as the top national team in the Chesapeake Region, even ahead of Metro, but when ranked locally they sit in the fourth spot. At the Charm City Challenge [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] was victorious over Beach Elite and Columbia but lost to Metro. At the end of the day they finished in second place in Charm City. This puts them as a first seed in their pool and a six seed for the tournament. In the one National Qualifier they played in [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] finished fifth, which earned them a bid in the USA Division for Nationals. They declined the bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy'] </strong>(11), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> (12, William &amp; Mary), Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White']</strong> (16, North Alabama), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='290899' first='Ava' last='Dickerson']</strong> (20), right side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='309032' first='Samantha' last='Stephens'] </strong>(33), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='508159' first='Allie' last='Lynch']</strong> (watch list), Libero/DS (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377327' first='Isabella' last='DeWan']</strong> (84, class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia Red</strong> (16/538)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - Columbia finished first and second in a few local tournaments. The only National Qualifier they played in was Northeast where they finished in the middle of the pack in the USA Division. Their body of work earned them a second seed for their pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397547' first='Mariya' last='Carson']</strong> (97)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] </strong>(51/1616) - pictured above</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] normally finishes in the middle of the pack in their tournaments. They played in the American Division at the Northeast Qualifier and finished 65 out of 127 teams. That puts them at a fourth seed in their pool. Definitely talent worth watching on this team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483590' first='Rania' last='Lahbibi']</strong> (42), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520365' first='Elyssamae' last='Shifflet'] </strong>(107), Libero/DS [player_tooltip player_id='520362' first='Abby' last='Nguyen'] (109), right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520360' first='Carmen' last='Quinn-Irons']</strong> (118)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOV Nat'l </strong>(8/632)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - Heart of Virginia did not play in any major tournaments that I am familiar with except the Capitol Hill Classic. They finished 45th out of 64 teams. They are still a second seed in their pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - A mixture of 2025s through 2027s on their roster. I did not get a chance to see them play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Juniors Black</strong> (8/365)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - They finished short of earning a bid at the USAV Junior Nationals. A seventh place finish at the Chesapeake Regional put them short of earning a USAV Junior Nationals bid. Two appearances in National Qualifiers (Liberty and Open) also came up short. Two first place and two second place finishes in local tournaments earns them a second seed in their pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='434859' first='Gabriella' last='Prather']</strong> (41), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520371' first='Brooke' last='Gordon']</strong> (71), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393939' first='Gabrielle' last='Washington']</strong> (73), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520368' first='Tatum' last='Hall']</strong> (77), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520372' first='Olivia' last='McDonough'] </strong>(84), right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399509' first='Lauryn' last='Allen']</strong> (139), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434860' first='Jasmine' last='Nelson']</strong> (146)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVSA Stars</strong> (5/131)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235748"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6676e2c36e28e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For her high school team she set and hit right side, leading Richard Montgomery to the class 4 Maryland State Championships. For her club she primarily hits right side and plays six rotations. Her left handed swing is built for the right side. Ema remains the only player in our top ten who has yet to commit. Voted player of the year for Montgomery County. If there is one player to see at this tournament not playing in an Open Division it would be Ema.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - A disappointing seventh place finish in the Chesapeake Regionals prevented this team from making the USAV Junior Nationals. This same group of girls fared well at previous Junior Nationals the last two years. Injuries to key players forced them to modify their lineup. A third place finish out of 91 teams in the Liberty Division in the Northeast Qualifier also came up short, but shows the talent still exists on this roster when healthy. They have won at least four different tournaments during the season. Perhaps one of the more talented teams without a player on the roster with a college commitment. They are a number one seed in their pool, 11th in the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - right side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong> (5), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong> (26), Libero/DS <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235749' first='Kareena' last='Rathnam']</strong> (34), Libero/DS <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='306543' first='Sherry' last='Ye']</strong>, Left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320821' first='Jordyn' last='Palazzo']</strong> (39), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye'] </strong>(63), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322103' first='Iris' last='Duan']</strong> (89), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322104' first='Katie' last='Tomaszewski']</strong> (95)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors'] Nationals</strong> (21/799)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - They only played in one National Qualifier (Mideast) failing to get an American bid. Three top five finishes in out of state tournaments makes them a team to watch. River Valley takes a third seed into their pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - A number of 2026 and 2027s on their roster. None have crossed my path.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <strong>St. James Navy</strong> (39/1322)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Info - St. James only played in one National Qualifier, the USA Division in the Northeast. They come into this tournament as a fourth seed in their pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Libero/DS <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476364' first='Amber' last='Smith'] </strong>(112), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181308' first='Taylor' last='Erickson']</strong> (140) middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502336' first='Melia' last='Collins'] </strong>(watch list), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221032' first='Wynn' last='Mendez Eaton']</strong> (30, class of 2026) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chesapeake Chirps</strong>: In the AAU 15U Premier Division [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] reached the Championship bracket. They had their struggles in the first two days of pool play losing to A5 Chattanooga and DME Elite. Despite this they still managed to qualify for the championship bracket. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round to eventual champion A5 Victor. That put them in ninth place. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] is led by setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536715' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'],</strong> left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437980' first='Katherine' last='Madden']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->