DMV 15U Teams to Watch at AAUs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The AAUs will begin soon with the 14Us starting today, June 13th. The 15U age group will run from June 17-20. That group comprises 44 teams from the DMV area competing in the various divisions. Unlike the USAV Junior Nationals where you have to qualify to play, any team can participate in the AAU junior national championships. All you have to do is enter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams are broken out into seven divisions. By order of competitiveness the seven Divisions are 1) Open, 2) Premier, 3) Elite, 4) Club, 5) Aspire, 6) Spirit and 7) Classic. For brevity's sake only the top three Divisions in the 15U age group will be discussed. That whittles the 44 teams down to 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["490759"],"_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-666aff29595e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='490759' first='Ivy' last='Wirth'] has been playing up her her entire volleyball career. Next year she will start her frosh campaign. That should begin at Bishop O'Connell. She hits the ball hard with good arm extension. The potential exists for a six rotation player. It would not surprise me for the class of 2028 rankings if she did not reach the top ten. Her older sister Alana plays for O'Connell and belongs to the class of 2026. Alana plays libero but a hip injury prevented her from playing last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Elite</strong> - They are the only DMV team competing in the Open Division. There are over 60 teams competing in this Division. Virginia Elite starts the bracket play as the fourth seed in their four team pool. According to AES rankings Virginia Elite ranks 30th in the Chesapeake Region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch - Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325403' first='Annabelle' last='Kim'] </strong>ranked number 29 in the class of 2027. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529254' first='Gracie' last='Davig'] </strong>(65), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs']</strong> (74), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438043' first='Katherine' last='McLaughlin']</strong> (79), Libero/defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520868' first='Caroline' last='Semko']</strong> (watch list) and left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='490759' first='Ivy' last='Wirth']</strong> (class of 2028 possible top ten).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Premier</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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666aff29596d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Breeze could be the top prospect in the class of 2028 rankings. She sets but at 6'0' she also stands out as one of the top hitters on the team while playing right side. Last year [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] played USAV Junior Nationals and the coach was disappointed that their second setter suffered an injury prior to the event. That forced Breeze to set a 5/1 and took her offense away from the court. An avid beach player she can do it all. Ask her to play libero and she could probably get the job done. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']</strong> Blue - They appear to be the number two seed in this division of close to 100 teams and the number one seed in their pool. Based on information in AES they rank number five in the Chesapeake Region but one of five teams ranked in the top 100 nationally. The four teams ranked ahead of them will play in USAV Junior Nationals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch - Setter/right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536715' first='Breeze' last='Johnson']</strong> (could be top player in class of 2028), left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> (13), Setter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='451960' first='Paisley' last='Cook'] </strong>(24), Libero/DS<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='437980' first='Katherine' last='Madden']</strong> (37), Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438086' first='Emmeri' last='Bishop']</strong> (47), right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437978' first='Olivia' last='Allis'] </strong>(54), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='526876' first='Natalie' last='Huck']</strong> (145, class of 2026). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia</strong> - They are a number one seed in their three team pool and the 25th seed for their division. AES ranks them at number seven.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438121' first='Rhian' last='O'Connor'] </strong>(81). She appears on the AES roster but not on the AAU tournament roster. Unfortunately, did not view any Columbia matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] </strong>- They rank fourth in their pool. For AES they rank 53 in the Chesapeake Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - right side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='390169' first='Katherine' last='Russell'] </strong>(18), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464556' first='Kennedy' last='Peyton']</strong> (40) setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='498080' first='Olivia' last='Laird']</strong> (82)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. James Navy</strong> - St.James Navy sits as the third seed in their pool. They rank 27 in the Chesapeake Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - No players ranked in the top 100. Do not recall watching them play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>757 National</strong> - They seed number two in their pool. In AES they rank as the number one team in 15U in the Old Dominion Region. I watched them play in the East Coast Championship. They are fundamentally sound and could surprise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471714' first='Ryann' last='Bothof']</strong> (watch list) but played well in East Coast Championship. Left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='545710' first='Avery' last='Osler']</strong>, right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545458' first='Elisa' last='Chaminess']</strong> also played well at East Coast Championship. All three could make the updated class of 2027 ratings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charlottesville Area Volleyball Club</strong> - They sit as the third seed in their bracket. The Old Dominion Region ranks them 29th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - None. I have not seen them play. Their roster carries a number of players from the Class of 2028 and three from the Class of 2026..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437452"],"_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-666aff2959721"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A difference maker in the middle. At 6'2" she can put up a wall but she puts the ball down as well. Last year she played for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] but this year moved to American. Last year Battlefield reached the finals of the Class 6 state championship, but eventually lost to Langley. That team has lost middle Brianna Clay to graduation. Jolie stands ripe to take over that middle spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>American</strong> - American sits as the second seed in their pool. There are close to 130 teams in the Elite Division. American ranks 15th in the Chesapeake. They did not play in the Chesapeake Regional Qualifiers but they did finish an impressive third out of 128 teams in the American Division of the Northeast Qualifiers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437452' first='Jolie' last='Vignier']</strong> (22), Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530368' first='Sadie' last='Barrera']</strong> (46), right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465321' first='Marissa' last='Turek']</strong> (63), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530394' first='Christine' last='Baybayan'] </strong>(96), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530393' first='Violet' last='Masiello'] </strong>(100), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530392' first='Reese' last='Roberts'] </strong>(watch list), setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367784' first='Alexis' last='Steinmetz'] </strong>(60, class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro North</strong> - They are the third seed in their bracket. Their Chesapeake ranking is just below American at 16. Playing in the Chesapeake Regional Qualifiers they finished a disappointing ninth. As fas as I know a Metro Regional team has yet to qualify for USAV Junior Nationals, but Metro North was close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438122' first='Araiah' last='Chapman']</strong> (49), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438120' first='Sydney' last='Young']</strong> (78)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockville Volleyball Academy</strong> - They are ranked fourth in their pool. A 94 ranking in AES for the Chesapeake Region seems to make this level a challenge for them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - I have yet to see them play. In 2016 they started as Vive Volley and then rebranded as Rockville in 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saint James White</strong> - Their first team St. James Navy is playing in the Premier Division. They are also a fourth seed in their pool and in the Chesapeake Region rank at 93 just ahead of Rockville Volleyball Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch - Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477435' first='Jaida' last='Mostafa']</strong> (89, she has also signed up for our Stockup Expo in Rockville), setter <strong>Josefa Alarcon-Garcia</strong> (she played for me last year on a second team). She has gone from a player I never thought would survive as a setter on the court to someone who works hard and is making it happen. Still a long way to go. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] National</strong> - RVC sits as a two seed in their pool. For the Old Dominion Region they rank fifth. They recently played in an ACPL Grand Prix and went undefeated, even defeating 757 National, which plays in the Premier Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch - left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='536717' first='London' last='Jones']</strong> (class of 2028 - possibly fitting in our top ten), left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464573' first='Blake' last='Crawford']</strong> (16), Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528727' first='Avery' last='Hurley']</strong> (67, class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->