Top Travel Teams in the DMV for 16U and 15U

With the club season winding down it provides a good opportunity to identify the top five clubs in the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area in the 15-18U age groups. A couple days ago the 18U and 17U were identified. This post will take a look at the 16U and 15U. Five teams in the 15U age group found a spot in the top 100 nationally. A very impressive showing for such a young group bodes well for the future. Metro 16U and Paramount 15U will be playing in the Open Division at Junior Nationals.   16U   Metro (36) - This team brings the potential to win a Junior National tournament if all the pieces work. There still exists some rawness in this group. They qualified for the Open Division by finishing third at the Northeast Qualifier. When I look at the talent on this roster I wonder how they lose a match.   The 5'10" [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] may actually be the best all around player in the group, flying high over the net while depositing her missiles to the floor. She plays six rotations and stays busy in the back row hitting bics. At the Capitol Hill Classic she earned the MVP award. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] rises to 10'8" with her approach jump, earning her a spot on the 20 player roster for the U19 USA national team. The 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] dominates when in a zone. She just needs to work on gaining more consistency with her approach and work on the back row aspects of her game. The 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner'], the 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='490643' first='Bryah' last='Breaux'] and the 6'2" [player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt'] are other options at the pins. Trying to fit five players in four spots creates a challenge for any coach.   The middles are held by [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'], who won best blocker at the Capitol Hill Classic, [player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek'], [player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie']. Simone lists at 5'9" but her excellent timing and long limbs allows her to put up good blocks in the middle. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] comes from the 2027 class. She can also bring an important offensive presence to the front row but her 5'8" height keeps her at libero.   The setters are [player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su'], though [player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] could be back from injury soon. [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] plays libero with both [player_tooltip player_id='377326' first='Elly' last='Vanlandingham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Giselle' last='Norris'] getting back row opportunities.   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] (54) - The club that remains unfamiliar from a national perspective ranks 54th nationally. The only National Qualifier they played in was the Northeast and they earned a USA bid with their second place finish. Unfortunately, they turned it down because of a commitment to AAUs. They also finished third in the Charm City Challenge playing in the 18 Open because the 16 Open had filled. They went 4-1, losing only to Virginia Elite.   The star player on the team rests on the shoulders of the 5'11" [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']. She lacks great height, her jump is rather ordinary but her volleyball IQ is off the charts. As a frosh and sophomore she has led James Wood to two state championships, leading the team in kills. In the past she has always played a year up. This year she has repeated at the 16 level and dominated. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] is her teammate at James Wood and is their second leading hitter at James Wood overcoming her 5'5" height by finding the empty spots on the court. Another player who carries a high volleyball IQ. For [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] she plays libero, showing great range covering the court and anticipating well.   Other players who contribute to their success is class of 2025 setter [player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs']. For the most part she sets a 5/1. She also set for North Hagerstown and helped them win a state championship. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='320814' first='Alycia' last='Miller'] fill their positions well as does undersized left side [player_tooltip player_id='525340' first='Olivia' last='Smith'].   No mystery why this team is tough to beat. When you study the roster you find a number of players who have led their team to state championships. Winners are not easy to find.   [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] (122) - RVC does not play in Qualifiers. Their tournament of choice is AAUs in Florida. You will catch them in the Elite Division this year. They finished third in the 16 Open at Charm City Challenge. They did take a loss to 540 Academy early in the season.   The roster carries a number of players from the class of 2025, which could register as an indicator for their success. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='322106' first='Bailey' last='Loving'] is the only rostered player who appears on my top 150 rankings. Unfortunately, this is a team I did not get an opportunity to watch, even at the Charm City Challenge.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/GI6c0riXEAA_WMX.jpg?w=680" alt="" class="wp-image-521334" style="width:397px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: provided by parent</figcaption></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] (199) - They finished first in the Charm City Challenge but played in the Premier Division. Another win at the Shamrock Showdown playing in the 17/18 age group, as well as an end of the season win at the East Coast Championships are feathers in their cap. Playing in an Open Division Qualifier (Northeast) they struggled finishing 43rd out of 48 teams. 540 will play in the National Division at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas   Middle and sometime outside [player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah'] stands out as the most talented player on this team. The class of 2027 star stands 6'0" with a powerful arm. She could use more work on her approach when playing left side, staying outside a bit longer until she sees the set, but her primary position remains middle. While playing left side Alyssa plays all six rotations. The outsides are [player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty'], who is just recovering from an injury, [player_tooltip player_id='497909' first='Riley' last='A. Forehand'] and [player_tooltip player_id='395523' first='Kylee' last='Cookson']. [player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker'] is the standout setter who normally sets a 5/1 but sometimes runs a 6/2 with [player_tooltip player_id='464563' first='Elizabeth' last='Robinson'] or [player_tooltip player_id='290419' first='Sanai' last='Jones'] acting as the second setters.   Alyssa normally plays one of the middles along with [player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams']. With Ayssa hitting outside at the ECC class of 2024 Jordan Ellis showed she can also do the job playing middle. The 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='333653' first='Elizabeth' last='York'] plays a strong right side. [player_tooltip player_id='397192' first='Kadie' last='Cardozo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='290419' first='Sanai' last='Jones'] cover the back row.   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (246) - When looking at this roster at the start of the season I thought this team would be playing Open at Junior Nationals. They failed to finish high in the Open Qualifiers they participated in and they finished 61st out of 120 at Triple Crown. They will play in the National Division at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. This could be their moment to shine.   The depth on the team is impressive with the 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='325603' first='Parker' last='Sutherland'] and the 6'2" [player_tooltip player_id='498420' first='Meisha' last='Sykes'] closing up the middle. Their best offensive hitter running the middle may be [player_tooltip player_id='325599' first='Raegan' last='Lentz'], but they also use her right side. The pins lack the height of the Metro pins but at 5'10" the approach jumps for [player_tooltip player_id='322107' first='Eden' last='Tardy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] get them high enough over the net to create kills. Both are quick and athletic.   Class of 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] shares setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='377335' first='Mackenzie' last='Davis']. The back court is handled by the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='325602' first='Alexa' last='Smith'], with Maddie Phan also seeing some time. The left handed swing of right side [player_tooltip player_id='325601' first='Sydnee' last='Peters'] accumulates kills with regular consistency. She stands just 5'!0 but she creates excellent arm extension. [player_tooltip player_id='238851' first='Piper' last='Xeller'] can also be used on either side of the pin.   15 U   Virginia Juniors (38) - Juniors ranks as one of five Chesapeake Region teams in the 15U in the top 100. While they were beaten pretty handily by Metro in the semi-finals of the Chesapeake Qualifier, they did qualify for a USA bid by finishing second in the Northeast Qualifier. They also finished off the regular season finishing third in the East Coast championship. When this team runs on all cylinders they are tough to beat.   Their 6'2" left side [player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] leads this contingent. She hits the ball hard from all six rotations. The big challenge with her is to not set her so much to allow her to remain fresh for the end of tournament. The 6'0" [player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] also attacks left side. She appears to have a couple inches more of growth in her. Class of 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='206729' first='Megan' last='Phan'] distributes the sets running a 5/1.   [player_tooltip player_id='438070' first='Camryn' last='Coulther'] shows a lot of range as the libero. [player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel'] can also scramble for digs in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='530367' first='Ava' last='Gill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='377344' first='Julia' last='Horan'] cover the middles while [player_tooltip player_id='484960' first='Kinsley' last='Zebatto'] hits right side. [player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth'] can also play right side, but normally comes in the back row to play defense and hit the bic,   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (41) - One of three Chesapeake teams to qualify for Open in the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. Despite losing to Metro in the finals of the Chesapeake Regional Qualifier Paramount advanced to the Open with a fifth place finish in the Northeast Qualifier. They also competed in the Triple Crown where they finished 69th out of 104 teams.   Middle [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] ranks as the top player in the Virginia class of 2025. She can dominate the game in the middle, even though many of her sets are of the higher variety. Opponents try to double block her to contain her offense but find little success. Also, drawing the double block sometimes spells doom as left sides [player_tooltip player_id='333650' first='Louise' last='Neuhart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='279856' first='Kayla' last='Luther'] can put the ball away, especially with only one block on the outside. At 5'8" Kayla is considered a bit undersized for a left side, but she leads the team with her energy.   [player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='298857' first='Ingrid' last='Smith'] are two quality setters that get the job done. Both can set the 5/1 but they tend to yield to strong right sides in [player_tooltip player_id='455102' first='Erin' last='Green'] and class of 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='238595' first='Sofia' last='Delarosa']. [player_tooltip player_id='534058' first='Alexa' last='Bracey'] also shows promise from the right side with her lefthanded swing and her 5'10 height. Class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='536716' first='Diane' last='Nzoupet'] takes responsibility for the back row. Love those quick and athletic liberos.   Metro 73 - Metro won the Chesapeake Regional Qualifier by defeating Virginia Juniors in the semi-finals and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in the finals. They came up short in their attempt to earn an Open bid in the National Qualifiers. This leaves them playing in the National Division at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas.   Lots of dangerous pins in [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'], [player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo'], [player_tooltip player_id='290176' first='Kieran' last='Rhoton'], [player_tooltip player_id='437457' first='Jasmin' last='Tucker'], [player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='437988' first='Sasha' last='Plummer']. This group fills the court with their athleticism. Six players for four positions. You can mix and match a number of combinations until you find the players who are sizzling. [player_tooltip player_id='437446' first='Alli' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='438077' first='Averi' last='Hanna'] and [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] share the middle roles. For high school Ali played right side but she does such a good job blocking at the middle position.   [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] handles one of the setter spots. She ranks as the top setter in the class of 2027 and always wins the top setter award at the Capitol Hill Classic. [player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter'] tandems with Caycee to set a 6/2. Class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='437443' first='Kaniyah' last='Ball'] fills the libero role. [player_tooltip player_id='469197' first='Olivia' last='Garey'] carries the flexibility to dominate on the right side or play some middle.   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] (76)- Here comes [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] again filling a top 100 spot from a national scene. This team seems to take a top five finish in every tournament they play. A York Mid Atlantic Power League 14-16 championship, a Shamrock Showdown championship and a fifth place finish in the Northeast Qualifier. They will play in the AAUs in Orlando.   Two players key this team. Possibly our number one ranked player in the class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='536715' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] sets for them and hits right side Now listed at 6'0" she can power the ball as a hitter with hands of silk. The question for her is what sport to focus on, beach or indoor? [player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green'] has inched upward to 5'10, which allows her to fly over the net. She can already reach 10 feet with her approach jump.   Katherine Maddon and [player_tooltip player_id='526876' first='Natalie' last='Huck'] take the back row responsibility. [player_tooltip player_id='451960' first='Paisley' last='Cook'] plays opposite Breeze to take the other setter role. She won first team All District as a setter. At 6'2" [player_tooltip player_id='438086' first='Emmeri' last='Bishop'] shows some promise plugging up the middle. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='437978' first='Olivia' last='Allis'] brings that winning Musselman mentality to the court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/IMG_4030.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-544322" style="width:380px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: provided by parent</figcaption></figure>   Maryland Juniors (80) - This team finished the season on a roll by winning the Beast of the East in the East Coast Championship. That puts them in a winning atmosphere for when they compete in the American Division in the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. They also had a fourth place finish in the Northeast Qualifier playing in the USA Division, finishing just short of earning a bid.   They carry some power with left sides [player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='438097' first='Haile' last='Ma']. If I had to vote for an MVP in the ECC it would have been for Annika. Class of 2026 middle [player_tooltip player_id='506629' first='Dylann' last='Loggins'] (who should be in the top 50 in the class of 2026 but for a technical glitch on my part) can put the ball away. Love the touch of setter [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li']. She establishes the pulse of the team by spreading out the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='528705' first='Victoria' last='Small'] covers a lot of court in her libero role.

With the club season winding down it provides a good opportunity to identify the top five clubs in the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area in the 15-18U age groups. A couple days ago the 18U and 17U were identified. This post will take a look at the 16U and 15U. Five teams in the 15U age group found a spot in the top 100 nationally. A very impressive showing for such a young group bodes well for the future. Metro 16U and Paramount 15U will be playing in the Open Division at Junior Nationals.