USAV Day One – It Was Hot

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside the temperature rose to 114 degrees. Inside it remained cool. Unless you were one of the teams smoking up the court. I watched 12 of the 16 DMV teams participating in the USAV Nationals. Below are some of the stories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tale of two Metros</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181303"],"_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-66865ae4dbe83"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One team earned a bid to Open. When the seeds were announced the 16 team seeded sixth out of six teams. That meant they had to play the top seeded teams early. The 17 team earned a bid to the National Division. They were seeded second. You can guess which team did well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It did not start out so well for Metro 17 in their first set against Mintonette. They struggled locating their passes in the first set, placing them more to the four spot. This forced a set to the left side, resulting in a number of double blocks their hitters needed to go through. Mintonette Front row setter <strong>Jetta Brenning</strong> also had too many uncontested dumps that shifted momentum. While <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181244' first='Ryan' last='Hicks']</strong> contributed three aces Metro fell short 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> controlled the second set. She contributed three early kills to give Metro an early lead. Metro built a 23-19 lead but a net violation and three bad passes on tough serves by <strong>Larsen Terril</strong> tied the game at 23-23. Another poor pass resulted in a free ball over but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> made a statement block to put Metro up 24-23. A hitting error gave Metro the win to force a set three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Metro kept the lead in set three early it never extended beyond three points. <strong>Dylan Hunt</strong> put a ball away to whittle the Metro lead to 10-11. A service error gave the ball back to Metro with a 12-10 lead. <strong>Kylah McNeal</strong> pulled Mintonette to within one again with a middle kill but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> came up big again with one of her own for a 13-11 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235284' first='Caitlin' last='Johnson']</strong> then tipped a ball to the floor to move the score to 14-11. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181805' first='Madison' last='Smith']</strong> drove one down the line for a 15-11 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That opening win gave them momentum for their second set, a 25-10, 25-16 win over Renaissance Black (KE).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro 16 opened their set against second seed Boilers Juniors. Too many early errors, including back to back service foot faults were too much to overcome. They also could not contain left side <strong>Calista Foster</strong>, who put a number of balls away. Metro pulled to within three after a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] </strong>kill at 19-22, but they would get no closer, falling 25-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the seven kills and one block from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams']</strong> too many service errors kept them always looking at a deficit. They started the set off with a service error and added five more to always fall short of the lead. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> gave them their first lead 23-22 with a middle kill. When the Boilers tied it up <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] </strong>put one to the floor to give them game point and serve 24-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Lemming</strong> tied the score 24-24 with a kill, then went back to serve for two aces to give the Boilers the sweep 26-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro failed to bounce back against the first seed in their pool Legacy, losing 25-18, 25-13. They went three with MN Select, losing the third set 15-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going into day two Metro 17 stands 2-0 while Metro 16 finds itself at 0-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Elite 17 USAV Debut a Success</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181298"],"_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-66865ae4dbee5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Virginia Elite 17 team was the only team to earn a bid in the 14-17 age group. After one day they stand 2-0. San Antonio Juniors had difficulty stopping <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']. </strong> In the second set she strung together at least seven kills and one block to match the first set score 25-21. Virginia Elite received excellent passing and defense from libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'] </strong>and defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181242' first='Shylah' last='Swope']</strong> also did a good job distributing the sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They came into the tournament as the fourth seed in their pool. After sweeping their first two opponents they next will face the top two seeds in their pool. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] Struggles </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["309022"],"_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-66865ae4dbf26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>540 is still a new club trying to find an identity. Both the 16 and 17 earned a National bid, which ranks as the second toughest Division to play in. Like Metro 16 the 540 Academy 17 team was seeded sixth in their pool. In their second match they jumped out to an early 10-4 lead against KC Power. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309022' first='Peri' last='Linterman']</strong> led the charge with a block, an ace and a couple kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Stowell </strong>got things started for KC Power with a powerful kill to give <strong>Allison Heck</strong> the serve. By the time she finished serving KC Power built up a 17-10 lead. Allison would continue her serving prowess in the second set with a couple aces to give KC Power the sweep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16 team also found themselves as the sixth seed in their pool. They also lost to KC Power and Ozark Juniors, getting swept in both matches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty']</strong> returned to hit left side for the team. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497909' first='Riley' last='A. Forehand']</strong> absent for this tournament <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> hit outside again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Freedom Division the 540 second team had the best chance to pull out the first victory. They were also given a sixth seed in their bracket. After winning the first set against DaKine Warriors 25-17, they carried a 19-17 lead into the second set. Some struggles with passing allowed the Warriors to come back and win the second set 25-22. They carried this momentum into the third set for a 15-8 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Juniors Pulls Out Victory </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Maryland Juniors lost their opener in the Freedom Division to Summitt 25-20, they roared back to win the second set 25-15. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572041' first='Katelyn' last='Brown']</strong> ran a 5/1 and relied on middle <strong>Morgan Vanderwagon </strong>and left side <strong>Brianna Beasely </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525343' first='Terry' last='Spring']</strong> to put her sets to the floor. They also got good defense from libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374421' first='Miranda' last='Ball']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third set advanced to 13-13. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525343' first='Terry' last='Spring']</strong> gave them a lead with a kill and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374421' first='Miranda' last='Ball'] </strong>finished it with an ace to finish the match 15-13. Unfortunately, they played the number one seed Drive Nation in the second match and were swept.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is it for the first day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->