Battle of Bethesda All Tournament and More

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is the all tournament team and the all frosh team for the Battle of Bethesda. Because only the top four teams are represented in our all tournament team also named are players who stood out in their matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The title picture shows 9 out of 10 MVSA Charge players from last year and their coach participating in the tournament. They are, left to right [player_tooltip player_id='529440' first='Emilia' last='Zhang'] (1), [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] (5), [player_tooltip player_id='438118' first='Amelia' last='Cheng'] (23), [player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Vivian' last='Ngan'] (12), [player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau'] (6), [player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] (7), [player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote'] (12), <strong>Julie McWhorter</strong> (3), [player_tooltip player_id='529444' first='Kathryn' last='Giesecke'] (2) and coach Jackie Krampf. These players represented six of the eight teams that played in the tournament. Emilia and Ana made the all tournament team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All Tournament Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>(Richard Montgomery)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>(Richard Mongomery), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']</strong> (Richard Montgomery)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529440' first='Emilia' last='Zhang']</strong> (Walter Johnson), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='696412' first='Stella' last='Lichter']</strong> (Walter Johnson), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397547' first='Mariya' last='Carson']</strong> (Bethesda Chevy Chase)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard'] </strong>(Richard Montgomery), <strong>Carolina Parkhurst</strong> (Bethesda Chevy Chase), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235324' first='Rowan' last='Johnson']</strong> (Holy Cross)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DS/Libero - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>(Richard Montgomery), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel']</strong> (Holy Cross)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>Maren Balint </strong>(Bethesda Chevy Chase), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] </strong>(Holy Cross)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All Frosh Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721145' first='Claire' last='Tepper']</strong> (Bethesda Chevy Chase)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> (Holy Cross0, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>(Richard Montgomery), <strong>Karolina Stankova</strong> (Whitman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> (Holy Cross)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim']</strong> (Richard Montgomery), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld']</strong> (Walter Johnson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DS/Libero - <strong>Ann Zhang</strong> (Whitman), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754662' first='Abigail' last='Rekhtman']</strong> (Whitman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richard Montgomery</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438049"],"_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-66fc2b684dd4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While her older sister gets all the attention with the MVP garnishments Ana laboriously fills the underappreciated libero role. At 5'7" she lacks the height of her sister but the love of the game still exists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like she does during the season she led the team in digs. She shares libero time with senior <strong>Bella Brennan </strong>but when it comes to playoff time Ana gets the call for the libero spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At the Prep Dig showcase she earned a top performer award. She also made the all tournament team,.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlier in the week <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>finished off her 600th kill. During the tournament she reached her 600th assist. She finished off the tournament with 48 kills, 38 assists, 19 digs, 10 aces and 6 blocks. Those are MVP numbers. Her younger sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong> led the team in digs with 36. Last year she made the All Frosh team. This year the all tournament team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ema was not the only player who set and provided some offense as well as blocking on the right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']</strong> also contributed in those areas. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong> played some left side during pool play but when it came championship time she plugged up the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>also played some middle but shared left side duties with her older sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='412056' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell']</strong>. Both of them are solid six rotations players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple unheralded players include<strong> Bella Brennan</strong>, who got in some libero time and played defensive specialist during the playoffs. She also served the last four points in the first set against Holy Cross when the team was down 23-21 to give the Rockets the big 25-23 first set win. <strong>Hadley Mongan</strong> is the other middle. She got a big block during that four point rally. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim']</strong> lacks the height of Amy and Ema, but she got in some setting time. Next year, when those two graduate someone has to take over the setting responsibilities. Ellyn made the all frosh team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bethesda Chevy Chase </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They pulled off the biggest upset by shocking Richard Montgomery in the first match of the morning and then winning the pool. They also beat Walter Johnson to get into the finals where they lost to Richard Montgomery. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397547' first='Mariya' last='Carson'] </strong>was the offensive spark on the team. <strong>Carolina Parkhurst</strong> played the middle well. After watching her play the 6'0" Denison commit has been a little under the Prep Dig radar. Her and frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721145' first='Claire' last='Tepper'] </strong>put up some key blocks and timely hits in the middle. <strong>Maren Balint</strong> strung together key hits in the Barons third set win in their first match to upset Richard Montgomery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Cross</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["472384"],"_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-66fc2b684ddb6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kate took over the libero position towards the end of last season and her play helped Holy Cross to an undefeated season and the WCAC championship. She is taking it up a notch for her sophomore season. She leads the team in aces and digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A fun player to watch on the court. When she plays you know she loves the game. Good hustle with quick reactions on the court to play those blocked balls that fly around randomly on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235324' first='Rowan' last='Johnson']</strong> leads the team in kills. She stands out as one of the more critical offensive pieces for this Tartan team. They also rely on two frosh to provide big contributions to the team, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> on the left side and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> on the right. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181304' first='Sarah' last='Jeremias']</strong> provides a leadership role. Her serve, left side hitting and back row defense are critical to the Tartan success. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel']</strong> provides valuable defense to the back row and contributes to the offense with her precision passing. Finally, setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238376' first='Anasofia' last='Zanellato']</strong> and <strong>Sibel Orzan</strong> run a modified 5/1. Anasofia sets in the front row while Sibel takes over in the back row. At 6'0" Anasofia makes it work ranking second on the team in blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Walter Johnson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586753"],"_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-66fc2b684ddfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What impressed me about Emilia is how high she flies on the court when she jumps to hit the ball. She lists at 5'8" but she rises high above the net. This allows her to hit the ball with great velocity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She made the Prep Dig Battle of Bethesda all tournament team based on her offensive performance. She also plays six rotations and plays the back row like a libero. While [player_tooltip player_id='696412' first='Stella' last='Lichter'] is their top hitter Emilia ranks number two in kills. She also leads the team in aces and is third in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They entered this tournament without a loss. From an offensive standpoint their two left sides play key roles for their offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529440' first='Emilia' last='Zhang']</strong> seems to fly when she jumps, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='696412' first='Stella' last='Lichter']</strong> provides a powerful right arm to put the ball away. Stella also plays a stellar all around game, leading the team in kills and digs. Love the libero play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346817' first='Celiana' last='Caraballo']</strong>. Very consistent in her play. For this tournament she ranks third in my libero ranking, behind two players who sit in the top 40 in the class of 2027. Sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478768' first='Sofia' last='Silberfeld'] </strong>and her frosh younger sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld'] </strong>share the setting duties. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478769' first='Ariel' last='Mazor']</strong> leads the team in blocks and hitting percentage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Whitman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["479659"],"_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-66fc2c821f44b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6'2" she brings some excellent height to the middle. With her frame she could have some more growth in her. When the timing is right she can also hit the ball to the floor with good velocity. Improving her transition game will put her in a better position to improve attacking the quicker sets. She did like to run the slide where she can put the ball away on the higher sets. Perhaps right side is a position for her in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Until she refines her transition game her blocking will stand out as her strength in the middle. Hitting the quicker sets will come with more increased repetition. Over time she could rise above her number eight ranking for middles in the class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the teams that fell short of making the gold bracket Whitman may have had the most talent. The 6'2" middle [player_tooltip player_id='479659' first='Eliza' last='Lowe'] can be a dominant presence at the net. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325599' first='Raegan' last='Lentz'] </strong>played middle early in her club career but appears to be moving to the pins. She played a six rotation left side for Whitman. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529444' first='Kathryn' last='Giesecke'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='479656' first='Charlotte' last='Thatch'] </strong>provide offense on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings three frosh <strong>Karolina Stankova</strong>, <strong>Ann Zhang</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754662' first='Abigail' last='Rekhtman']</strong> did not distinguish themselves in the games I watched. The fact they are on varsity and played in a number of games shows they have talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winston Churchill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The number two seed was upset early in pool play by Clarksburg and then lost in three to Richard Montgomery in the last match of pool play, losing the third set 15-13. That eliminated them from the gold bracket. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397548' first='Sonia' last='Breslawec']</strong> played a tremendous tournament hitting from the left side. If the Bulldogs had qualified for the gold bracket she would have been an easy all tournament selection. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235749' first='Kareena' last='Rathnam']</strong> is another deserving all tournament selection. A steady passer who plays excellent defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346818' first='Charlotte' last='Deraleau']</strong> always seems to put together some serving runs to go with her consistent setting. Her younger sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau']</strong> may only stand 5'8" but she shows good tempo to play the middle. She can also play the pins. The 6'3" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum']</strong> and the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772008' first='Meera' last='Patel']</strong> normally play the middle. Both are sophomores and still need work on their swings to create more velocity on their spikes. Siyena put up some key blocks in the Bulldogs opening set win over Richard Montgomery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clarksburg </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[438118],"_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-66fc2c821f4f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Coyotes were a scrappy team. They do not carry a lot of length on their roster so keeping the ball in play is critical to their success. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='438118' first='Amelia' last='Cheng'] stands out as an important component in keeping the ball in play. She passes well and plays a sprawling defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amelia was one of nine players from MVSA Charge playing in the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Coyotes have a scrappy team. They lack length put they seem to play with heart. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438118' first='Amelia' last='Cheng']</strong> playing libero they can count on solid passing and strong defense. She exudes confidence on the court. Left side <strong>Addy Liu </strong>seems to have the presence to find the open areas of the court when she hits the ball. Not a dynamic player but like Amelia only a sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Vivian' last='Ngan'] </strong>brings a consistent set to the court. Only 5'3" she may be relegated to back row setting, however she ranks as our number 9 setter for the class of 2027. All three are sophomores so the future looks bright for the Coyotes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->