DMV Girls Going to the Dance in 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we play this game it is played with goals in mind. At a young age the goal may be to make the high school team. Once you get into high school your sights are set on winning a state championship. Those years when you win a state championship accumulating on the pennants hanging from the rafters mean something. As you finish high school your hope may turn to play college. Finally, if you are one of the 6 percent that make it from high school to college your goal is to make it to the NCAA tourney and possibly the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My niece played for Utah for one year and got to experience representing a team in the NCAA tournament. A concussion prevented her from playing but the experience was memorable. Unfortunately, because roster spots were minimal at that time she had to sit in the stands to watch the game and could not be with her teammates. They eventually lost in the quarterfinals to Texas. While the match may have been lost the memories will always remain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this post we will focus on Division I teams qualifying for the NCAA championship. They also have national championships in Division III and Division II and a secondary invitational tournament for Division I. Below are the girls from the DMV area who have made it to the dance in Division I. Whether they only advance to the first round or lift the trophy after winning the national championship is a dream for many but a reality for just a few. Hopefully I captured every player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A total of 22 girls will participate in the tournament this year, which is seven less than last year. Holy Cross is the only high school with two players. Metro leads with participating clubs at 6 but [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] is close behind at 5. EC Power has three from the same Delaware State team while [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] lists two rostered players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arizona State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kiylah Presley (</strong>Bishop McNamara/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) ranked #5 in our class of 2024. She has no available stats so she could be redshirting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BYU</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brielle Kemavor </strong>(Colgan/Metro) ranked number 3 in our class of 2023. She leads the team in blocks, earning her two Big 12 defensive player of the week awards. My runner up for Virginia player of the year in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colgate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sydney Jones</strong> (Thomas Edison/Virginia Jrs) ranked # 9 in our class of 2021. She has started more sets than any player on the team. This has allowed her to lead the team in assists as a setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frances Torres</strong> (Veritas Scholars Academy/Metro) ranked #10 in our class of 2023. She ranks as one of the top pin hitters, ranking third on the team in kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colorado State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erin Debiec</strong> (Bishop O'Connell/Metro) ranked # 2 in our class of 2024. Redshirt year for Erin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dayton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaitlyn McNeel </strong>(Godwin/[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club']) ranked # 2 in our class of 2022 - Not a regular part of the starting lineup but has appeared in a number of sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delaware State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":188617,"width":"177px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/04/61-Paige-Ahakuelo.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-188617" style="width:177px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Paige Ahakuelo</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paige Ahakuelo </strong>(James Wood/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - ranked #29 in our class of 2024. In her frosh season she has stepped into the setting role leading the team in assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ajaylah Pitts </strong>(Colgan/ECPower) class of 2021 no ranking. She is in her senior year as a setter but has yet to play a set this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Haley Crawford</strong> (Forest Park/EC Power) class of 2023 no ranking. For Haley she has only played one set all season. This is her second season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paige Meins </strong>(Robinson/EC Power) - ranked #47 in class of 2023. How many teams exist in this world with two setters named Paige. I would wager none. Meins is not a regular starter but ranks third on the team in assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniella Suarez</strong> (Holy Cross/Metro) - ranked # 52 in our class of 2023. Only played in four sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brianna Clay</strong> (Battlefield/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - ranked # 15 in our class of 2024. No sets played so possible redshirt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Natalie Carlin</strong> (Riverside/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - ranked #35 in our class of 2024. Not a regular but has played 68 sets as a defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Harlan Wyche</strong> (South Lakes/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - ranked # 28 in our class of 2024. No sets played so possible redshirt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Florida A&amp;M</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brooke Lynn Watts</strong> (Arundel/unknown) - no ranking for class of 2021 but Gatorade Player of the year for Maryland. She leads the team in kills. Interesting name when you put the first two names together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Florida Gators</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trinity Adams</strong> (Radford/unknown) - ranked #5 in our class of 2021. Played only 31 sets. Used as an occasional defensive replacement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hannah Sherman</strong> (Holy Cross/Metro) no ranking for the class of 2022. The 2024 season is the most she has played after redshirting last season. Played in 49 of the 104 sets where she is used as a middle. She was a redshirt for the 2022 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola Maramont University</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camille Pomeroy</strong> (Madison/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - ranked # 41 in our class of 2024. Has yet to play so this could be a redshirt season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morehead State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sarah Heath</strong> (Home School/Richard Bland) ranked #71 in our class of 2021. Pin hitter junior. Not a starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":197490,"width":"333px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/05/DSC05312.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-197490" style="width:333px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Safi Hampton</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Safi Hampton</strong> (Hammond/Metro) Ranked #1 in our class of 2023. As a sophomore she ranks third on the team in kills getting a lot of opportunities at the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Carolina State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Courtney Bryant</strong> Franklin County/Roanoke United) - ranked # 46 in our class of 2022. One of the primary starters as a pin hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Penn State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quinn Menger</strong> (St. Catherines/[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club']) ranked #4 in our class of 2021. Appears to be used mostly as a serving specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pittsburgh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryla Jones </strong>(Flint Hill/Metro) - ranked #4 in our class of 2024. As a frosh she starts in the middle. She leads the team in solo blocks and ranks third overall in blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some of the players who are still in high school but the college they committed to is playing in the NCAA tournament. Perhaps they will be going to the dance next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu'] (Goergia Tech), [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] (Purdue), [player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing'] (Penn State), [player_tooltip player_id='181243' first='Evelyn' last='Jurden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='569802' first='Milan' last='Curl'] (New Hampshire), [player_tooltip player_id='181764' first='Kristen' last='Moore'] (Florida A&amp;M), [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] (Baylor), [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] (Marquette), [player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] (Mississippi), [player_tooltip player_id='555602' first='Bryah' last='Breaux'] (Kentucky).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->