Metro 18 Shows Strength in First Local Tournament

In this article:
Don’t know how the seeding was done for this tournament but Virginia Elite and Metro appeared in the same four team bracket. There were three brackets and 12 teams playing in total. My seeding would have put Paramount , Virginia Elite and Metro in separate brackets. Everything worked out in the end because Virginia Elite still made the gold bracket by finishing as the best second place team while Paramount , MOJO and Metro won their brackets.
Bracket One – Paramount Wins
With
Racquel Frazier
Racquel
Frazier
6'1" | OH
St. Johns | 2025
State
VA
and
Zoe Ryu
Zoe
Ryu
6'1" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
teaming up on the outside Paramount went undefeated in their pool, not giving up more than 21 points. Rocky and Zoe have not played together since they were teammates in elementary school and they dominated the competition back then as well. Racquel is new to the team as are setters
Daisy Pentorn
Daisy
Pentorn
5'8" | S
Arundel | 2025
State
VA
and
Jessica Ding
Jessica
Ding
5'8" | S
Basis Independent McLean | 2025
State
VA
. The libero
Nia Thomas
Nia
Thomas
5'7" | DS/L
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
played at Virginia Juniors last year. So, getting used to each other was the word of the day.
The team I thought would give Paramount a match was Colombia with Nicole Neal Nicole Neal 5'11" | OH Montgomery | 2025 State VA hitting on the outside. This was the first opportunity for me to see Nicole play. She has a fast arm swing when hitting from the left side. She also fills a leadership position when on the court.
When Colombia and Paramount played, Paramount dominated in the first set 25-17. In the second set poor passing by Paramount got them down early 14-6.
Kendall Lee
Kendall
Lee
5'9" | RS/DS/L
Old Mill | 2025
VA
generated some nice kills from the left side and Kathleen Harbaugh proved a force in the middle for Colombia.
Daisy Pentorn
Daisy
Pentorn
5'8" | S
Arundel | 2025
State
VA
created a spark for Paramount producing six points on her serve, two coming on aces to pull Paramount to within two 12-14. Once the score reached 17-17 Paramount went on an 8-4 run to take the second set 25-21.
Metro North battled Paramount in the final match but lost by identical 25-21 scores. Columbia also swept Metro North in the opener so that knocked Metro North out of gold contention. They were able to sweep St. James Navy to put them into the silver bracket. Columbia and Metro North played again in the finals of the silver bracket with Columbia again pulling off the sweep.
At 6’0″ Melai runs the quick tempo sets in the middle quite well. She also moves smoothly from pin to pin putting up a number of blocks. While she ranks number 185 in the class of 2025 that would have risen based on what I saw of her play last Saturday. This was my first opportunity to see her play. In the past I had only seen her videos.
It does appear she hits some balls from the pins for her high school Meridian. That provides some right side flexibility. Definitely a player that bears watching. MOJO will play at the Volley by the James this coming weekend. Anyone in need of a middle who can also play right side might take a look.
Melia has yet to commit.
Highlights
Bracket Two – MOJO Comes Out on Top
This bracket was the most balanced. The first three matches resulted in splits, with MOJO being involved in two of them. They clinched the bracket in the last match with 25-13 wins over Elite Volleyball Academy. That left them tied with Maryland Exclusive Volleyball Club (MEVC). Since both teams split in the opener 26-24 the tie breaker went to point differential. MOJO reigned supreme in that category and advanced to the gold.
MOJO was led by their two class of 2026 setters
Hailey Park
Hailey
Park
5'4" | S
Langley | 2026
State
VA
and
Heidi Velikonja
Heidi
Velikonja
S
Yorktown | 2026
VA
. Hailey set in the back row while Heidi came on in the front row in a modified 5/1.
Caleigh Orr
Caleigh
Orr
5'11" | OH
Woodson | 2025
State
VA
did a good job hitting from the left side. She loves to bury balls down the line. Impressed by the play of
Melia Collins
Melia
Collins
6'0" | MB
Meridian | 2025
State
VA
in the middle. She put up some big blocks and can hit the quick tempo sets as well. Left side Hanna Herbolsheimer finished off the second set 26-24 in their win over MEVC with an ace serve. MOJO was down 22-24 when Hanna started her serving. It appeared that
Piper Xeller
Piper
Xeller
5'11" | OH
Herndon | 2026
State
VA
made an appearance coming up from the 17s to contribute on the right side. One of their top players on the roster
Julia Kelly
Julia
Kelly
6'1" | OH/RS
Alexandria City | 2025
State
VA
appeared absent. At least, I did not see her play in the matches I watched.
MEVC tends to run higher sets in the middle. Isabel Alvez did a good job of finding the floor with those higher sets. In the first set Olivia Kong strung together two setter dumps that keyed the first set win over MOJO. Emma Salas produced a kill to give them a 25-24 lead and Sofia Bolanos finished off the first set with an ace for the 26-24 win. MEVC would lose the opener against Metro North when the two played later in the silver bracket.
Opponents found Caitlin impossible to contain in a tournament last weekend. At 6’5″ she brings the height to dominate the game. It was the variety of her shots that impressed the most. Hitting from the middle Caitlin cut the ball right, powered the ball left and created all variety of shots to find the open court. She seems to have developed that volleyball IQ to sense where to hit the ball.
In the past when watching her play she did not seem to dominate as her height would dictate she should. Most of her offense relied on the slam dunk kill. Now, she appears to have crafted a repertoire of offensive plays to make her game less predictable. She brings an arm swing that can power the ball.
Caitlin has committed to Santa Clara.
Highlights
Bracket Three – Metro Prevails in the Strongest Bracket
This was clearly the strongest bracket with Virginia Elite and Metro Travel. Even Virginia Volleyball Academy could have competed for the top spot in the second bracket. Because they were swept by both Metro and Virginia Elite VAVA had to drop down to the bronze bracket in the playoffs. They swept through that bracket without giving up more than 17 points. Metro and Virginia Elite would go on to meet in the finals of the gold bracket.
In bracket play the first set between Metro and Virginia Elite turned out the most competitive. It came down to the end when an ace by
Alexis Ewing
Alexis
Ewing
6'3" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
#173
Nation
VA
gave Metro a 23-22 lead. A foot fault on her next serve gave Virginia Elite an opportunity to finish the game.
Destini Pickett
Destini
Pickett
5'10" | OH
Forest Park | 2025
State
VA
denied that opportunity with one of her patented deep kills that found nothing but court.
Brianna Holladay
Brianna
Holladay
6'2" | MB
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
ended it with an ace serve for the 25-23 win.
The second match was less competitive with Virginia Elite struggling with their passing. Metro jumped out to an early 13-7 lead before winning handily 25-14. Normally, Metro teams dominate with their outsides. While
Destini Pickett
Destini
Pickett
5'10" | OH
Forest Park | 2025
State
VA
and
Alexis Ewing
Alexis
Ewing
6'3" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
#173
Nation
VA
do most of the damage from the left side and
Caroline Lang
Caroline
Lang
6'3" | MB/RS
St. Annes-Balfield | 2025
State
VA
delivered some big blows from the right the middles delivered as well.
First you start with the 6’5″
Caitlin Johnson
Caitlin
Johnson
6'5" | MB
Freedom | 2025
State
VA
blocking and using all areas of the court to produce her kills. Her long reach creates difficulties for back row players to defend, finding the open areas that should be covered by the block. It becomes even more difficult to defend against her when she has the ability to hit over the smaller blocks. Second is the newcomer
Brianna Holladay
Brianna
Holladay
6'2" | MB
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
who adds quickness and variety to the offense. She brings the skill set to hit quick tempo sets from a number of different locations along the net. The defense spends so much time trying to figure out where Brianna will attack the ball from that the pin hitters are left with single blocks.
However, the biggest strength for this team has to be their 6’3 setter
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
, who connects well on the quick tempo sets and is a threat in the front row with her dumps. She seems to have a knack for finding Brianna and delivering the sets where she needs them, no matter her location along the net. Metro rosters two other setters in
Ryan Hicks
Ryan
Hicks
5'11" | S
Broad Run | 2025
State
VA
and
Alexis Badu
Alexis
Badu
6'0" | S
Eleanor Roosevelt | 2025
State
VA
, but Isabelle will feed the hitters for most of the matches setting a 5/1.
Virginia Elite has two powerful pins in
Evelyn Jurden
Evelyn
Jurden
6'2" | RS
West Springfield | 2025
State
VA
from the right side and
Ana Toumazatos
Ana
Toumazatos
6'1" | OH
Langley | 2025
State
VA
from the left side. Two underrated players who surprise are middles
Skylar Giuliani
Skylar
Giuliani
6'1" | MB
The Potomac School | 2025
State
VA
and
Brianna Washington
Brianna
Washington
5'11" | MB
Woodbridge | 2025
State
VA
. With
Shylah Swope
Shylah
Swope
5'9" | S
Herndon | 2025
State
VA
not available
Adalene Rodgers
Adalene
Rodgers
5'11" | RS/S
Potomac | 2025
State
VA
was tasked with sharing the setting duties with
Amy Ye
Amy
Ye
6'0" | S
Richard Montgomery | 2025
State
VA
. While they seemed to struggle this tournament with their passing
Kadi Pynchon
Kadi
Pynchon
5'6" | DS/L
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
and
Sadee Gedse
Sadee
Gedse
5'6" | DS/L
Oakton | 2025
State
VA
will team up to produce a stellar back row combo.


Playoffs
The first round of the gold bracket playoffs saw Metro go against MOJO.
Alexis Ewing
Alexis
Ewing
6'3" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
#173
Nation
VA
finished the first set off with five kills and two blocks and
Caitlin Johnson
Caitlin
Johnson
6'5" | MB
Freedom | 2025
State
VA
added four kills for a 25-16 win.
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
produced back to back killer dumps towards the end to advance the score to 23-12 then ended the set with a dump.
In the second set Caroline Lang Caroline Lang 6'3" | MB/RS St. Annes-Balfield | 2025 State VA put up a block to tie the set at 7-7. Metro raced ahead from there, finishing it off 25-10.
Virginia Elite played Paramount in the second gold bracket playoff. At one point Virginia Elite was down 16-21 in the opening set when a big block by
Brianna Washington
Brianna
Washington
5'11" | MB
Woodbridge | 2025
State
VA
gave them some momentum.
Evelyn Jurden
Evelyn
Jurden
6'2" | RS
West Springfield | 2025
State
VA
took charge burying three missiles from the right side in a six point run to rally Virginia Elite to a 23-21 lead. After a hitting error gave Paramount the serve back
Skylar Giuliani
Skylar
Giuliani
6'1" | MB
The Potomac School | 2025
State
VA
buried a quick tempo set to put Virginia Elite within one point of a win. A hitting error by Paramount gave them that win 25-22.
The second set remained close at 19-19.
Evelyn Jurden
Evelyn
Jurden
6'2" | RS
West Springfield | 2025
State
VA
buried her fifth kill of the set cross court to put Virginia Elite ahead 20-19. Paramount fell apart after that.
Ana Toumazatos
Ana
Toumazatos
6'1" | OH
Langley | 2025
State
VA
strung together two tough serves and an ace to extend the lead to 24-19. One of those serves allowed
Brianna Washington
Brianna
Washington
5'11" | MB
Woodbridge | 2025
State
VA
to bury an overset to the floor.
Evelyn Jurden
Evelyn
Jurden
6'2" | RS
West Springfield | 2025
State
VA
completed the six point run with her sixth kill to end it 25-19.
The twists and turns did not go so well for Virginia Elite in the finals. They stayed close in the first set with a
Adalene Rodgers
Adalene
Rodgers
5'11" | RS/S
Potomac | 2025
State
VA
redirect tying the score at 6-6.
Destini Pickett
Destini
Pickett
5'10" | OH
Forest Park | 2025
State
VA
produced back to back kills, one on a hard driven ball and the second on a tip to advance their lead to 8-6.
Caroline Lang
Caroline
Lang
6'3" | MB/RS
St. Annes-Balfield | 2025
State
VA
produced a tip kill to extend the lead to 10-6. Metro would whip up 13-7 and 16-8 leads after that to run away with the first set 25-14.
In the second set Virginia Elite stayed close, but they fell behind early 4-1 after a
Madison Smith
Madison
Smith
6'1" | OH
Homeschool | 2025
State
VA
kill. Despite remaining close they could never pull within three.
Jada Aksu
Jada
Aksu
6'0" | RS
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
completed three kills and
Alexis Badu
Alexis
Badu
6'0" | S
Eleanor Roosevelt | 2025
State
VA
made an appearance late in the set to play right side. Her kill gave Metro a 24-16 lead.
Alexis Badu
Alexis
Badu
6'0" | S
Eleanor Roosevelt | 2025
State
VA
lists as a setter but at 6’0″ shows an approach jump of 10’7″.
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
will probably do most of the setting working a 5/1. Metro would win the second set 25-18 to take the gold.