Blue Ridge 17 Dominates USA Division in Northeast Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last March [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 earned a bid in the Mideast Qualifier by finishing in third in the USA Division. They declined the bid. Last weekend they won the Northeast Qualifier USA Division. Again, they declined the bid. It trickled down to [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] and [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'], who finished third and fifth. They also declined the bid. All three have been accepted to play in the 17 Premier Division at AAUs in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] brought a stacked roster to this tournament with the addition of top prospect from the class of 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson']</strong> to the roster. She has been focusing her volleyball play on the beach this summer. At 6'0" she can contribute on the right side as a hitter to add depth to the offense. Or she can be used as a third setter,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589286,"width":"354px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/Avery-Lefman1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589286" style="width:354px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With talented setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] </strong>already on the roster it would be interesting what position she played. Left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> as well as right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler']</strong> are keepers at the pins. At 5'7" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525340' first='Olivia' last='Smith']</strong> is a smaller left side but brings a powerful punch with her right arm. [player_tooltip player_id='527011' first='Dreu' last='Patterson'] has been playing right side but can also play middle with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739911' first='Colette' last='Mercker']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison']</strong> the main middles. That leaves <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>contributing mainly from the right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add to the lineup the powerful back row play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> as well as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320814' first='Alycia' last='Miller']</strong> and this team has no weakness on the floor. They failed to lose a match in the tournament while winning every set but two. Definitely a team to watch in AAUs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] 17 also surprised with their strong play. Ex [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497909' first='Riley' last='A. Forehand']</strong> has moved her powerful left side play to [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club']. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722276' first='Kenstin' last='Phelps']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='693827' first='Simone' last='Lawson']</strong> can both set and hit right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322106' first='Bailey' last='Loving'] </strong>plays a quality libero while <strong>Tess Holdaway</strong> plays a strong defense while also hitting left side. [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] only lost two matches, one of them to [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] in the semi-final of the gold bracket 25-20, 25-21.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And finally, [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] with 5'11" setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker']</strong> (but looking more like 6'0" now) continuing to show off her setting results with wins. She has some dangerous weapons in pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609533' first='Madeline' last='Dumais']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333653' first='Elizabeth' last='York']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='620687' first='Jordan' last='Ellis']</strong>. Both Elizabeth and Jordan can play middle, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='696425' first='Kennedy' last='Buchanan']</strong> are two athletic middles you want to keep on the court. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464563' first='Elizabeth' last='Robinson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='290419' first='Sanai' last='Jones']</strong> can also be used as setters if 540 wants to switch things up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":516575,"width":"274px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/Kadie-Cardozo1.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-516575" style="width:274px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='397192' first='Kadie' last='Cardozo']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanai also plays a strong back row with libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397192' first='Kadie' last='Cardozo']</strong> and defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484405' first='Brenna' last='Raymond']</strong>. The last six matches for Club 540 went to three sets. Only two points separated the third set in four of those matches. In the quarter finals of the gold bracket 540 lost a third set 15-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 16 USA Division both [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] 16 played well. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] only took one loss as they entered the gold bracket. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to second place finisher OT Semei 25-23, 25-15. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] is led by setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='621440' first='Kylee' last='Plumb']</strong>, middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='530280' first='Lora' last='Totcheva']</strong>, right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437978' first='Olivia' last='Allis']</strong>, libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='521531' first='Natalie' last='Huck'] </strong>and left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='742632' first='McKenna' last='Mullin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309028' first='Gracelyn' last='Brown']</strong>. Their appearance in the player rankings may fall short of many of the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 players, but for them their careers are just getting started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Got to give some love to [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] 16. They fell short of the 17 team accomplishment, but this group still flows with talent. After winning their first five matches to start the tournament they stumbled after that, losing their last three to finish in 19th place. They lost a gold challenge match to Jacksonville Skyline 25-15, 25-18. Jacksonville went on to finish fifth. RVC is led by pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464573' first='Blake' last='Crawford']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536717' first='London' last='Jones']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768375' first='Alexis' last='VerMeer']</strong>, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720080' first='Miller' last='Grimes'] </strong>and setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528727' first='Avery' last='Hurley']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732487,"width":"461px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Ava-Zender1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732487" style="width:461px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 15 USA both <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']</strong> and <strong>Virginia Juniors</strong> finished ninth. Juniors had only lost one match until losing in three sets in the first round of the Gold Bracket. What impressed about Juniors is the number of players on their roster who won top performer awards at the Prep Dig Showcase last summer. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender']</strong>, middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523664' first='Reese' last='Roberts']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini']</strong> as well as left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White']</strong> and defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='558212' first='Violet' last='Zimmitti'] </strong>were all top performers. Other ranked players who contributed were left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545717' first='Ellie' last='Brumback']</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon']</strong>, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545719' first='Julia' last='Heinzelmann']</strong> as well as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545721' first='Emelyn' last='Shen']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722925' first='Sophia' last='Yung']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536731' first='Rawan' last='Salem']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] won their first five matches but lost in the first round of the gold bracket playoffs to Academy Crystal 25-19, 21-25 and 15-9. This team is led by the two sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='627365' first='Alexa' last='Eggleton']</strong> at setter and outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609590' first='Leah' last='Eggleton']</strong>. This team will not beat you with height but quickness with setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587035' first='Maggie' last='Race']</strong>, left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466369' first='Cailin' last='Connors']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584072' first='Madison' last='Butler']</strong> as well as right side/setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664252' first='Cam' last='Stoll'] </strong>and defensive specialists <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='602392' first='Elise' last='Nair'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664973' first='Annalese' last='James']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601748' first='MaKennah' last='Dovel']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732506,"width":"411px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Gabi-Donley2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732506" style="width:411px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='530366' first='Gabi' last='Donley']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOJO Elite </strong>16 finished with an impressive fifth place in the Liberty Division. They lost a second round match to Excel National Blue 25-23, 25-13. Their roster has two potential Langley rising stars in outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='608978' first='Francise' last='Ramirez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530362' first='Claire' last='Nitowski']</strong> as well as a future Madison rising star in middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='539414' first='Giulia' last='Pescosolido']</strong>. Middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530366' first='Gabi' last='Donley'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529254' first='Gracie' last='Davig']</strong> as well as outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530363' first='Adelyn' last='Pye']</strong> round out a talented roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty Elite </strong>16 won their first five matches to earn a spot in the gold bracket. However they lost in the first round to the same Excel National Blue team that beat MOJO Elite. Liberty Elite is led by setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438085' first='Jenna' last='Yoder']</strong>, left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530395' first='Ella' last='Grove']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529446' first='Heather' last='Mclean']</strong>, as well as middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438088' first='Kasey' last='Moser']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438087' first='Lauren' last='Chu']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro 15</strong> earned themselves a spot in the gold pool by winning their first six matches. They won their first match in the gold pool 30-28, 26-24 but got swept in their last two matches to eliminate themselves from an Open bid. <strong>Metro 16</strong> also earned a spot in the gold pool but lost their two matches to eliminate any opportunity for an Open bid. Both teams have National bids but they are the two Metro teams in the 14-18 age groups that lacks an Open bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 also earned a spot in the Open gold pool but lost their last match in pool play by identical 25-20 scores. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] earned an Open bid the previous week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other ninth place finishes were <strong>American Red</strong> in American 17 Division and [program_tooltip program_id='498498' first='Virginia' last='Wave'] in 17 Liberty. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 14 Liberty both <strong>Paramount Anderson</strong> and <strong>BAVA</strong> lost three set first round matches in the gold bracket to finish in ninth place. BAVA already owns a Freedom bid. In the 14 American <strong>Virginia Juniors </strong>finished in fourth place, but they already own an American bid. Third round losses by <strong>American Red</strong> and <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Pink</strong> brought them both fifth place finishes. <strong>Liberty Elite</strong> 14 took a first round loss in the gold bracket for a ninth place finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Show Me Qualifier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Juniors </strong>and <strong>Metro 14</strong> almost got to face each other in the finals of the 14 Open Division. Maryland Juniors lost to <strong>Dynasty Black</strong> in the semi-finals while Metro lost to Dynasty in the finals. Metro had already earned an Open bid. Normally, an open bid would come to Maryland Juniors after a fourth place finish in Open. Since only 14 teams played in the tournament only one bid existed for the taking. Based on their finish Maryland Juniors brings the resume for an Open at large bid invitation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->