Metro 17 and MVSA Sparks Earn Bids at Big South

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a big tournament weekend with the Big South and Northern Lights Qualifiers as well as the Old Dominion Bid Tournament. A number of Chesapeake and Old Dominion teams did well. Details of their results below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Big South Qualifer in Atlanta</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With their athleticism and height Metro 17 has always had the potential to do well. It is a matter of just putting it all together. They previously earned a National Division spot after winning the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championship. At the Big South they won their first three matches with a big three set win over TAV Houston Adidas 23-25, 25-20, 15-5 in their attempt to get an Open bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second round they lost their first match. Another loss would knock them out of earning that bid. Perhaps in years past that may have happened. This is an older and more mature team. They bounced back by sweeping their next two opponents. This got them into the gold pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In open, you have to win your gold pool to advance to the gold bracket. That is where the bids are earned. Metro was able to sweep past their opponent in the first match, but a three set loss to EC Power KOP made advancing look bleak. Fortunately, EC Power Kop was swept in their match to result in a three way tie for their pool. Metro advanced by bringing the best set record in the standings. They also had the best point percentage as well. They advanced to the gold bracket on both fronts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams were now battling for three bids. However, Mintonette Sports, one of those four teams had already earned an Open bid. That meant the three remaining teams all snagged their bid. Metro won their first match in three sets but were swept by Mintonette in the final. Those results did not matter since an Open bid was theirs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> earned all tournament team honors. The move to Open by Metro could open up a Junior National Freedom spot for Virginia Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVSA Sparks also upped their bid status from Freedom to USA with their fourth place finish in the USA Division. On the first day they finished second in their pool, losing their last match to New York City Juniors in three sets. What earned them that second place finish was a 15-13 third set win against clubSAV Mizuno in their opening match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the second day they swept through all their opponents to earn a spot in the gold bracket. They won their first two matches in the gold bracket but lost to the local team A5 25-9, 25-15. Since three teams earn bids they played a third place match and were again swept. However, because A5 had already earned a USA spot the bid trickled down to them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732480,"width":"316px","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/Ana-Djordjevic.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732480" style="width:316px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438097' first='Haile' last='Ma']</strong> leads the team hitting from the left side. The 6'3" middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum']</strong> is a player to watch in the middle while libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>covers the back row. With MVSA moving up to the USA Division Maryland Juniors could earn a spot in the Freedom Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other teams who came close included the 16 and 17 team for [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'], who both finished ninth in the USA Division. The 17 team earned a spot in the gold bracket by going 5-1 in pool play. A second round 25-17, 25-17 loss to A5 Pat ended their bid opportunity. A5 Pat would go on to win the USA Division. The 17 team is led by libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322106' first='Bailey' last='Loving']</strong>, left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497909' first='Riley' last='A. Forehand']</strong> and setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722276' first='Kenstin' last='Phelps']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16 team went 6-0 in pool play, winning two three set matches 15-13 and 15-12 on the second day. That record earned them a bye in gold bracket play but they lost to A5 Stephen 25-19, 25-22 in their first match. A5 Stephen would go on to win the USA Division as well. The 16 [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] team has talented pin hitters in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464573' first='Blake' last='Crawford']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536717' first='London' last='Jones']</strong> as well as 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:paragraph --> <p>Metro 16 did not come close to winning a bid, but it was all because of a poor start. They went 1-2 on the first day, losing three of their four sets by two points. In their next six matches they swept their opponents to win the Flight 1 Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":520913,"width":"315px","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/Annika-Dandridge.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-520913" style="width:315px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] finished fifth in the open. They won their first six matches but when it came to the gold pool a loss to Arizona Storm Thunder knocked them out of the gold bracket. Arizona Storm Thunder would lose in the finals to finish in second. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] is led by middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> as well as outsides [player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong>. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] has already earned an American bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northern Lights</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732478,"width":"396px","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/Ali-Joyce.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732478" style="width:396px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='728459' first='Ali' last='Joyce']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Josi and Tony chose to compete in the Northern Lights in Minnesota instead of travelling to Atlanta. They both competed in the American Division. Unfortunately, only one team can qualify for a bid from that division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their opener [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Josi won a tight 17-15 third set match. After that they won their next five matches, with only one going three sets. Reaching the gold bracket they lost in the first round to Kairos Gamma 25-20, 25-20. Kairos Gamma would go on to the final before losing to CIA Black. [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Jose is led by pin hitters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471485' first='Kaelyn' last='Wharton'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536741' first='Lacey' last='Bogues']</strong> as well as setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728459' first='Ali' last='Joyce']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='444617' first='Kamilla' last='Hendrix']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony had a rougher ride to their gold bracket appearance. They went 2-1 the first day to finish second in their pool. Another 2-1 record on the second day created a three way tie for first. Because [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony swept their opponents with their wins they finished first in their pool with the best set record. They won their first match in the gold bracket playoffs but lost their second match to eventual American Division winner CIA Black 25-21, 25-20. [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony is led by outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530394' first='Christine' last='Baybayan']</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='701939' first='Josephine' last='Pairel']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='706453' first='Ela' last='Yilmaz']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Old Dominion Bid Regionals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The results came pretty close to my predictions. For the most parts all the top seeded teams earned their bids. Below are the results. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>National - [program_tooltip program_id='498498' first='Virginia' last='Wave'], American - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black, Freedom - [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] Zonal</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>National - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black, American - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Pink, Freedom - Outbreak</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>National - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Pink, American - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black, Freedom - [program_tooltip program_id='498498' first='Virginia' last='Wave']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>National - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black, American [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Pink, Freedom - SERV</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->