Prep Dig Showcase, 18 Jr Nat’l and Vienna Elite Gold News, Etc.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a potpourri of different subjects in one post. It begins with a discussion of another discount code for the two Prep Dig showcases held on June 7 as well as a graduated Prep Dig top performer enjoying college club ball. In addition, [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] 17 motivated by the movie Rocky won their first gold medal of the club season at a local tournament. Also, some coverage of the local team's performance at the 18 Junior Nationals in Utah this past weekend. Finally, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> both make the roster for different U19 U.S. Junior National teams that will play in different international tournaments representing the United States this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep Dig Showcase News </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only a couple days left before the early bird discount of May 1 expires for the June 7 frosh Prep Dig Showcase and after the older age groups. Even after that expires you can use my code for a $10 discount. My code for both the frosh and regular showcase is AbelsDig2025. If you act in the next couple days you can get two discounts. The good news is my discount will not expire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Prep Dig Top Performer news, I ran into the only top performer who participated at a Prep Dig showcase who has actually graduated from high school. <strong>Cassandra Bradley </strong>ranked #46 in our class of 2024. She ranked number eight for liberos. I ran into her at the Chesapeake Showdown. While she had received a number of offers to play at smaller colleges she chose to go to Maryland for her education.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It appears her competitive volleyball did not end with that choice. Now she plays club volleyball for Maryland. April 17-19 the team competed in the club championships in Pheonix, Arizona with 48 other club college teams from Division I schools. There are also other divisions, i.e. Division II, III, IAA etc. for a total of over 300 colleges participating in that event. The champion for Division I in 2025 just happened to be my alma mater San Diego State. You can see the history of club volleyball at the link below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://ncvf.org/tournament-home">https://ncvf.org/tournament-home</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So if the volleyball scholarship offers are less attractive or you prefer to matriculate at a larger school and just don't have the skills to make the volleyball team, the club option could be for you. It is less stressful and not as demanding on your time as playing for the university. Way back in 2022 Virginia Tech finished in third place in Division I college club volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] Feeling Strong Ater Taking Gold Medal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":772313,"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/5/2025/04/Vienna-Elite-17-Blue-Gold-Rocky.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-772313" style="width:411px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] 17 Feeling Strong</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it was a smaller tournament any gold medal win is a confidence builder. For [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] 17 this was their first gold medal win of the year. Prior to that they were encouraged to watch the Rocky Movie prior to their Northeast Qualifier. While they did not win they did win a flight division in the Qualifier. Feeling strong they won the 17 Club tournament at Maryland Juniors this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They won all six matches of pool play and swept through the championships to win the gold. <strong>Denaria Jenkins </strong>and <strong>Ana Fontes Shorman</strong> provided the offensive fireworks while <strong>Bridget Morgan </strong>and <strong>Walleska Negron </strong>put on strong serving runs. Overall, it bonded as a true team win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If your club or high school does well in a tournament send me a note. I would love to post about their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No Gold Bracket Appearances for Local Teams in 18 Junior Nationals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were some good performances at the Junior Nationals in Utah but unfortunately no gold bracket appearances. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro 18 </strong>almost made it to the Open gold bracket but fell short in a challenge match loss. On the first day they won three matches that went three sets. All of the third sets were won by Metro 15-13. After that first day Metro won only one of their four matches on the second day, including a 26-24, 25-21 challenge match loss to Club V that would have put them in the gold bracket with a win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the National Division <strong>Liberty Elite</strong>, <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']</strong> and <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors']</strong> were relegated to the flight division after the first day of pool play. The American Division saw <strong>MVSA Chaos</strong> earn a spot in the bronze division. A loss in the first round dropped them to 18th place. <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] </strong>also got knocked into the flight division after the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Freedom Division <strong>757 Black</strong> won their last three matches of pool play to earn a spot at competing to get into the gold bracket. They lost the gold challenge match to #951 Elite to just miss appearing in the gold bracket match. They lost their first round match in the silver 25-23, 27-25 to finish 13th in the Freedom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Juniors</strong> earned a spot in the Bronze Division. They lost in the finals of the bronze division to Idaho One to finish 21st. <strong>Maryland Juniors </strong>battled in the Flight Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> Makes Roster for U19 U.S. National Teams</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":746903,"width":"306px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/20231210_184417-rotated-crop-2084x1369-1738249151.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-746903" style="width:306px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Congratulations to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> for making the roster of the U19 U.S. National Team that will play in the NORCECA Pan American Cup tournament June 24-29 in Ontario, Canada. Only 12 of the 19 players on the roster will compete in the event. Taylor earned a top performer at our first Prep Dig showcase a couple years ago and ranks as the top prospect in our class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] </strong>earned a spot on the U19 roster to compete in the Pan American Cup. She did not make the final 12 roster but she did get a lot of instructional practice. This year she earns another selection to the U19 U.S. National Team that will play in the FIVB U21 World Championship August 5-18 in Surabaya, Indonesia. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> is our top prospect in the class of 2026. Again, 12 of the 19 players on the roster will compete in the U21 World Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->