Day Two: A Day of Reckoning

This is the day of separation for most teams. Where the top teams in each pool get placed into two groups. The one group will compete for a championship while the other group will still compete to better themselves. Regardless of which group you fall into if you do not play hard it becomes difficult to improve.   I did get to watch all the teams compete in this tournament except Maryland Juniors Black. I will try to see them Friday. My main focus in the last two days will be to watch the teams in the first group as they attempt to put themselves in the championship bracket, no matter the Division. Below a summary of where each team stands.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Open - [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Maureen)</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/20-Eireni-Scott.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589175" style="width:261px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</figcaption></figure>   As the sixth seed the hope for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] is to expose these girls to the highest level of play and compete well. To qualify for an Open bid is a testament to the girl's talent. Their 0-5 finish does not define this group of girls. They definitely possess the talent. Now it is a matter of refinement. They will compete better in Group two.   [player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh'] has improved her play on the left side. She appears to stand a bit taller on the court but she also shows growth with her confidence. A solid six rotation player who still becomes a weapon when she plays back row. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='722541' first='Lily' last='Gurney'] played well in a set against OT Randy. Early in the game their hitters pounded a number of balls her way and she calmly popped them up to the ten foot line. She seems to get her hand on any driven ball.   On Friday Paramount will compete in group two against two other teams. Expect a win there. with a second seed.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 National - Metro, [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Cruz)</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/77-Amanda-Dadio.jpg?w=825" alt="" class="wp-image-729686" style="width:233px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='722900' first='Amanda' last='Dadio']</figcaption></figure>   I did not get a chance to see Metro play on Thursday. They accomplished what a number one seed should in their pool finishing undefeated. They swept past all their teams on Thursday with Rockville Thunder Elite the only team reaching twenty points against them.   The [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] second team earned a bid to the National bracket. As the sixth seed your goal is to finish above your seed. They accomplished that by winning one set to finish fifth in their six team pool. They also battled Circle City Black to three before losing the third set 15-6.   Unfortunately, I watched them play when they competed against the number one seed Ozark. Ozark beat them 25-11 and 25-12. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='722900' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'] has improved her setting with stronger hands to push the ball outside. She jump sets a lot which always keeps the opposing blockers off balance. It would be difficult to find a player who works as hard as Amanda to improve her craft. This coming high school season she will compete with three returning setters from the varsity. [player_tooltip player_id='693144' first='Layla' last='Babiker'] is a high flying left side who puts good velocity on the ball. She plays six rotations but like any player from this age group she still needs to work on getting more consistent with her passing.   With their 0-5 record [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] will play in Group two. They did win their first set in their last match. They also fall into Group two with a third seed. [player_tooltip player_id='617109' first='Margaret' last='Manzer'] impressed at the showcase as one of the top middles in attendance.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 American - Columbia and Maryland Juniors Black</h2>   Colombia may have only won one match but they battled the number one seed OP2 Elite to three sets. After going down in the first set 25-15 they battled close in the second set. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='787927' first='Gianna' last='LaGuardia'] pulled out all her skills to keep Columbia close in this set. She does not carry great height for a middle but she put a number of higher sets to the floor, normally tooling the blocker's hands. She served a couple aces, made some nice defensive plays after her serve and contributed a couple blocks.   Still, Columbia found themselves down 20-23 despite all her contributions. Another tool off the block and a combo blocked pulled Columbia to just one point. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='720419' first='Anna' last='Fiedler'] contributed a kill to tie the score but a Columbia hitting error put them one down again. Fortunately for Columbia OP2 served the ball into the net. The set went into overtime with a [player_tooltip player_id='623092' first='Anwuli' last='Okafor'] kill, then block gave Columbia set point. I believe a back row attack by [player_tooltip player_id='720419' first='Anna' last='Fiedler'] gave them a 27-25 win, though my notes are not clear on that.   In the third set OP2 scored the first five points and never looked back. They won 15-5. Columbia will play their last match on Friday and hope to pick up their second win.   For Maryland Juniors Black they have yet to score their first win. They play the other winless team early on Friday morning, then follow that up with a challenge match that will put them in their playoff bracket.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Freedom - MVSA Charge and Virginia Juniors</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/27-Ava-Zender.jpg?w=906" alt="" class="wp-image-729635" style="width:254px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender']</figcaption></figure>   MVSA Charge finished in third place to advance to Group 1. They lost to the number one seed San Antonio Juniors on the last match of the day, but still captured third place. They will be the third seed in a three team Group 1 pool.   Virginia Juniors came into their pool as the first seed but were only able to capture one win. Despite this pool still waiting for a finish Virginia Juniors has no shot at a top three finish. They appear headed to Group 2.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 Open - Metro and Maryland Juniors</h2>   What a difference a day makes. On Thursday Metro did not look competitive, losing all three matches and not appearing close in any of them. While it took three sets Metro pulled out their last two matches to finish their pool 2-3. That was enough to earn them a second seed in a three team pool in Group one. Despite how poorly they played on that first day they played well enough to get to the dance. From what I have been told the roster for Metro has been ravaged by injuries.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/95-Emerson-Wolfe.jpg?w=917" alt="" class="wp-image-781918" style="width:191px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</figcaption></figure>   On the flip side Maryland Juniors went 1-2 on the first day. All they needed was to win their last two matches and they would join Metro in Group 1. They took one step forward to accomplishing that feat by winning their first match. In the last match of the day against Circle City they lost the first set 36-34. Tough to overcome that loss. Circle City smoked Maryland Juniors in the second set 25-15. Despite that loss they were able to squeeze into Group 1 as a third seed.   [player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton'] showed she is more than power in a set against PVA Elite. She executed a number of roll shots that hit the floor. She also shows excellent quickness in the back row, racing all the way from the setter's position to scoop a tip over the middle blocker. [player_tooltip player_id='753079' first='Reagan' last='Barrett'] buried some balls from the left side, showing her versatility. With [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] dominating the left side Reagan has to move to right side to earn playing time.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 USA - Virginia Juniors</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/23-Alaenah-Frank.jpg?w=955" alt="" class="wp-image-781852" style="width:307px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='748006' first='Alaenah' last='Frank']</figcaption></figure>   This team appears to have a lot of fun when they play. As a sixth seed they are not expected to win a lot of games. In their last match of the day they won their first match. It took three but they beat LIV Royal to beat their seed. Love the overall talent and potential on this team. A lot of athletes.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 National - [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Cozad</h2>   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] came as a first seed. Their 2-3 record dropped them to fourth place. That 2-3 record was not good enough to place them in group 1 so they will do their battles in group 2.   On the other spectrum [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black went 2-3 as a fifth seed. They will get a number one seed in a grouping 2 three team pool.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 American - BAVA Wave and Liberty Elite</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/13-Brie-Mouton.jpg?w=745" alt="" class="wp-image-781843" style="width:237px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton']</figcaption></figure>   BAVA brings some impressive athletes on the court. It all begins with setter [player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton']. To open their first game on Thursday [player_tooltip player_id='763461' first='Ayva' last='Agno'] passed a ball close to the net. Brie jumped high and then redirected the ball to the center of the opponent's court. They were caught flat footed. Brie sets a 5/1, shows a good jump when in the front row and is clearly a player to watch. Left side [player_tooltip player_id='787925' first='Camryn' last='Bedell'] is quite raw but carries the athleticism to bring growth to her game. While she plays back row she is strictly there for her offensive potential. She still has some flaws with her platform and swinging her arms when trying to perform a dig.   Olivia Wheeler impressed me with her defense and quickness in the back row as a defensive specialist. She played much better than what I tried to witness at the stock up showcase. With Olivia and [player_tooltip player_id='763461' first='Ayva' last='Agno'] in the back row they are solid there, especially when you add [player_tooltip player_id='763146' first='Jemma' last='Peterson']. She belongs to the class of 2030 but brings a great platform for passing while also showing quick movement in the back row. She serves lefthanded.   BAVA has one more match left but after losing their last two matches on Thursday they will drop to group 2.   Liberty Elite also played a first seed when I watched them play. They are a seventh seed in an eight team pool. Liberty Elite has one more match to play tomorrow morning against the team lower than them in seeding. Aubrey Barnhart is a feisty libero who loves to hit the floor going after balls,   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 Freedom - MVSA Force, [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Anderson and Williamsburg</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/108-Aubrey-Wade.jpg?w=1005" alt="" class="wp-image-781931" style="width:229px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='518008' first='Aubrey' last='Wade']</figcaption></figure>   MVSA came into the pool as a first seed. They did not panic when losing their first match of the tournament. They bounced back and won the last four to earn a Group1 appearance.   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Anderson won their last match to finish 2-3. That put them in fourth place where they earn a first seed in a three team Group 2.   Williamsburg finished 0-5. They will play in Group 2.

This is the day of separation for most teams. Where the top teams in each pool get placed into two groups. The one group will compete for a championship while the other group will still compete to better themselves. Regardless of which group you fall into if you do not play hard it becomes difficult to improve.