2025 15U Awards – MVP Katherine Mitchell

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the club awards for the 2025 15U age group. With Metro taking first in Junior Nationals in the National Division they carry most of the players on the all club team. Jeremy Strain provided valuable input when making these selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Player (MVP)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>(Metro).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> has improved so much as a player from last year. She dominated at the Junior Nationals winning the MVP award in the National Division. What stands out as most impressive was the jump spin serve she pulled out that accumulated multiple aces per service run. In the hitting arena when set or match point arrived Katherine was the setter's choice for getting that last point, whether she played back row or front row. Her back row play stood out as well making her a legitimate six rotation player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emerson Sellman</strong>, <strong>Cari Spears</strong>, <strong>Lameen Mambu</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> were all ranked number one at some point in our Prep Dig DMV rankings. What they have in common is they were all selected on the rosters of the United States Junior National team (although Nadiya was number 2 until she made the junior national team roster). Katherine brings the ability to also join that exclusive list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Surprising Player</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586981"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686bf896edeb6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ashley earned a spot in the class of 2028 ranking at number 95. That seems so outrageous after you saw her set in the Junior Nationals. She set so much better than a player ranked at 95. It is unfortunate but setters in a 6/2 offense sometimes are difficult to assess, especially when they only play three rotations. At 5'6" Ashley will not play right side as long as she sets for Metro. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, with Metro gunning for the gold it gave me the opportunity to watch her set more. Her hands are good, she provides consistent location to the hitters, she plays her position well on defense, all the things you look for in a setter. The only tool she really lacks is height.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After her performance in Dallas Ashley should see an uptick in the rankings when they are updated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Club Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589183,"width":"327px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/29-Ariel-Callwood.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589183" style="width:327px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='536724' first='Ariel' last='Callwood']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536724' first='Ariel' last='Callwood'] </strong>(Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld']</strong> (MVSA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='625574' first='Ashley' last='Nguyen']</strong> (Metro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>left side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>(Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</strong> (Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']),</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612397' first='Eliana' last='Koram']</strong> (Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong> (Maryland Juniors), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='744453' first='Megan' last='Elder']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='625593' first='Cairo' last='Turner']</strong> (Metro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>libero - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko']</strong> (Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722541' first='Lily' last='Gurney'] </strong>([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right sides - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617089' first='India' last='Starr'] </strong>(ECVC), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] </strong>(Metro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha'] </strong>were both named to the all tournament team while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> was named MVP. An extra middle was chosen over a libero, but the six rotation ability of the left sides make it difficult to find playing time for three defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Five Clubs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro Travel (20)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Maureen (40)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVSA Charge (111)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] Blue (236)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Cruz (252)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From a national perspective these national rankings stand out as the lowest of all the 14-17 age groups. From the Old Dominion Region the top National ranking was for 540 VB at 318.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Surprising Club</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":729665,"width":"239px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/57-Iris-Jin.jpg?w=907" alt="" class="wp-image-729665" style="width:239px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='630678' first='Iris' last='Jin']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Cruz - Normally a second team lacks the talent to stay in the upper echelons of the rankings. Not so for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Cruz. While [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Maureen snagged most of the height Cruz was still able to snag some pretty good prospects The second team finished third in the Chesapeake Bid Regional championships to show they belong as one of the top teams in the Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setters<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='630678' first='Iris' last='Jin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722900' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'] </strong>could probably set for most clubs in the region. Iris set for Thomas Jefferson as a frosh while Amanda looks to fit in a crowded setter position at Paul Vi. Last year she set for junior varsity. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='693144' first='Layla' last='Babiker']</strong> hits the ball hard from the left side with the ability to play six rotations. At 5;8: she classifies as a smaller left side. The tallest players on their team [player_tooltip player_id='725350' first='Leila' last='Bataineh'] and<strong> Josephine O'Connell</strong> play right side and middle and each are listed at 5'11". The first team carries five players over 6 feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->