Day 7 - Filled with Success for DMV 16s and 17s

The older teams have encountered a little more success than the younger teams did the previous week. Last week only Metro 15 found a path to the gold medal. The older age groups have six with some pool play and challenge matches to determine their location. When all is said and done perhaps only one team will enter the Gold Bracket.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Metro 17</h2>   With pool play complete their only loss has been against the top seed in the tournament TAV. All four of their wins have gone three sets. Three of the four third sets ended 15-12 while one finished 15-10.   They had their hands full against the Vegas Aces and their star Pittsburgh commit Ayanna Watson. She ranks number 7 in our national rankings. After watching her play that ranking is well deserved. Whether she played back row or front row the 6'3" left side put the ball down. All you could hope for is to survive at the end hoping for a misstep.   On the flip side [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] was a handful for the Vegas Aces. While she lacks Ayanna's 6'3" height she was blitzing the Aces back row just as frequently with her high velocity spikes. With the duo exchanging kills a couple hitting errors by Metro turned a tight 17-17 set into an 18-23 shellacking by the Aces. They would eventually win it 25-21 on a Gentry Oblad tool off the block.   The second set Metro seemed to have under control with leads of 12-7 and 16-9. Hitting errors by Metro and a couple kills by Ayanna soon found the Aces tied at 17-17. After that it was a game of survival with both teams exchanging side outs. A [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] kill put Metro up 24-23. A tremendous dig by setter [player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su'], who was being used in this tournament as a defensive replacement because of injuries to their back row gave Metro an opportunity they needed After the out of system set a tip over the block fell untouched to the floor and Metro survived the second set 25-23.   In the third set a combo block by [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] tied the score at 7-7. A couple Ace errors and two Nadiya Johnso kills moved the lead to 11-8. The undersized middle [player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie'] successfully put away a quick set to put Metro up 12-9. After both teams missed their serves a big block by [player_tooltip player_id='555602' first='Bryah' last='Breaux'] put Metro one point away from match victory. [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] finished it off with a kill.   Now Metro plays in a three team pool with Wave and LAV National Black. The top two teams from that pool will get an opportunity to play in the Gold bracket if they can win a challenge match.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Metro 16</h2>   In the National Division the younger Metro team is also rolling. They won their first two matches on day 2 sweeping all their opponents. The last set against OT John was not settled until a [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] spike finished the set 26-24. They then played 1st Alliance Gold, who were also undefeated with all their wins by sweeps as well. 1st Alliance handled them pretty easily 25-15, 25-18.   Metro 16 will squeeze into a three team pool with HNL Volleyball Black and Iowa United. Last year at Junior Nationals an Iowa team knocked Metro from the gold bracket. Now, just like in the Open Division a top two finish would give them an opportunity to win a challenge match for an appearance in gold.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Juniors 16</h2>   A sprained ankle to setter [player_tooltip player_id='206729' first='Megan' last='Phan'] in the first set of the day did not stop Juniors from winning all three of their matches today. Three teams stand at 5-1. Juniors last match is against one of those 5-1 teams Front Range Volleyball Club Black. A win would put them in first place since they have given M2 Volleyball their only loss. A top three finish would still give them an opportunity to earn a spot in the gold bracket, but a win would give them a bye in the first round.   With [player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] hitting left side the offense is there for them to make a run.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Juniors 17</h2>   The 17s only losses have come against the two undefeated teams. All three of their matches today went three sets. Five of their six matches have gone three sets. The only match left is against Texas Heat, who is tied with them for second place. They need to win that match to have any opportunity to play in the gold bracket. Even if they win, they will still have to play two challenge matches to earn a spot in the gold bracket.   One of Virginia Juniors five three set matches came against East coast Volleyball Club from the neighboring Old Dominion Region. Virginia Juniors won the first set 25-14 while East Coast bounced back to take the second set 25-19. The third set [player_tooltip player_id='322107' first='Eden' last='Tardy'] strung together three kills and a block to give Juniors an early 7-3 lead. With a safe lead in hand middle [player_tooltip player_id='479659' first='Eliza' last='Lowe'] finished the match off with a kill.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Columbia Volleyball Academy 16</h2>   Perhaps one of the surprises of the tournament. They came in as a fifth seed in the Freedom Division but finished in second place in their pool at 4-1. It took a three set match over Colorado Skyline to put them in second place. After losing the first set 25-16 they reversed course and won the second set 25-16. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='849614' first='Noya' last='Offurum'] put together some key blocks in the second set and finished the third set with a kill to seal the third set win 15-12. Setters [player_tooltip player_id='698761' first='Imagine' last='Peltier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='849600' first='Jennifer' last='Hong'] ran the offense.   Tomorrow they play in a three team pool. They must finish in the top two places, then win a challenge match to advance to the gold bracket.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Elite 17</h2>   A loss to Jett Carr put them in third place in their pool. Virginia Elite will now need to finish in the top two places of the three team bracket and then win a challenge match to earn a place in gold. The setting of [player_tooltip player_id='204152' first='Sofie' last='Ferrell'] has given Virginia Elite the opportunity to continue their journey to the gold bracket.

The older teams have encountered a little more success than the younger teams did the previous week. Last week only Metro 15 found a path to the gold medal. The older age groups have six with some pool play and challenge matches to determine their location. When all is said and done perhaps only one team will enter the Gold Bracket.