Annapolis, Glenelg and Severn Win IAAM Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first state championships for Maryland have been completed. The winners are Annapolis Area Christian, Glenelg County and Severn School. Below is a summary of the results. Because of club tryouts I was unable to attend the championship matches but Jeremy Strain wrote about the Bracket A finals he attended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bracket A - Annapolis Area Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":887233,"width":"610px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/Groshek-rotated-crop-2800x1839-1758147839.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-887233" style="width:610px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeremy served the first course of this championship in sumptuous detail. I'll provide a little dessert. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton']</strong> delivered a team leading 17 kills in their 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 sweep over Maryvale Prep. Three other players, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong> (7), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753070' first='Avery' last='Lettinga']</strong> (7) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek']</strong> (6) combined for 20 kills. Netherton also served up four of the teams five aces and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748492' first='Paetyn' last='Brown']</strong> participat4ed in four of the team's five blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annapolis also played Maryvale Prep during the season and swept them as well. The only teams they lost to all season were in the Endless Summer tournament where they lost to both Georgetown Day (number 2 in our top 25) and Kellam (number 10 in our top 25). It was somewhat of a revenge win for Annapolis after losing in the championship match to Maryvale Prep in five in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annapolis got on my radar when they picked up two talented middles in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587884' first='Charlotte' last='Dittmar']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong>. They failed to reach the playoffs in 2024, somewhat of a down year after making the finals the previous year. The Eagles really got on my radar this summer when four of their players won top performer awards at our DMV frosh showcase. Those four were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896390' first='Harper' last='Walker']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='781700' first='Gianna' last='Bonnett']</strong>. Sophia actually was selected the MVP at the event. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749757' first='Dakota' last='Pentorn']</strong> also showed up for the older group later that afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My first thought was where are they going to put all these talented frosh? Turns out almost all of them made it as starters and they won a championship as well. That is a pretty good start to building a dynasty. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bracket B - Glenelg County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early in my Prep Dig writing I would confuse the Glenelg public school with the private Glenelg County. Last year Glenelg County lost to Garrison Forest in the semi-finals. Garrison Forest ended up winning the Bracket. Because of their win they were bumped up to Bracket A and reached the semifinals before being swept by Maryvale Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without Garrison Forest in the bracket Glenelg County won the Bracket B, sweeping past Gerstell Academy. This was after inching past St. Mary's in a heart wrenching five setter, with the final game won by Glenelg County 15-13. The Dragons match against Gerstell went a little easier with 25-19, 31-29 and 25-14 wins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896386' first='Kristina' last='Melton']</strong> won the player of the match award with her 12 kills, six aces and 22 points serving while also contributing to the defense with 11 digs. She was also critical in their serve receive. <strong>Annika Nilson</strong> also contributed 12 kills. Another top performer at one of our DMV showcases libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493358' first='Kennedy' last='Cummins'] </strong>led the team in digs with 19 and contributed 5 aces while serving up 18 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With this win the Dragons will move up to the same bracket next year as Annapolis Area Christian and Garrison Forest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bracket C Severn School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Severn School defeated Park School in four. Not a lot of detail available for their win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blast from the Past - Status of the 2023 Top Tens</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":211276,"width":"524px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/07/chloe.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-211276" style="width:524px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chloe Wilmot</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I just thought I would take a look at the 2023 top tens to see how they are progressing with their college careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 <strong>Safi Hampton</strong> (Hammond/Metro) North Carolina - The Tarheels have been flirting around with the lower half of the top 25 teams in the country. Safi stands out as the top hitter for North Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Milan Rex </strong>(Alexandria City/Metro) Santa Barbara - She appears to be one of the two setters for Santa Barbara. Last week they appeared in the others receiving votes for the top 25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Brielle Kemavor</strong> (Colgan/Metro) BYU - BYU also flirts around the top 25 and Brielle stands out as one of the top middles in the NCAA, She is 33rd in hitting percentage at .393.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Grace Maria</strong> )Bishop O'Connell/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) Connecticut - Grace starts at left side for Connecticut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Sydney Bryant </strong>(Flint Hill/Metro) Maryland - A key contributor to Maryland's offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>Pam McCune </strong>(St. Johns/Metro) Iowa State - At 16-4 they have been a surprise team also flirting around the top 25. Pam appears to be one of their main starters at middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Hannah Howard</strong> (Mussleman/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) UMBC - The starting libero for the 7-10 Retrievers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Helen Frankovich</strong> (Justice/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) UMBC - The starting middle for UMBC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. <strong>Chloe Wilmot</strong> (Alexandria City/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) Duquesne - Chloe hit 2,500 assists for Duquesne. She is second this year in the NCAA in assists and 12th in assists per set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. <strong>Frances Torres-Esperanza</strong> (Veritas Scholar Academy/Metro) Colgate - Made the Patriot All-tournament team in 2024. She is third on the team in kills hitting mostly from the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->