Knights/Tartans Battle of the Undefeated – IAAM Playoff Results

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knights/Tartans WCAC Battle</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This late in the season it is rare to have two teams who are both undefeated play each other. That is what happened last night when Bishop O'Connell went to Holy Cross in a WCAC battle. The Tartans came into the match 24-0-1 while the Knights were 18-0. Both teams were coming off big wins over Flint Hill as well as Paul VI. The winner would finish first in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, giving them top seed in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The gym was standing room only for spectators. As one coach watching the event put it "this looks like a college match." The Tartans proved too much for the Knights in the opener, winning 25-22. They relied on right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> (12 kills) and left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> (17 kills) to create their offense. Emerson was named player of the match by the Holy Cross coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights dominated the second set 25-11. They were led by left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> (20 kills) and right side setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> (15 kills). It would be hard to find a player who hits the ball harder than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong>. Once she perfects her short game, she could be very dangerous. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] </strong>(11 kills) also proved formidable, powering a number of quick tempo sets to the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just when you thought the momentum was with the Knights, Holy Cross stormed back to take the third set 25-22, led by a number of blocks from frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753073' first='Aniston' last='Williams']</strong> (7 blocks). In the fourth set, with the Knights behind by four <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> went on a serving spree with her top spin serve, accumulating four aces on a seven point serving run to put the Knights up by three late in the set. Passing issues crumbled the Knight lead with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> finishing the match off with a kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By far, this rivalry is not complete. Last year Holy Cross swept the Knights during the regular season however, during the championship final Bishop O'Connell won in four. The Knights have won three of the last four championship matches. This year the Tartans would like to get that championship back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match had all the trappings of a rivalry. During the travel season [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] played for Metro 14 while [player_tooltip player_id='753073' first='Aniston' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] suited up for Maryland Jrs 14. Both teams had epic battles against each other with Metro finishing out on top at Capital Hill Classic and the Chesapeake Bid Regionals. Next year Holy Cross will have a new gym which will seat 400 spectators. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["536721"],"_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-68f8fcbed4ca9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ana ranks number four in our class of 2028. She plays for Metro, who last year took first in the National Division of the Junior Nationals. Her right side contributions helped in that first place finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She swings right handed but seems to be wedded to the right side. When Holy Cross runs a 5/1 she plays six rotations. This allows her to create offense in the back row. For Metro she is normally rotated out for the setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She is second to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> in kills and second to [player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel'] in digs. She has the ability to go get the ball on defense but sometimes struggles with passing. Only a sophomore her game can only get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Definitely a player who brings a major impact to a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["488812"],"_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-68f8fcbed4d07"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With the offensive production initiated by the pins [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'], sometimes Olivia is overlooked. She stands out as one of the better offensive middles in the game. Her kill percentage flashes out at an impressive .474.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She ranks third on the team in kills and first in blocks. Her blocking could be better with quicker movement to the outside. On her swings she can strike the ball equally hard hitting to either the right side or left side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Against Holy Cross she had 9 kills in 12 attempts after three sets. In the fourth set Holy Cross put more effort in stopping her. She was limited to two kills in six attempts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An overlooked player who can also impact a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">IAAM Playoff Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Annapolis Area Christian </strong>did not have any problems against <strong>St. John's Catholic Prep</strong>, sweeping them 25-13, 25-9, 25-11. While <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton']</strong> led the team in kills with 10, and aces with 4 it appears every player made a contribution of some sort. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896390' first='Harper' last='Walker']</strong> also delivered 4 aces , <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749757' first='Dakota' last='Pentorn']</strong> gathered 8 digs and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton']</strong> dished out 13 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryvale Prep</strong> battled it out with <strong>Archbishop Spalding</strong> winning in five sets 25-17, 24-26, 14-25, 25-17, 15-8. When these two teams played during the regular season Maryvale won in four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Garrison Forest</strong> also disposed of <strong>Note Dame Prep</strong> in three 25-18, 25-22 and 26-24. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='895854' first='Dawn' last='Pena'] </strong>led the team in kills with 19 while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555602' first='Bryah' last='Breaux'] </strong>also hit double digits with 10 kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the B Bracket <strong>Glenelg County</strong> lost the first set against <strong>Catholic</strong> 25-23 but then stormed back to take the next three 25-22, 25-13, 25-20. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896386' first='Kristina' last='Melton'] </strong>led the team in kills with 24 while <strong>Kyla Wootten</strong> added 15 and <strong>Annika Nilson</strong> contributed 13. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493358' first='Kennedy' last='Cummins']</strong> swooped in for 33 digs while also firing up 6 aces. <strong>Simone Hendricks </strong>dished out 53 assists. Glenelg County will next play <strong>St. Mary's</strong> in the semi-finals. St. Mary's earned a bye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No scores were provided for the other matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->