Metro Dominates Class of 2028 Draft

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some argue that one club should not have so many players at the top of the rankings. It shows a certain bias by the ranker. Last year a number of people claimed that I was favoring [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] because so many of their players were ranked in the top ten. However, prior to that club season [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] had only one player in the top ten, that was [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] who was ranked number one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589253,"width":"336px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014613778705637","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/113-Alyssa-Kumah.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589253" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014613778705637;width:336px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After tryouts were conducted [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] picked up <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> from Club 540 who was ranked number 6 in the class of 2027. They also selected <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge']</strong> from Maryland Juniors, ranked at number 7 and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> ranked at number 10. After the tryout they went from one to four players ranked in the top ten. It is not as if all those players competed for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] when the rankings were first posted. Three of the four joined the team after the rankings came out</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Considering all that talent they were a little bit of a disappointment during the Junior Nationals. [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] was returning from an international event playing for the United States junior national team. In addition, for many of these players it was their first time in the spotlight. The previous year another 16 team (Metro) with loads of talent also faced those same challenges. They struggled in the junior nationals the previous year finishing 33rd out of 36 teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After one year more of experience that same Metro team took third place out of 36 teams in the open division at Junior Nationals in Dallas. The only real addition to their roster was setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo']</strong>. Claire is one of the smoothest and most accurate setters with her back set. This played well with right sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='555602' first='Bryah' last='Breaux']</strong> able to significantly contribute to the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] now 17 could have that same type of success this year after finishing 33rd out of 36 teams last year. There does not appear to be any international events to interfere with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] </strong>participating. They have also added some height with middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753065' first='Isabella' last='Adcock'],</strong> as well as right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='577516' first='Mariska' last='Ordonez']</strong>, both from Maryland Juniors. It would not surprise to see Paramount 17 finish high in the 17 Open Division this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732503,"width":"432px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014613778705637","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/Emerson-Wolfe.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732503" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014613778705637;width:432px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So that takes us to the next 16 team with potential superstar talent in Metro Travel. Last year as 15s they won the gold in the National division with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> taking the MVP and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko']</strong> earning appearances on the all tournament team. All three players rank in the top ten in the class of 2028, much of that due to their all tournament team selection. Also ranked in the top ten are right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong>. Two other players ranked in the top ten will play for different age groups. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437443' first='Kaniyah' last='Ball'] </strong>will play for the 17 team which last year finished second in the 16 National Division. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> comes from Maryland Juniors and will play for the 15 Metro team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players who have been added to the roster to enhance the team include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White']</strong>, who last year played for Virginia Juniors. Also added to the team are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong> who played for Maryland Juniors last year. Abisola will help out returner [player_tooltip player_id='612397' first='Eliana' last='Koram'] in the middle. All three of these players rank in the top 15. With that kind of talent I would find it hard to see them finishing 33rd out of 36 teams if they qualify for Open this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All the above is conjecture at this point. Metro has yet to post rosters and this year they have added a second travel team to the 15, 16 and 17 age group. It appears Metro realizes if they can't pick up players like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> because their roster is full then create a new team to accommodate those players. This would also make it more difficult for other clubs to acquire that top talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This could be one of the more interesting years in the Chesapeake club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DMV Players Named AVCA High School All Americans</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589305,"width":"607px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014613778705637","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/Jasmin-Tucker.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589305" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014613778705637;width:607px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='437457' first='Jasmin' last='Tucker']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are seven local players from the DC/Virginia/Maryland (DMV) area who made the American Volleyball Coaches Association all American team. Coaches who nominate the first set of names to go into the pot must be members of the AVCA. Based on those submissions the AVCA creates a nationwide All American team. Below are the DMV players who made the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No DMV players made the first team but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] </strong>was named player of the year for Region 2 (DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virgina).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second Team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong> (North Hagerstown)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves']</strong> (St. Johns)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> (Bishop O'Connell)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437457' first='Jasmin' last='Tucker']</strong> (St. Pauls School for Girls)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honorable Mention</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> (James Wood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> (James Wood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly']</strong> (Georgetown Day) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->