Metro Wins Two Open Bids in Sunshine - 15's and 16's

The Sunshine Classic was a big success for Metro. Both the 15's and 16's earned Open bids, the 15's defeating Arizona Storm for first place and the 16's finishing in fourth place but still earning a provisional bid. Below is a breakdown of the 15 and 16 Open results. Other results for DMV teams will be discussed in a separate post.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Open - Metro Remains Undefeated as they Take Down Triple Crown Contenders</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/63-Emerson-Wolfe.jpg?w=978" alt="" class="wp-image-729671" style="aspect-ratio:0.9550801133960876;width:365px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</figcaption></figure>   Playing in both travel and local tournaments the Metro team had not lost a set. While they finally lost a set at the Sunshine Classic Qualifier they beat some pretty strong club teams to remain undefeated.   Metro 15 came into the tournament as the fourth seed. Unlike many of the elite teams that were competing in the tournament they did not play in the Triple Crown so they were relatively unknown. The tournament directors knew they would be good, giving them the fourth seed, but they did not know how good.   Metro went undefeated on the first day sweeping their first two opponents. The first team they played GJ Adidas played in the Triple Crown but finished 101, even though their record was 9-1. Metro swept them 25-23, 25-21. They did lose their first set of the year in the third match against Boss Cle, losing the opener 25-23. They bounced back to win the next two sets 25-21, 17-15. That allowed them to keep their fourth seed as they advanced to the second day.   Their opener on the second day was another Triple Crown participant who finished 102, Alliance Ren. They had a 7-2 record at Triple Crown but Metro was able to handle them 25-21, 25-23. They also swept past Tribe VKTRY Navy 25-16, 25-20. Their last opponent in the pool would be the big test. Iowa United Elite finished 29th in the Triple Crown. While the first set was a battle Metro swept 25-23, 25-17. Now it was on to the Gold Bracket Pool.   Twelve teams advanced to the Gold Bracket Pool, broken out into three divisions. Only the winner in each Division would advance to the gold bracket. The top two seeds remained the same but GJ Adidas, who Metro had beat on the first day upset the third seed in the tournament A5 Kelly.   In the pool with Metro was OT 15 Randy, which finished 13th in the Triple Crown and Mintonette Sports, which finished 45th. Metro swept Mintonette 25-17, 25-21 and followed that with a sweep over OT Randy 28-26, 25-21. It was on to the gold bracket.   Their first draw was Legacy Adidas which finished second in Triple Crown. As to be expected it was not easy. Legacy won the first set 25-16. Metro recovered and hammered Legacy in the second set 25-12. The third set Metro won 15-13. Next on the agenda was Arizona Storm, who finished third in Triple Crown.   Another battle with Metro again losing the first set 25-21. They managed to squeak past Arizona Storm in the second set 25-23 and finally win the third set 15-11 to take the gold. Mad Frog Green, who finished first in Triple Crown did not compete in this event.   This Metro team is much improved over last year. The acquisition of the two new outsides [player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] strengthened the offense. They also picked up [player_tooltip player_id='753073' first='Aniston' last='Williams'] to add depth to the middle where [player_tooltip player_id='750047' first='Caroline' last='Conroy'] (a recent NTPD invite) and [player_tooltip player_id='746330' first='Hannah' last='Keating'] star.   The number one prospect in the class of 2029 returns in [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']. She not only sets well but there are not many right sides who can hit the ball harder than her. Almost every top Division I college would love to have her on their roster. [player_tooltip player_id='747047' first='Ella' last='Luscomb'] is a strong setter on the opposite side. To show off her versatility she played libero for Broadneck, who won the Maryland Class 4 state championship.   However, this Metro team is set at libero with [player_tooltip player_id='755672' first='Jaylin' last='Park'] covering the back row. Both [player_tooltip player_id='892024' first='Claire' last='Kennedy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='755675' first='Charlotte' last='Nelson'] are quality backups at the libero position and can fill in to rest six rotation players in the back row. Jaylin belongs to the Class of 2028 and appears to be a bit under rated by Prep Dig (Me). [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'], [player_tooltip player_id='750050' first='Raquel' last='Telly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='762240' first='Timea' last='Ioana Vladoianu'] can all cover the pins with high level play.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16 U - Metro Earns Provisional Bid with Fourth Place Finish</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/IMG_4214-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-787823" style="width:368px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko'], MVP [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</figcaption></figure>   While Metro did not win the Sunshine Classic Qualifier they did finish in a tie for third place (AES erroneously shows them 4th place). That was just enough to earn them an Open bid. Last year they played in the National Division in Junior Nationals and they took first place. This year the goal was to make it to Open Division and they did that in their first qualifier.   They entered this tournament as the 12th seed, the last first seed among the 12 pools. Their first opponent was CUVC Open, which finished 114th in Triple Crown this year. The beat them pretty handily 25-15, 25,16. Their next opponent Wildfire offered them a tough first set (27-25) but Metro completed the sweep with a 25-15 second set win. Mintonette, which finished 58th in Triple Crown would be their toughest test. Metro passed with a convincing 25-17, 25-19 win.   The second day Metro was placed in a strong pool with Arizona Storm, which finished fourth in the Triple Crown this year. They beat their first opponent Stars ZAmy, which finished 73rd in Triple Crown 25-13, 25-22. Alliance Ren (93rd in Triple Crown) offered Metro a tougher match before falling 25-23, 25-21. Next, Arizona Storm, who gave Metro their first loss 25-22, 25-16.   Finishing second still earned them a spot in the gold bracket pool, but as a third seed against ID Crush Bower (7th in Triple Crown) and HJV Elite (11th in Triple Crown). With four three team pools winning the pool would get them a bid but they had to beat two powerhouses. First, they took down ID Crush in three, 25-22, 12-25, 15-11. Next, they vanquished HJV Elite 25-21, 25-23. Now, it was on to the gold bracket with a bid already secured.   Probably a good thing too because they got paired to play A5 Gabe first, a team who won the Triple Crown and had lost only one set prior to this match. A5 would go on to win 25-16, 25-10. A5 Gabe would then beat Arizona Storm in the finals 25-22, 20-25, 15-10 to win the gold. Metros only two losses were to the top two teams in the tournament, who were also the first and third place team in Triple Crown. The second place team in Triple Crown Dallas Skyline did not play in Sunshine.   Metro 16 did not remain stagnant after their first place finish in the National Division. They picked up a new setter in [player_tooltip player_id='612396' first='Natalie' last='Hobson'], who runs a 6/2 with [player_tooltip player_id='625574' first='Ashley' last='Nguyen']. They also grabbed a couple new pin hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White'] and [player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell'] to add depth to the position. Ariana is probably best used on the left side while Sienna is a nice right side option.   They already have two solid left sides in [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']. Katherine won the MVP honors last year in the National Division after Metro took first place while the 5'8" Chika made the All tourney team for electrifying kills. Additional right sides include [player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'], [player_tooltip player_id='721145' first='Claire' last='Tepper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='515489' first='Chloe' last='Canetto'].   Libero[player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko'] also made the all tourney team in the National Division in the Junior Nationals. The middles are very imposing with [player_tooltip player_id='612397' first='Eliana' last='Koram'] (NTDP Invite), [player_tooltip player_id='625593' first='Cairo' last='Turner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781020' first='Harper' last='Slate']. [player_tooltip player_id='784849' first='Delaney' last='Malloy'] hit outside for VISAA state champion Flint Hill earning her all state first team honors, but for this Metro team she is a libero/defensive specialist.

The Sunshine Classic was a big success for Metro. Both the 15's and 16's earned Open bids, the 15's defeating Arizona Storm for first place and the 16's finishing in fourth place but still earning a provisional bid. Below is a breakdown of the 15 and 16 Open results. Other results for DMV teams will be discussed in a separate post.