Traipsing Through Some Shamrock Showdown Memories

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Shamrock Showdown arrives this weekend. This was the first tournament I attended as a Prep Dig writer back in 2022. It brings back some wonderful memories. Allow me to walk you back from 2022 to the present.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2022 - Whatever Happened to?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":764515,"width":"481px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/IMG_1908.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-764515" style="width:481px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the first players to impress me with her play was an outside hitter who played for St. James Navy 16 named <strong>Saige Thibodeaux.</strong> She listed only 5'7" but was terminal with her outside hitting while playing an excellent six rotations. What impressed me most about her were her actions on the court. She was an energizer. Even acted as a captain, debating with the officials on a couple calls to support her coach. When those 2025 rankings initially came out she was ranked fairly high but at 5'7" there were some limitations. Before the 2022 club season came to a close she moved to Florida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since there was no writer in the Florida area at the time no referral was made. As the years clicked by her name was forgotten until recently when I looked at the first piece I wrote about the Shamrock Showdown. Curiosity drove me to conduct a google search to find whatever happened to her. What a surprise to learn she now plays for the Kutztown Golden Bears in Pennsylvania as a sophomore. They are a Division II college. Saige apparently did not grow any from her original 5'7 height but used her excellent back row skills to play as a libero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What is interesting about the team is that they have five rostered liberos, including <strong>Kristina Diaz</strong>, a junior now who once played for Forest Park. She ranked at 104 for the final of the 2023 rankings. Even though Saige had a brief career in Virginia she now lists her residence as Florida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was also a class of 2022 playing for Liberty Elite named <strong>Kirby Yates</strong>. She won the West Virginia Gatorade Player of they Year. After watching her play she was designated as the MVP of the tournament. She went on to play four years at Charleston Southern. They are a Division I school. She also listed at 5'7" but her senior year she was named to the second team All Conference. Despite her height she led her team in kills her senior year. Because she was a West Virginia resident playing for a Maryland club she was not ranked at the time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, a couple new kids arrived on the scene. They led [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] to the 14-16 championship. The previous writer for Prep Dig identified them as 2025 players to watch. I learned that they were not yet in high school and were playing a year up. They were actually from the class of 2026. The duo of outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> would be going to James Wood high school next year. Who knew what kind of chaos they would create in their four years with [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and James Wood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While at James Wood they gave the Colonels their first Class 4 Virginia State championship. They followed with three more. For a number of years they played for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] where they upended powerful Metro teams on a number of occasions, including one memorable upset at Capitol Hill Classic that dropped Metro to the second division after the first round. They were the first [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] girls that I can recall that ever received a national ranking. I've always wondered if the pair came to Metro tryouts early in their careers would they have made the roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> committed to Arizona State where she will play beach. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> committed to James Madison where she will play libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2023 - The 14 Open Shined the Spotlight on a Couple Impressive Younger Athletes</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":351445,"width":"654px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7778134110787172","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/PXL_20230319_212737642.MP_.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-351445" style="aspect-ratio:1.7778134110787172;width:654px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MVSA 14 Force</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVSA Force dominated the competition. They finished the tournament without losing a set going 5-0 (12-0). In their last set they beat a strong [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] team 29-27. The star player on that team was playing a year up. She was only 13 years old however it would be a pretty good start for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] </strong>career. I made a note to remember that name.<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next year Ana would stay at 14s. However, she would play for Metro. She moved from left side to right side because Metro already had two pretty good left sides named <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</strong>. Last year Metro won the National Division Junior Nationals in the 15U. This year they have already qualified for Open. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> is a key offensive piece on that team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The player who impressed me most was another [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] player, their 5'11" setter/right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson']</strong>. She had a presence on the right side that made you notice. She could also set. There existed all the attributes you look for in a top ranked prospect. She was the [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] in the class of 2028. Immediately she ranked as the top prospect in that class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For club, she only played another year of indoor. Her focus shifted to beach. She eventually got replaced at number one in our 2028 rankings by [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] after Katherine won MVP honors at Junior Nationals. The reason she still ranks at number 2 in our class of 2028 is because she still plays high school ball for John Handley. She is no longer listed as a setter but because she still plays indoor she remains ranked. Don't really know how much she really plays for Handley but as a frosh she broke an eight year record for kills in a match with 32. Two weeks later she broke her own record with 33. This year she did not make the Northwestern District All Conference team but it is unclear how much she played during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, a group of young girls played for Virginia Juniors in the 14 Open. They lost to both MVSA and [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']. That was the first time I got a glimpse of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis']</strong> (then Katherine), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438070' first='Camryn' last='Coulther']</strong>. All three still play for Virginia Juniors. Coco and Camryn have committed to Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024 - [player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah'] and 540 Volleyball Club Dominate Shamrock</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589253,"width":"501px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.501502019107653","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:1.501502019107653;width:501px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a good tournament for 540 volleyball club. The 16 U team competed in the 17/18 Open and won the gold. The big hitter on that team was class of 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435745' first='Alyssa' last='Kumah']</strong>. She hammered the game winning kill for a set three 15-12 win over a veteran [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 team. At the time it was considered a stunning upset. The next year Alyssa would move to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] where she plays with one of the top clubs in the Chesapeake Region. Recently, they finished in the top twenty in the Triple Crown. Alyssa has already committed to Old Dominion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Ayssa may have departed from the team most of the remaining members remain. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333653' first='Elizabeth' last='York']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497909' first='Riley' last='A. Forehand']</strong> still play for the 18 U team. Every player listed on their current 18 roster has committed. Yet they still go out and play. This weekend they will not be playing in the Shamrock Showdown. They will instead play in the 18 Open at the Northeast Qualifier. They have won four tournaments and finished third at Capitol Hill Classic in the five tournaments they have competed in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] dominated the 16 Open with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> taking charge in their last appearance at Shamrock. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] also won the 15 Open with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong>. The following year Aaliyah would leave [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] to also play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. She has committed to the University of Connecticut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 - 540 Volleyball Club Repeats as Champions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":950261,"width":"436px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/159-Ava-Holmberg-rotated.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-950261" style="width:436px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='898889' first='Ava' last='Holmberg'] LE Tony</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year older the 540 Volleyball Club repeats as champions in the 17/18 Division. They will not make it a three peat this year. This weekend they will compete in the Open Division of the Northeast Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new club to make their presence felt for 2026 could be [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite']. In the 16 Open semi-finals it was [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Josi going against [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony. [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony prevailed but ended up losing to 540 Volleyball club in the finals 25-23, 25-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 13 Open I noticed a couple players from the Bue Ridge team who dominated. They were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941775' first='Charlotte' last='Barvick'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='625566' first='Olivia' last='Barvick']</strong>. These two players have been impactful on the 14 U team, battling with Metro 14 for the top spot in two tournaments. At Capitol Hill Classic this year they lost in the finals to Metro 14. This weekend they will play in the Mideast Qualifier in the Open Division. The [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 14 team has already earned a USA bid at the Sunshine Classic Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And normally, I do not watch the 12s but two girls from [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] seemed to play above the level of the others. They reminded me a little bit of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson']</strong>. I asked the coach if they were younger sisters of Breeze and she confirmed they were. So be on the look out for <strong>Raynah Johnson</strong> and <strong>Skylar Johnson</strong> next year. That is assuming they do not play beach. Breeze, Ray and Sky are definitely beach names.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 - ?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will find out this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->