Junior National 16/17 All Tourney Team – Paramount Second in Gold

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year the DMV finished with a third place finish in Open and a first and second place finish in the National Division. That was all done by Metro. All their teams were playing Open this year, which is the most difficult Division to scrap a medal. Metro did win a 5th in the 15 Open while [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] closed the gap with a first in the 14 American Division and a second in the 16 National Division. Paramount was so close to winning the National Division, having taken the first set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Boiler Steel and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] came into the finals undefeated. Boiler only lost one set the whole tournament, while [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] lost just four. Some club was destined to take their first match loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first round of the gold [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] came a whisker from elimination. They were down 13-10 in the third set. An [player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott'] kill followed by a setter dump from [player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon'] pulled them within one point at 12-13. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545727' first='Giuliana' last='Mastrangelo']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong> put up a combo block to tie the game and after a great dig by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong> followed by a kill from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] scooted ahead 14-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the game would continue its back and forth until the two teams were tied at 18-18. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755134' first='Ava' last='Ewald']</strong> hit a ball high off the block for a 19-18 lead while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong> made another spectacular dig with<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong> putting the ball away for the 20-18 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They swept their next match so when they dominated Blue Steele in the first set of the finals it appeared [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] carried the momentum. However, [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] lost that momentum early in the second set falling behind 7-3. They could never get closer than three, losing 25-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third set remained tight all the way to 12-12 with no team taking more than a three point lead. Blue Steele scored the last three points with their setter slapping one down for the final point. Many of the top teams appeared to be turning to a 5/1 to get more consistency in their offense. Blue Steel was no different. When the setter wanted to put the ball away [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] could not stop her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three players from [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] made the All Tournament team. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545727' first='Giuliana' last='Mastrangelo']</strong> plus left sides<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569865"],"_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-6a485b728c1bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eireni has grown a lot since she won a top performer award at our Prep Dig frosh show case a couple years ago. The growth was not necessarily in height but in strength and intellect. While she has grown an inch since the showcase the other parts of her game have shot up exponentially.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strength wise she jumps higher, almost reaching 10 feet, hits harder while also bringing a better grasp of the game. She made the all tournament team at Junior Nationals, but in my opinion it was either her or <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545727' first='Giuliana' last='Mastrangelo']</strong> who would have won the MVP award if [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] had won the gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eireni came through in the clutch all tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["554770"],"_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-6a485b728c22a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong> appeared in the same Prep Dig frosh showcase as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott']</strong>, also winning a top performer award. Rujuta has also grown one inch since the showcase but her game relies more on her taking the deep areas of the court or using the hands of the blocker to create the kill. She can hit the ball hard but her overall jump and height does not allow her to get as high over the net as Eireni.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rujuta also has a solid back row game. Where the velocity is more noticed in her spikes is when she strikes the ball behind the 3 meter line. Rujuta made a number of critical defensive plays in the back row to keep rallies alive. She is a solid six rotation player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Dig DMV Junior Nationals All Tournament Team for the 16s and 17s</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17s</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - None. No team made it into the gold bracket so there will be no MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] N), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> (Metro Travel), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd']</strong> (Virginia Jrs), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth'] </strong>(Virginia Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side -<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='469197' first='Olivia' last='Garey']</strong> (Metro Travel), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='906029' first='Kristen' last='Boone']</strong> (Metro National), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720348' first='Milena' last='Kibret']</strong> (Virginia Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</strong> (Metro Travel), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='582293' first='Shannon' last='Treloar']</strong> (Virginia Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong> (Metro Travel), <strong>Megan Phan </strong>(Virginia Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536716' first='Diane' last='Nzoupet']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']), [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] (Metro Travel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16s</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - [player_tooltip player_id='545727' first='Giuliana' last='Mastrangelo'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] (Metro Trave), [player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] M), [player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] M), [player_tooltip player_id='830996' first='Catherine' last='Warren'] ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) [player_tooltip player_id='536738' first='Avery' last='Fauver'] ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - [player_tooltip player_id='755134' first='Ava' last='Ewald'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] M)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - [player_tooltip player_id='545727' first='Giuliana' last='Mastrangelo'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] M), [player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens'] ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']), [player_tooltip player_id='934826' first='Victoria' last='Liakos'] (Libero)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - [player_tooltip player_id='739977' first='Elizabeth' last='Hemberg'] (Metro National), [player_tooltip player_id='941988' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] A), [player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld'] (MVSA Sparks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero - [player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko'] (Metro Travel), [player_tooltip player_id='772028' first='Sofia' last='Gelston'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] M)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->