Flat Tire, Rewire, O'Connell Inspires in Arizona

Bishop O'Connell came to Arizona with high aspirations. They entered the tournament 22-0 without losing a set. Prior to the tournament [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] reached 1,000 kills. The season was going very smoothly until the team faced their first adversity of the season, a flat tire in their van that was to take them to the tournament.   The coach scrambled to put six girls and a coach in the second van to get them to the tournament and at least field a team. Only one parent was available with a smaller vehicle to drive four players to the tournament. An uber was called to carry the remaining players and a second coach. That left the head coach a third coach plus the trainer to wait for either a fixed tire or the first van to return after dropping off the six players. The budget was not enough to call for a second uber. Both the van arrived back at the hotel and the fix of the flat tire happened at about the same time.   To complicate matters, the girls did not realize that the first van they took to the tournament also carried the volleyballs for them to warm up. By the time they realized this it was too late for the van to return. They scrambled to find volleyballs to warm up with. Fortunately, the tournament director was kind enough to provide them with some volleyballs.   The head coach did not arrive at the match until the first point was scored. The players cheered when they saw the coach running to the court. It was enough momentum to pull the Knights ahead early against a scrappy Louisville Kentuck team Dupont Manual. After a couple shanked passes and out hits they lost the early lead and eventually the set 25-22. For the Knights that was the first set they had lost all season.   Some teams would have fallen into a panic. However, the Knights huddled up, took a deep breath and chose to rewire. The calamity was over, everything was whole again. They got a second wind while in the huddle with their coach providing a little pep talk and won the second set 25-22. They really tuned it on for the third set winning 15-5. [player_tooltip player_id='612396' first='Natalie' last='Hobson'] fired off two aces to give the Knights a 10-3 lead. [player_tooltip player_id='805097' first='Cayla' last='Sawyers'] finished the match off with two aces at the end for the 15-5 win. You could hear a sigh of relief as the early morning troubles faded. The team survived. It was time to play volleyball.    Lillian showed a lot of improvement during her frosh year, earning her spot in the middle while eventually tying for the team lead in blocks with 37. This year at the Nike Tournament of Champions she led the team in blocks with 14, upping her season total to 40.   At 6'2" she brings the height to the position. She also does a good job of reading the setter to get a good jump at reaching the pins. Her quality blocking has created a little niche for her on the team.   While the blocking has been solid her timing for hitting the quick tempo sets has also improved to allow her to also be a threat on offense in the middle. She has improved her hitting percentage and kills per set to make a difference for the offense. The opponent middles can no longer ignore her presence to focus on the pins.    In their second match against Notre Dame Academy the Knights won the first set 25-20 with a 9 point serving run from [player_tooltip player_id='755675' first='Charlotte' last='Nelson'] carrying the team to the win. They took charge in the second set with a 25-11 scalding. [player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten'] finished with 8 kills, [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] collected six, [player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'] each strung together 4 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] walloped three. It stood out as an extremely balanced attack.   The final set of the day the Knights played the Arizona team Casteel for first place in the pool. Both teams were undefeated. The first set was tied 23-23 until a kill from frosh [player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten'] gave the Knights a 24-23 lead. [player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] completed a block to end the set 25-23. They had come back from a 17-20 deficit, aided again by another [player_tooltip player_id='755675' first='Charlotte' last='Nelson'] serviceg run to bring them back in the game. The second set they cruised to a 25-13 victory. The Knights won their pool, the flat tire incident now behind them.   Interesting to note that Casteel went on to beat Hamilton in three in the challenge match to qualify for the Platinum Division. That gave them a first round match against Cornerstone Christian, the number two seed in the tournament. They were swept 25-20, 25-17 but played a competitive match.    Claire did not get a lot of playing time during the first day of the Nike TOC. During the season she normally played libero during the second set of a match. Since all the matches went three sets she normally played just one set in a match.   The second day the Knights began seeing tougher serves and stronger hits. The coach called on Claire to help improve the Knights back row play.   She seemed to find herself in the right spot on a number of vicious kills that brought with it tremendous velocity. Clair stood her ground, popped the ball up and kept a number of rallies alive. She scooped up 16 digs with two aces against Highland and 9 digs with five aces against Perry. The Knights split the two matches, winning the first and losing the second. Claire collected 8 digs with one ace in the one set she played in the final match against Archbishop Mitty.   Claire still needs to improve her serve receive but that will come with time. Better movement to the ball while keeping her shoulders down with a flat platform will improve her consistency. When I played, we passed mid line, but serves are arriving with greater velocity so angle passing is encouraged. I still prefer mid-line when you can because it forces you to move your feet to te ball rather than trying to reach for balls to get a proper angle and shanking the ball.    While it would be a nice story to say that O'Connell went on to win the tournament after their first day of challenges however it did not happen. It takes a lot of sweat to fall on the gym floor before a player or a team can get to the elite level. Even the top Metro teams struggle once they reach the gold level in Open play. The Knights are still a relatively young team with one frosh and five sophomores contributing to the starting rotational lineup. They have no Prep Dig nationally ranked players yet since it has yet to rank the class of 2029 and 2030 but in another couple years they could have three in [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'], [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten']. They just need to add more sweat to the floor as they finish the high school season and begin the club season.   The first match of day came against Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach, winners of 7 state championships, four national titles and considered one of the top public high schools for Division I volleyball recruiting. They had some height in the 6'4" middles Liliana Swanson (John Hopkins commit) and Hadley Polman. They also had the number 26 Prep Dig nationally ranked player in setter Lerin Rosenthal, who will be going to Florida State to play beach. The biggest challenge the Knights faced in this match was in stopping the 6'3" left side Lily Vandeweghe, who ranks number five in California for the class of 2029. She also leads her team in kills.   O'Connell battled in the first set. Harper Terry ultimately finished the game off with a kill giving Mira Costa a 25-23 win. The Knights proved superior in the second set pulling out a 25-23 win with frosh [player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten'] leading the charge. The third set Mira Costa jumped ahead early and controlled the game with strong serving creating numerous O'Connell shanks for a 15-7 win. Mira Costa advanced to the Platinum where they would face Mater Dei, the champions of Durango and the eventual champions of Nike Arizona. Mira Costa almost upset Mater Dei, taking them to three sets before falling 20-25, 25-23, 12-15.   O'Connell was able to take the first match in the Gold from Highland 25-21, 25-14. They lost their second match to Perry 19-25, 25-22, 10-15, knocking them down to the third place match in the Gold Division. O'Connell played Archbishop Mitty in the third place match, losing 23-25, 21-25. Overall, they finished in 12th place out of 36 in the highest division. While they lost their first three matches of the year, they also gained perspective defining what it takes to play at the top level.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Panthers Bounce Back to Finish Third in the Silver Division in Premier Division</h2>    It appears Olivia has earned a spot on the left side for the Panthers. [player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] still gets the majority of the kills, generating offense from the back row as well as the front row. She is a Virginia commit. However, Olivia now finds herself third on the team in kills. Quite an improvement from last season when she was a distant fourth on the team in kills.   Last year she played mainly right side. This did not allow too much six rotation play since the Panthers ran a 6/2. This year she is playing six rotations and making contributions on defense as well as passing. She ranks fourth on the team in digs. When Coco and [player_tooltip player_id='893067' first='Clara' last='Hays'] do not line up in a two person serve receive Olivia stepped in to help out with the passing.   Olivia is one of the more intense players you will find on the court. Her whole focus is on preventing the volleyball from hitting the floor. She is one of the most improved players on the team.   Olivia has committed to Penn State Behrend to play volleyball.    Paul VI played in the Premier Division, which was one level below the National Division. In their first match of the day they lost to Sierra Vista, losing the third set 16-14. The second match against the first place Trinity Catholic from Florida also went three, with a 15-7 loss in the third set sealing their fate. They lost another three setter against Sprague from Oregon losing another third set 15-11 to finish pool play 0-3.   The next day they swept El Camino 25-16, 25-10 in a challenge match to earn a spot in the Silver Division. Another sweep in their silver bracket opener against Sunrise Mountain 25-20, 25-23 advanced them to the quarter finals. Pine Crest from Florida swept them 25-20, 25-18. In their third place match against Mica Mountain from Arizona they suffered a fourth three set defeat, losing the third set 18-16.   [player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] was all over the court for the Panthers hitting from both the front row and back row. She even set up in a two person serve receive with libero [player_tooltip player_id='893067' first='Clara' last='Hays']. [player_tooltip player_id='941998' first='Olivia' last='Stroupe'] added some offense from the left side as well. Also came away impressed with the play of middle [player_tooltip player_id='941994' first='Elle' last='West'] and right side [player_tooltip player_id='922366' first='Natasha' last='Fisher']. I already knew they carried quality setters in [player_tooltip player_id='941988' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'] (Georgetown commit) and [player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon']. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='625593' first='Cairo' last='Turner'] has committed to University of Connecticut.    Good to see [player_tooltip player_id='484960' first='Kinsley' last='Zebatto'] at the tournament. She played for Virginia Juniors and was prepared to play for Bishop O'Connell her sophomore season. At 6'2" she would have added some height to an already tall Knight team. She stopped by the tournament to see one of her Virginia Junior teammates [player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis']. While in Virginia Kinsley won a top performer award.   The family moved to Arizona where she enrolled at Corona del Sol. They have played Casteel twice and lost to them both times. The Knights defeated Casteel in pool play at the tournament.   Kinsley has committed to the University of Incarnate Word, a Division I College in San Antonio.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Big Matches from Last Week </h2>   Flint Hill swept past DC powerhouse Jackson Reed, led by the 15 kills from [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'].   Prior to their trip to Arizona Bishop O'Connell swept past Paul VI in a big WCAC match. In the second set the Knights were behind 19-16 but managed to pull off a 25-20 win. It was the first time the Knights had given up 20 points in a meaningful set. The Knights brought a balanced attack with [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] leading the way with 15 kills. [player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten'] and [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'] followed with 12 each. [player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] provided the bulk of the offense for the Panthers with 17 kills. Later in the week O'Connell swept Saint Marys Ryken with [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] delivering her 1,000th kill early in the match.   Madison took control of the Concorde Division with a four set win over Oakton, despite the 24 kills and 18 digs from left side [player_tooltip player_id='754650' first='Madison' last='Meiring']. Madison (the team not the player) is now 5-0 in the Concorde with wins over Chantilly and Oakton.   Turner Ashby (15-2) took Fort Defiance (14-1) to their first defeat, sweeping them 25-23, 25-21 and 25-22.   Georgetown Day (5-6) swept Georgetown Visitation (7-7) but it was not easy in a 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 win. [player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] led the way for the Mighty Hoppers with 20 kills, 14 digs and 5 aces.   Cox downed Landstowne in five to give Ocean Lakes the lead in the Beach Division at 9-1. Cox, Landstown and First Colonial are each one game behind at 8-2.   Independence (9-0) took a commanding two game lead in the Cedar Run Division with a four set win over Battlefield (8-2).

Bishop O'Connell came to Arizona with high aspirations. They entered the tournament 22-0 without losing a set. Prior to the tournament Macie Murray Macie Murray 5'11" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2027 State VA reached 1,000 kills. The season was going very smoothly until the team faced their first adversity of the season, a flat tire in their van that was to take them to the tournament.