Richmond Takes AAU Atlantic Coast Championships

<p>This was the AAU Atlantic Coast Championship.  My focus was on the 16 age group.  The top three teams had a number of players worthy of mention. </p> <p><strong>Richmond Volleyball Club</strong></p> <p>This is an athletic group loaded with talent.  It would be an all you can eat buffet for a volleyball recruiter.  They won the gold medal match 25-12, 25-16, rarely allowing 20 points in a set in the five matches they played.  They finished ninth in the USA Division of the Windy City Qualifier, falling short of playing in Indianapolis.  The AAUs in Orlando may be in their future.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="190541" first="Hannah" last="Ball"]</strong> - The 5’10 outside appeared to be an automatic kill when the set went her way.  She has a faster arm swing from the left side than the right, but either side looks like a whip when pounding hits off the edges of the blocks.  She plays six rotations and has finesse in her game to complement her power, breaking out some roll shots from an impressive tool box.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="196196" first="Campbell" last="Woods"]</strong> - The 6’1 lefty is perfect for the right side but not shy about putting the ball away from the left.  RVC runs a 6/2 forcing Campbell to rotate out for the setter, so I saw no back row play.</p> <p><strong>Morgan Crawford</strong> - Morgan is 5’10" and a future 2023 grad.  She shows a good vertical with a fast arm swing, putting in good pops whether it was from the back row, right side or left side.</p> <p><strong>Amelia Tomlinson</strong> - Very quick at the libero position with some length.  She earned my respect, forgoing a roll or pancake dig for the men’s push up dive as she chased a ball toward the sidelines.  The opponents had already begun celebrating so a free ball shot over the net earned Richmond a point.  Love her movement in the back row and her anticipation.</p> <p><strong>Columbia Volleyball Academy Black</strong></p> <p>I wrote about them after the Chesapeake Showdown tournament.  Sometimes watching a team play a second time confirms your opinion of a player or new players stand out.  At the AAU Atlantic Coast Championship Columbia’s only loss was to Richmond Volleyball Club in the final.  They beat a couple of strong teams in Vienna Elite and Saint James to get to that final.</p> <p>I’ve already wrote about 5’9" setter <strong>MacKenzie Calhoun</strong> and libero <strong>Natalia PeBenito</strong>.  Both were voted to the All Met team as honorable mentions by the Washington Post.  The 5’9 Calhoun sets a quick tempo 5’1 offense, dishing quick sets to all areas of the court, creating an unpredictable and dynamic offense.  Natalia is quick to the ball and has the hands of a setter.  She is even used in a two passing system in at least one rotation.    </p> <p><strong>Sophia Gentile</strong> - The 5’10" left side appears to be MacKenzie’s go to attacker.  She has a powerful swing and puts up a good block.  When I saw her play she only was used in the front row.</p> <p><strong>Neve Norris</strong> - At 5’6" she may be a little undersized to play front row.  At the Showdown she was an effective back row attacker.  At the Atlantic Coast she was a six rotation player with a good vertical jump that allowed her to put balls away.  She had the game ending kill in the semifinal game.</p> <p><strong>Ava Bradley</strong> - The 6’0" middle transitions well, running quicks and slides.  Her block reaches close to ten feet.  Ava appears to read the setter well, gliding from pin to pin to bring her block to the ball.     </p> <p><strong>St. James Navy</strong></p> <p>They took Richmond Volleyball Club to 25-23 in their very first game of the tournament.  I saw them at the Shamrock and they were probably my favorite team to watch.  A bunch of girls who appear to enjoy playing together.</p> <p><strong>Saige Thibodeaux</strong> has a quick approach to the ball and knows what area of the court to attack.  She is still as enthusiastic as ever on the court.  Listed at 5’7, she looks more like she stands 5’9".  She has a good vertical and a powerful arm swing that allows her to put good velocity on the ball.  She plays an excellent back row.  With a couple inches of growth she will be a terror on the court.</p> <p><strong>Seliz Aktuglu</strong> - The "ballerina" stands 5’9" with a block reach approaching 9’0".  She finished a game against Vienna Elite with a ferocious put down block.  She also has a good vertical and the ability to terminate.  A six rotation player with excellent defensive instincts.</p> <p><strong>Simara Alexander</strong> - The 5’10 middle puts up a solid block.  She also connects with the quick sets well, putting the ball away with some heat. </p> <p><strong>Kiah Jackson</strong> - She appears to be their third middle, but at 6’2 she was used at right side against Columbia to try to stop their strong hitters.  Kiah still looks a bit raw but there is a ton of potential in her game.  A player to watch.</p> <p><strong>Emily Kearney</strong> - Even at 5’4" the coach has so much confidence in her setting that she uses her in a 5/1.  At 13 she was a libero and a third setter because her hands did not have the strength to set the ball outside.  That is not a problem now.  She connects with her middles well and has a good intensity to her game.  She leads by doing.    </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>