Paramount Age Groups Sweep the Weekend

Four different age groups for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in the 14-17 rage played in tournaments this weekend at Maryland Juniors. All four age groups brought home the gold. For some it was not so easy. Below is a summary of the results as well as new players who also stood out at the tournament.   17 Open    This group was two pools of three. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] easily trounced over their opponents without the other teams getting more than 16 points. When the sets for pool play begin at 4-4 it becomes even more impressive.   In the other pool Maryland Juniors swept through [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] and after winning the first two sets against Renaissance Black DE lost the third set. The last set loss did not mean much since they had already clinched the pool. It meant a lot to Renaissance as the win made them eligible to play in the gold bracket.   Maryland Jrs again played Renaissance Black DE in the first round of the playoffs while [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] earned a bye. Led by the strong outside hitting of left side [player_tooltip player_id='399509' first='Lauryn' last='Allen'] and the setting of [player_tooltip player_id='434860' first='Jasmine' last='Nelson'] they swept past Renaissance Black DE. The first set Maryland Juniors pulled it off 25-23 with a set ending spike by [player_tooltip player_id='520368' first='Tatum' last='Hall']. Brooke Grodon contributed some impressive redirect blocks from the middle and [player_tooltip player_id='520372' first='Olivia' last='McDonough'] played a solid libero. Maryland Juniors cruised in the second set 25-5.   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] proved to be a little too much for Maryland Juniors in the gold medal match, sweeping them 25-21 and 25-17. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] received contributions from two of their players from the class of 2026, setter [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] and left side [player_tooltip player_id='249330' first='Charlotte' last='Arrington']. Last year Charlotte played for the 15 team but jumping past a year has not lessoned her game. [player_tooltip player_id='181235' first='Sydney' last='Mayfield'] contributed heavely from the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='235306' first='Brianna' last='Washington'] were unstoppable in the middle.   In the second set Maryland Juniors missed three straight serves to allow [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] to pull away to a 25-15 win. Prior to the first missed serve Maryland Juniors only trailed 17-12. [player_tooltip player_id='192587' first='Adriana' last='Perodin'], a smaller left side from the class of 2024 showed that height does not matter, smashing one down the line with plenty of juice to put a dent in the floor, advancing the Paramount lead to 22-14..   16 Open    As the tournament progressed there remained little doubt about who would face each other in the finals. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] easily won their pool sweeping all three opponents without giving up more than 17 points. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] also swept past their opponents.   In the first round of the playoffs [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] destroyed Renaissance Black DE in the first set 25-5 but struggled during the second set 26-24. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] blitzed past Renaissance Black DC 25-11, 25-11.   That brought a finals match between [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. While the year is still early this would be the third encounter between the two teams. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] won the first match at Volley by the James. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] came back and won the second match at the Mid-Atlantic Power League (MAPL) tournament in Hampton. Last week [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] finished in third place at the Charm City Challenge in Baltimore, playing in the 18 Division.   The first set [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] dominated 25-18. The game was tied at 16-16 but back to back service errors by [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and a six point service run by [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] gave [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] a 24-17 lead.   [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] took control in set two. She contributed at least seven kills in the second set, including a critical kill to tie the game at 24-24. [player_tooltip player_id='525324' first='Olivia' last='Smith'] came back with an ace to make it 25-24 and a roll shot down the line by [player_tooltip player_id='320813' first='Callie' last='Hose'] ended the set 26-24. [player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] put away a couple sets late in the game from her middle position to keep [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] close. [player_tooltip player_id='325603' first='Parker' last='Sutherland'] from the middle and [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] from the left side were key pieces for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], but they came up short.   [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] put on a show in the third set with three early kills to start the game. [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] continued her assault on the Paramount back row sending missles hitting from the front row or three meter line. Her kill on an out of system set gave [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] a 14-13 lead.   A critical block by right side [player_tooltip player_id='325601' first='Sydnee' last='Peters'] gave Paramount the serve. A strategically timed two handed setter dump by [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] gave [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] a 15-14 lead. The setter dump was so unexpected since she had not attempted it all match until that critical point. Perhaps the MVP of the match [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] put an end to the game with a kill, giving the gold to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] with the 16-14 win.   15 Open    [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] came into this tournament having not lost a set and ranked number one in the country according to the Advanced Event Systems USAV National Ranking. They faced adversity in this tournament. Elite teams slug through the adversity and rise to the challenge. Mediocre teams clock it in and hope for better in their next tournament. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] rose to their challenges. After all, being number one puts a target on your back and a team has to respond.   In the other pool sat a sleeping tiger, Maryland Juniors, who were also nationally ranked at number 82 in the USAV ranking. The interesting dynamic with Maryland Juniors 15 is they appeared to bring more length to the court than their Maryland Jrs 17 team. The 5'11" [player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] was virtually unstoppable from the left side, hitting rockets from both the front and back row. The middles [player_tooltip player_id='525348' first='Dylann' last='Loggins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='529246' first='Jordyn' last='Allen'] hammered spikes into the floor while right side [player_tooltip player_id='529248' first='Mariska' last='Ordonez'] proved difficult to stop. I also loved their setter [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] who ran the offense.   Maryland Juniors destroyed their opponents in pool play, then vanquished [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] pretty easily (25-8, 25-14) in the semi-finals. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] also won their pool rather easily, though they looked a little sluggish in the process, allowing [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] to accumulate 20 points against them in the first set of the AM,   In the semi-finals [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] met their first taste of adversity facing a very scrappy Premier Edge team. Libero Riley McFarland became a digging machine for Premier. It appeared the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] hitters were playing pepper with her in the back row because of all the driven spikes she dug. Premier actually tied the first set at 24-24 but [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] scored the last two points to win the set 26-24. The second set was an early battle but [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] pulled away late to win 25-14.   Coming into this tournament [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] had not lost a set. Maryland Juniors changed all that by dominating them 25-18. It was the unstoppable [player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] show as she powdered the back row of [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] with her bullets, including finishing the game with a kill. Paramount was getting their second taste of adversity and it did not sit well with their palette.   Maryland Juniors knew about the high powered offense of [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']. To contain her they assigned two blockers to go up with her in the middle. That minimized Taylor's effectiveness in the first set. It failed to do so in the second set. [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] strung together nine kills and also contributed two blocks to take down Maryland Juniors 25-19. [player_tooltip player_id='279856' first='Kayla' last='Luther'] ended the match with her kill and [player_tooltip player_id='333650' first='Louise' last='Neuhart'] also provided some offense to the left side. It was a jolt of momentum that Paramount needed to start the third set.   In the third set [player_tooltip player_id='536716' first='Diane' last='Nzoupet'] flustered Juniors with her serve, accumulating three aces in an 8-0 run. After that outburst they would never be caught, winning 15-5. The adversity challenge had been met. On to the Triple Crown to face the best of the best.   14 Mixed   I did not really watch too much of the 14 mixed. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 14 Cozad won their pool, losing only one set in the process. The only challenge to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in the playoffs was the first game against Coastal in which they squeaked out a 25-23 win. They destroyed them the second set 25-9 to win the championship.   Some of their top players included their setter [player_tooltip player_id='536729' first='Katelyn' last='Rolph'], who may have been the tallest player on their team. Their two left sides [player_tooltip player_id='536731' first='Rawan' last='Salem'] and Gianna Molino hit the ball hard for their age. [player_tooltip player_id='536734' first='Serena' last='Wong'] played the libero position well.   Players Who Stood Out   [player_tooltip player_id='520366' first='Christianna' last='Sledge'] left side (Platform 16) - She was the top player for this newer club in the Chesapeake area. Last year she played at MVSA. Though Christianna plays on the 16 team she actually belongs to the class of 2025. She played six rotations while hitting a strong outside. She plays for Magruder high where she is listed as a middle and outside.   [player_tooltip player_id='525352' first='Gabriella' last='Netwall'] left side (Renaissance Black 16) - Gabriella's back row play impressed me the most. Her passing and defense played like a libero, with quick moving feet and good anticipation when moving to her defensive position. She also hit well and provided some offense in the back row with a three meter attack. Gabriela plays multiple positions at Washington Liberty high school.   [player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge'] left side (Maryland Juniors 15) - She was virtually unstoppable hitting left side or hitting from the back row. She also played a stout back row, showing off an ability to pass and play excellent defense. She might have been the MVP for the tournament if not for the efforts of [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] for Paramount. Annika plays for Catholic high school in Baltimore. As a frosh she made the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) all conference volleyball team.   [player_tooltip player_id='525348' first='Dylann' last='Loggins'] middle (Maryland Juniors 15) - At 6'2" she brought some height to the middle. She also connects well on the quick sets, hitting the ball with extreme velocity. While she plays for the 15 team she belongs to the class of 2026. Her approach jump reaches 9'10". She also brings a good serve to the court and when playing back row after the serve she shows that playing defense is not alien to her. Dylann plays volleyball at Howard high school.   [player_tooltip player_id='399509' first='Lauryn' last='Allen'] left side (Maryland Juniors 17) - Lauryn provided much of the offense for Maryland Juniors on the left side. She gets good elevation in her jump and shows excellent wrist snap when striking the ball. When going back to serve Lauryn accumulated some aces with her jump spin serve. She ranks at 121 in our class of 2025 but that should rise after her performance. Lauryn plays volleyball at McDonogh high school.   Chesapeake Chirps: Paramount will play at the Triple Crown, bypassing the Capitol Hill Classic this year...Blueridge was forced to play in the 18 division at Charm City Challenge because the 16 division was full and they were wait listed. Rather than not play they chose to play in the 18 Division. A third place finish for a 20 seed out of 20 teams impressed.

Four different age groups for Paramount in the 14-17 rage played in tournaments this weekend at Maryland Juniors. All four age groups brought home the gold. For some it was not so easy. Below is a summary of the results as well as new players who also stood out at the tournament.