Colgan Wins the Flint Hill Invitational

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sharks survived a very strong pool in which the top three teams record was 23-4. As to be expected <strong>Colgan</strong>, <strong>Bishop O'Connell</strong> and<strong> Madison</strong> split their matches one game each. Colgan won the tie breaker by one point to finish first in their pool. Unfortunately for Madison they lost the tie breaker to finish third. That eliminated them from qualifying for the playoffs. The fourth team in the pool <strong>Mercersburg</strong> from Pennsylvania finished 0-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the other pool <strong>Flint Hill </strong>rolled over their opposition. The most points <strong>Fairfax</strong>, <strong>Bishop Ireton</strong> and <strong>Osbourn Park</strong> scored against the Huskies was 16 points. The combined record for those three teams was 5-21. Ultimately, Fairfax survived the battle between those three teams for second place. The Lions earned an opportunity to face Colgan in the semifinal. Flint Hill got an opportunity to face their VISSA rival Bishop O'Connell. The Huskies beat them in the state finals last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colgan swept past Fairfax in the semi-finals. Bishop O'Connell, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] </strong>and her 15 kills swept past Flint Hill. Macie is the younger sister of <strong>Mickhaila Murray</strong>, who tormented the Knights for two years while playing for the Huskies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the finals Colgan showed too much from their two left sides, with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223581' first='Skylar' last='Johnson']</strong> and tournament MVP junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238593' first='Tehillah' last='Garrison']</strong> playing a large part in burying the Knights in two. Perhaps after beating the Huskies in two the Knights were emotionally drained. It was pretty clear who the Sharks were setting in the finals and the Knights could do nothing to stop them. What probably hurt most was the absence of their team captain <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye']</strong>. Along with Murray she is one of their top hitters on the left side. Her absence forced <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller']</strong> to move from the right side to the left side. That left the right side open for the Johnson/Garrison barrage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ideally, one of the three teams Madison, Colgan or Bishop O'Connell should have played in the other pool. That would have made for a more interesting final four. The Warhawks showed they have some players to compete in the state championships with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377336' first='Callie' last='Agniel']</strong> hitting from the left side. The two middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397550' first='Chloe' last='Bonney-James']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181314' first='Aubrey' last='Loughlin']</strong> are strong. Add in<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch'] </strong>to the right side and it gives the Warhawks some length along the front row. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='696415' first='Jenna' last='Swale']</strong> played libero in the match against Colgan while <strong>Lauren Garrett</strong> set a 5/1. If they could have made the final four the Warhawks carry the talent to easily make a run to win the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238593"],"_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-66f05093ca244"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tehillah won the MVP award for her play at the Flint Hill Invitational. In the finals against Bishop O'Connell she proved impossible to stop with her left side attacks. She also showed a powerful jump spin serve that proved very consistent. The Knights had difficulty passing the serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While she may be a bit undersized at 5'10" she brings a nice vertical that allows her game to be explosive. During the club season she played for Top Select out of Orlando, Florida. Prior to that she played three years for Metro volleyball club. She shows a vast improvement in her game from what I saw from her last year during her sophomore year with Colgan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Colgan may have relied on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223581' first='Skylar' last='Johnson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238593' first='Tehillah' last='Garrison']</strong> in the finals there were other contributors to their overall success. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609533' first='Madeline' last='Dumais']</strong> played a strong right side. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333653' first='Elizabeth' last='York']</strong> switched off between right side and middle. Sienna shows the ability to run the tempo sets in the middle although her future appears to be as a pin hitter. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='696425' first='Kennedy' last='Buchanan']</strong> may be only 5'9" but she shows some athleticism in the middle. She jumped high enough to redirect a number of oversets to the floor. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609602' first='Allison' last='Cibrian-Martinez']</strong> played well enough to earn a selection to the all tournament team. Finally, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464563' first='Elizabeth' last='Robinson'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='643810' first='Jasmine' last='Belle Carrasco'] </strong>split setting duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights got all tournament team performances from left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> and setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast']</strong>. Macie might have been selected the MVP had the Knights won the final. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller']</strong> played a strong left side, but they did miss the absence of [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'], which would have allowed Ellyson to plug up the right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs']</strong> kept defenses on their toes with their quick hits in the middle. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235295' first='Hannah' last='Kotb']</strong> and defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212888' first='Maia' last='Cerezo']</strong> patrolled the back row well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did not really get to see much of the other pool. For Flint Hill <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> made the all tournament team. If the Huskies had advanced to the finals <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</strong> may have been the other selection, although libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'] </strong>plays a strong back row. <strong>Avelina Zender</strong> shares setting duties with Isabelle and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465301' first='Audrey' last='Sealock']</strong> hits left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All Tournament Team</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":664774,"width":"444px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/09/IMG_3986.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-664774" style="width:444px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: provided by parent</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238593' first='Tehillah' last='Garrison']</strong> (Colgan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>left to right <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] </strong>(Bishop O'Connell), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> (Bishop O'Connell), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='693833' first='Elinor' last='Suh'] </strong>(Fairfax), Garrison (Colgan), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> (Flint Hill), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609602' first='Allison' last='Cibrian-Martinez']</strong> (Colgan) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223581' first='Skylar' last='Johnson'] </strong>(Colgan) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Another Frosh Contributor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586991"],"_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-66f0d65b02d98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lalah is another one of our top performers at the Prep Dig frosh showcase that is contributing to her high school team. She hits outside for the Wise Pumas. They have started out the season 3-0 and Lalah is off to a fast start. She ranks third on the team in hitting, just behind 6'2" middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='498420' first='Meisha' last='Sykes'] </strong>and the 6'1" <strong>Madison Brown</strong>. Lalah also leads the team in serving aces and sits second to the libero <strong>Rihanna Boyd</strong> in digs. A six rotation player whose 6'0" height on the outside and her athletic ability makes her dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Significant Game Action from Last Week</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cox</strong> defeated <strong>Norfolk Academy</strong> in four, winning an important third set 27-25. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='545710' first='Avery' last='Osler']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='693822' first='Lucille' last='Tignor']</strong> and <strong>Camdyn Milisitz</strong> each contributed 11 kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='670784' first='Olivia' last='Fortier']</strong> dished out a total of 37 assists and contributed 14 digs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='245600' first='Peyton' last='McGee'] </strong>for Norfolk came two aces shy of a triple double with 12 kills, 15 assists and 8 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game I attended <strong>Dominion</strong> swept past <strong>Heritage</strong>. Heritage was without their two top players setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325403' first='Annabelle' last='Kim'] </strong>and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529439' first='Jasmine' last='McBorrough']</strong>. Both were nursing injuries. Dominion showed a balanced attack with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240027' first='Kaitlyn' last='Demitz']</strong> (11), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346738' first='Alena' last='Smith']</strong> (10), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240025' first='Abigail' last='Vasak']</strong> (9) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475397' first='Amaya' last='Bowles']</strong> (7) combining for 37 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hidden Valley</strong> had a big win over<strong> Salem</strong>, defeating them in four. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> led the attack with 22 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Wood</strong> lost the first set to <strong>Handley </strong>25-18 but roared back to win the next three sets. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> led the team in kills with 18, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] </strong>contributed 16. Brenna also recorded 21 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potomac School</strong> pulled off an upset against <strong>St. Catherines</strong>, winning in five. They won the last two sets 25-18, 15-11. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Cross </strong>knocks <strong>St. Johns </strong>from the ranks of the unbeaten, sweeping them in three. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235324' first='Rowan' last='Johnson'] </strong>led the team in kills with 11 while frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] </strong>contributed 10 kills. Johnson also put together four blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238376' first='Anasofia' last='Zanellato']</strong> (17) and <strong>Sibal Ozan</strong> (16) combined for 33 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Springfield </strong>also won a tournament in Hayfield on Saturday. They beat Chantilly in two sets in the finals 25-20, 25-20. This avenges an earlier loss to the Chargers, their only loss this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181243' first='Evelyn' last='Jurden']</strong> led the team with 36 kills while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks']</strong> dished out 66 assists. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725456' first='Audrey' last='Busch']</strong> collected 27 digs and 10 aces. Last week the Spartans also won the Alexandria City tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->