MAPL Black All Tournament Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just for fun I thought I would put together my all tournament team for the MAPL Black Division. To qualify only players from the top four teams were considered. I did not see enough of the playoff games from the Blue Division to make selections there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] </strong>([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setters - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] </strong>([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] </strong>(Metro 17)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> (Metro 17)</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='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> (Metro 17)</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='']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> (Metro 17), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong> (Metro 17), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> (Metro 16), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly']</strong> (Metro 16)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589247,"width":"267px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/106-Jessica-Li.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589247" style="width:267px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Setters</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] </strong>was the only setter who ran a 5/1. The other three teams for the most part ran a 6/2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] </strong>spliced together some critical aces to get their teams into the gold bracket playoffs. Charis has the height and the ability to be an offensive force in the front row but Metro 17 carries too much fire power with their pins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Metro 16 both <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter'] </strong>strung together a couple nice one handed sets on tight passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Right Side</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Metro 17 normally relies on their left sides for offense. When they did set <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] </strong>on the right side they usually found success. She even played a little back row and delivered a kill from beyond the three meter line. With all the talent on the left side crowding the roster there lacked a roster spot for the left handed swing of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler']</strong> from [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":746903,"width":"258px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/20231210_184417-rotated-crop-2084x1369-1738249151.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-746903" style="width:258px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> No team could stop <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> with her little pooch set between the outside and the middle. Despite the fact that most of her hits went cross court they still found the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> blocked Taylor a couple times. Her blocking in general was especially effective for this tournament. She also produced the game winning kill that gave Metro 17 the first set victory over [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739911' first='Colette' last='Mercker']</strong> deserve mention for their quiet unassuming game. Like many of the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] players they get the job done without a lot of attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":411681,"width":"175px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/96-Laila-Chadwick.jpg?w=597" alt="" class="wp-image-411681" style="width:175px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No coincidence that perhaps the three best liberos in the Chesapeake Region got their team into the gold bracket playoffs. I<strong> </strong>would put<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] </strong>at the top of the class. She always finds herself in the right spot to dig a hard driven ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536716' first='Diane' last='Nzoupet'] </strong>brings incredible quickness to the position. Sometimes, she comes from a different area of the court to save a ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> clearly is the most athletic of the three. She also hits extremely well. She could be used as a defensive specialist who brings the ability to provide offense from the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437443' first='Kaniyah' last='Ball']</strong> ranks as a solid libero as well. Like the three liberos above, she plays one year above her class. Brenna now plays at her class but for her first two years she also played one year ahead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Left Side </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":205199,"width":"143px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/06/39-Caydence-Doolan1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-205199" style="width:143px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly']</strong> powered the game winning kill in the first set against [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 for a 25-23 win. She also plays middle for Bullis so she could slide into that position as well if a need cropped up for another middle. If Metro 17 had won the championship the MVP winner would have been <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong>. She provides offense from anywhere on the court and is really adept at putting away the out of system sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> clearly hits the ball harder than previous years. Combine that with her volleyball IQ and she always finds the open court. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> slaps the ball so hard that it makes a different sound when it comes off her hand. She was clearly the top offensive performer for Metro 16 in the playoffs. When [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] was on the bench someone had to provide the offense for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16. That offensive performance went to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong>. She flies high to the net with a quick snap of the wrist to bury the ball to the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528707' first='Annika' last='Dandridge']</strong> combined with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington']</strong> to put up a number of monster blocks on their opponents. Annika also powered some late game kills that put [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] over the top. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams']</strong> is another pin hitter that performed well. In the finals she strung together a number of critical kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Interesting Fact -</strong> Metro 16 and 17 were 3-0 in their first set against Paramount 16. They were 0-6 in sets two and three. Overall, in matches that went three sets Paramount 16 was 1-4 while they were 9-1 in the second and third sets. In total, they played 21 sets, the most in the tournament, even when you include the Blue and Red Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->