River Valley Another Virginia Triple Crown Participant

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My thought was only [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] competed as the lone Virginia Triple Crown participant. However, another Virginia club snuck in without too much fanfare. [program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors'] 18 got an opportunity to play in the Triple Crown and they competed well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":722233,"width":"243px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/Evie-Caleigh-Ponn-2024-State-Quaterfinals-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-722233" style="width:243px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='229773' first='Evie' last='Ballengee'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Normally it takes a long vetting process to get an invite. Perhaps this time it took a Virginia Gatorade player of the year and some talented teammates to put them on the fast track. The last couple years <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> has been playing for the North Carolina club Academy. They have been competitive in this event. That also may have generated some influence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It just so happens the Academy 17 Diamond team has another Virginia player on their roster. She is middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='229773' first='Evie' last='Ballengee']</strong>. They finished 37th out of 108 teams with an impressive 5-2 won loss record. They were one of 32 teams to qualify for the Division Open Championship bracket. Academy won their first two matches before losing the third match to Arizona Rev Premier, falling in the second set 31-29 and then in the third 20-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Valley proved their selection to the event was also worthy. They finished 41st out of 96 teams, winning two of their first three matches. This earned them a match against Coast Ozhan, a team my niece played for a few years ago. The first set they battled before losing 25-21. The second set Coast took control, 25-11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps that second set against Coast stuck in their heads. In their next match they lost the first set 25-7 against FC Elite. Fortunately, they bounced back to win the next two sets 25-22, 15-5. A first set loss to AVC Cleveland Red did not result in the same bounce back. AVC took the sweep 25-15, 25-21. That dropped them to the 9th place Open bracket. That is where they won their last three matches, all of them going three sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":753846,"width":"490px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/IMG_6680.jpeg?w=1006" alt="" class="wp-image-753846" style="width:490px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Gatorade Player of the year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> (#5) headlines this team. At 5'6" with an approach jump a little over 9 feet this did not stop her from amassing over 2,000 high school kills in her four year career. Over that span she clearly stood out as one of the most prolific outside hitters in Virginia, leading Hidden Valley to back to back state championships in class 3. While she hit left side for her high school she relegated herself to libero during club season. Caleigh has committed to Kansas State to play libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They also have the 6'1" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor']</strong> (#10) on the roster. She finished last season with 742 kills, the most by any player in the state of Virginia. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> finished fifth in kills with 550. Sophie earned the player of the year award for Class 1 while Caleigh achieved player of the year for Class 3. Sophie belongs to the class of 2026 and has already committed to Ole Miss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the setters on the team is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd']</strong>. She also made first team All State for Class 3 with close to 500 assists and over 200 kills for Christiansburg. Her teammate <strong>Reese Hall</strong> (#12) also plays for the team as the defensive specialist. Both belong to the class of 2026. In total, the team only has four players from the class of 2025 while seven players belong to the class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Dominates 14 Open </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday at the Virginia Volleyball Factory the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] first and second teams won their pools in the 14 Open Division on Saturday. Unfortunately, I could not watch much of the action because I was coaching my 13 team. We made it to the gold bracket but lost in the first round. The [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] Blue 14 team also made it to the gold bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] Blue played the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] second team in the first round and lost 25-17 and 25-14. During pool play their one loss was to the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] first team 25-9 and 25-13. A couple players who stood out for [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] were left side <strong>Maya Zadafshar</strong>, setter <strong>Sabine Piguet</strong> and libero<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='755851' first='Sophia' last='Bordener'].</strong> Sophia belongs to the class of 2028 playing for Bishop O'Connell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Elite finished in second in their pool and had the unfortunate task of doing battle with the Paramount first team. In pool play the second team swept them so the odds stacked strongly against Virginia Elite. The Paramount first team handed them another sweeping loss 25-15, 25-8. Unfortunately, I did not get much of a chance to see Virginia Elite play so no players to assess.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the finals the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] first team beat their second team 25-18, 25-17. The players who impressed from the second team were libero<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='552310' first='Sonia' last='Azam']</strong>, right side <strong>Caitlin Salle</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755848' first='Mihika' last='Mamidi']</strong>. Caitlin and Sonia (Freedom High) belong to the class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first team is loaded with talent. That talent carries with it impressive size. My 13 year olds were in awe of their size. Pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755134' first='Ava' last='Ewald']</strong> (2028/Kettle Run) and <strong>Eliott Dorgan</strong> stood over six feet. Right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='747302' first='Kayleigh' last='Francis'] </strong>(2028/Patriot) lists only at 5'9" but brings excellent arm extension to her swing. Middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746620' first='Sahana' last='Cushman'] </strong>(2028/Meridian) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755132' first='Abigail' last='Battcock']</strong> list at 6'1". I did not get a chance to see <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755129' first='Lillian' last='Battcock'] </strong>play. She is the 6'1" twin of Abigail. The soft hands of setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='752431' first='Kayla' last='Chang']</strong> impressed as well. Libero <strong>Rose Carrasco</strong> (2028) saved the ball from hitting the floor with a couple nice pancake digs. It will be interesting to see how this team stacks up against Metro and Maryland Juniors 14. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->