That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag’s weekly take a look at 10 issues in membership volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully will curiosity you. Search for Dots each Tuesday by means of Junior Nationals this summer time.
• In as we speak’s Dots, we reply the query EVERYONE is dying to know: Why, John, do you cowl nationwide qualifiers to extensively?
There are two principal causes:
1) For many groups, in most divisions, you MUST qualify at a nationwide qualifier to play in USAV’s Junior Nationwide Championships. It’s not fairly the golden ticket it was 20 years in the past, when JO’s (for Junior Olympics, as they have been then referred to as (and are nonetheless referred to as by previous timers)) had solely Open and Membership divisions. However it’s nonetheless fairly the achievement to get your bid to Junior Nationals at a qualifier. That’s very true within the Open division.
When you can earn a bid at a qualifier to play within the season-ending nationwide occasion within the division the place solely essentially the most elite groups play, effectively, that’s one thing that must be celebrated. As a result of it may be VERY onerous.
Aspect be aware: That’s why, about 15 years in the past, when one among my favourite golf equipment intentionally tossed a match at Present Me that will have certified them for 18 Open, I felt compelled to take that membership, and its director, to job. The director felt her staff would do higher at Junior Nationals within the 18 Nationwide division. To that, I say, whenever you get the possibility to win, play to win or don’t signal as much as play in Open within the first place.
2) For many groups, in most divisions, qualifying at a nationwide qualifier would be the greatest spotlight of their seasons. Solely a handful of groups will go to Junior Nationals with sensible expectations of contending for a podium end. Golf equipment that earn bids on the courtroom at a qualifier need to be celebrated and have their tales instructed. This can be a large deal!
• We flip now to the only qualifier on the schedule final weekend, the adidas Lone Star Qualifier in Austin, Texas.
This was an 18s-only occasion, highlighted by the stacked 18 Open division. Three qualifiers emerged from the 16-team subject: TAV 18 Black, OT 18 O Roberto and Houston Skyline 18 Royal. Meaning the likes of Madfrog 18’s Nationwide Inexperienced, Coast 18-1 and Dallas Skyline 18 Royal went dwelling empty-handed.
TAV gained all of it and will have. This roster reads like a Who’s Who of not solely one of the best within the Dallas space, but additionally one of the best in Texas in addition to the nation. Certainly, there are no less than 4 and presumably extra on 18 Black with Nationwide Crew-type expertise, led by senior MB Favor Anyanwu and junior OH Macaria Spears.
And but, regardless of an amazing expertise benefit, TAV was virtually eradicated from competition on Saturday. The staff misplaced a three-set match to Houston Skyline, making its closing pool play match versus Coast a must-win. TAV dropped the primary set, then recovered to make the Gold pool, the place it gained out to seize Gold.
If TAV 18 Black doesn’t go on to win Triple Crown and 18s Junior Nationals, this previous scribe will probably be completely shocked. The roster merely has an excessive amount of expertise.
• OT, from Orlando, performed its greatest volleyball on the ultimate day to complete second and qualify.
Head coach Roberto Santasofia’s staff suffered adversity on Day 1, when Coast scored 13 straight factors in Recreation 2 to comb. And OT discovered itself on the proper aspect of a three-way 2-1 on Day 2 earlier than clinching a bid with Sunday wins over each Skyline groups.
“We actually introduced our A-game to Lone Star,” Santasofia stated. “With exact serves, nice protection, and highly effective spikes, every participant contributed to our success. Our teamwork and dedication prevailed.”
After dropping to Coast, a staff assembly and the belief that Day 2 can be even more durable flipped a swap within the gamers.
“We showcased resilience and turned obstacles into alternatives,” Santasofia stated.
The coach added that your complete staff performed phenomenally, however reserved additional reward for OH Fallon Stewart, RS Ana Julia Piexoto and setter Juleigh Urbina.
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Houston Skyline certified third regardless of a 5-4 document that noticed the staff win simply three extra units than it misplaced. The staff, which defeated TAV on Day 2, was 4-4 heading into its “winner qualifies” match versus Dallas Skyline on Sunday and gained in two to punch its ticket.
• Three extra groups, AVA of Texas 18 Adidas, Madfrog 18’s Nationwide Black and San Antonio Juniors 18 Adidas, certified within the 32 staff 18 USA division, thought of the third most prestigious after Open and Nationwide.
AVA dropped solely two units, in a three-set loss to Coast 18-2, en path to a dominating run, which included a formidable sweep of the Frogs within the championship match.
The staff did face its share of adversity, nevertheless. After taking part in rather well on Friday, AVA woke up Saturday morning to study {that a} beginning attacker can be sidelined by flu. AVA gained its first Saturday pool play match, however the loss to Coast left the staff shaken and recent with the belief that it not solely wanted to defeat A5 18-2 Boba to remain alive, it needed to win in two!
The match began at 9:15 p.m., 90 minutes late, and was intense from the beginning. The groups battled in Recreation 1 into additional factors, with AVA eking out the 29-27 win!
“My staff had a lot combat and power and all of us coaches have been simply hoping and praying they got here out with that very same depth within the second set,” coach Jamie Gill stated. “Nicely, we gained with a 25-13 end and that took us from third to 1st in our pool!”
On Sunday, one other participant began to really feel sick, however she pushed by means of after a place change. Kudos to MB Dani Udegbunam, who moved over to the proper aspect and was wonderful.
“Each child on this staff is a stand out child,” Gill added. “Every one among them contributed to our staff’s success. They stepped up once they wanted to they usually all did a tremendous job. Each one among them is selfless they usually actually care about one another’s successes. They have fun each other, push one another to be higher and totally respect each other. This staff is the true definition of a TEAM. We is probably not the most important in dimension, however what they lack in dimension, they make up with coronary heart.”
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The Frogs have been undefeated till the championship match, however have been prolonged twice to deuce in third units in wins over Arete 18 Navy Telos and SA Juniors.
SA Juniors overcame the frustration of a 19-17 semifinal loss to Madfrog to knock off TAV 18 Blue in two for the ultimate qualifying spot. It was a satisfying technique to finish a tricky day that additionally included a three-set win over Dallas Skyline 18 Black.
• A5 18-3 Scott’s run to the title within the 18 Liberty division, included a revenge win over Texas Tornados 18 Adidas within the semifinals (18-16 within the third) and a 25-23, 25-23 sweep of Roots 18-1 Inexperienced, which additionally certified, within the championship match.
A5 wanted an enormous comeback on Day 2 to remain in competition. The Atlanta squad was down 14-9 in Recreation 3 to BCS H Skyline 18 Royal and acquired 5 straight service factors from Gabi Fullwood to rally A5 to tie, in a match it will definitely gained, 17-15.
“This staff had all 12 gamers contribute at completely different instances in numerous matches to assist it to the championship,” stated coach Scott Cioffari.
• Just one bid was up for grabs within the 62-team 18 American division. It went to Katy United 18 Adidas, which went 10-0 and dropped only one set on its technique to a bid.
“Ending first was an unimaginable achievement, and I couldn’t be prouder of every member of our staff,” stated head coach Kat Agson. “All through the match, it was evident that our success was actually a staff effort. Each participant contributed their abilities, dedication, and unwavering dedication to the sport. It was heartening to witness the synergy and camaraderie amongst us, and I imagine that this collective spirit performed an important position in our success.”
Agson added that composure underneath stress was crucial to staff success.
“Irrespective of the challenges we confronted, each participant saved their head excessive and maintained a constructive angle,” she stated. “It was this psychological resilience that allowed us to navigate by means of the match with grace and dedication.”
Katy United made a flawless run to the championship match, solely to drop the primary set of the ultimate, 25-23, to Valley Venom 181 Crimson. Katy U responded by successful Recreation 2 handily and pulling out a 19-17 resolution in Recreation 3 to take the crown.
“I’m most happy with our staff’s response after dropping the primary set within the championship match,” Agson stated. “As an alternative of letting adversity outline us, we rallied collectively, demonstrated resilience, and fought again. This comeback not solely showcases our bodily talents but additionally our psychological fortitude and the unbreakable bond that ties us as a staff.”
• For years, Munciana Samurai has been the usual of excellence for JVA 18s groups that don’t take part within the USA Volleyball qualifier system. We caught up with longtime Samurai coach Mike Lingenfelter and requested about his staff for 2024.
The staff hasn’t performed a lot – only one weekend of Energy League (5-0) – however has critical potential, the coach stated. Lingenfelter loves his quartet of defenders – Lola Schumacher, Spencer Etzler, Addison Applegate and Lexi Gin – and says they’re probably his greatest group ever within the again row. Samurai additionally has very sturdy pins in juniors Addison Tindall, Lindsey Mangelson and Charlotte Vinson. Tindall, a Purdue recruit, is the L1 and may very well be particular. The final Samurai/Purdue prospect on the skin was Eva Hudson, who carried Muncie’s offense when she was on the ground.
• Two weeks in the past, senior OH/MB Ayden Ames was named the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months. Ames spend the previous three seasons taking part in for Prospect in Texas after transferring to Texas from California (She performed membership for Mizuno Lengthy Seashore as a freshman and TAV the previous two seasons).
Ames, a Texas signee, is one among six seniors ranked amongst my nationwide prime 10 recruits, to enroll early in school and forego their final yr of membership ball.
The 4 who’re taking part in 18s this yr embody Mizuno Lengthy Seashore setter Charlie Fuerbringer, TAV MB Favor Anyanwu, Crew Pineapple OH Morgan Gaerte and A5 OH Hannah Benjamin.
• When the parents selecting the Gatorade Participant of the 12 months reached out to ask me who my finalists for the nationwide honor can be, I discussed Ames, who’s unbelievable as each an outdoor and center; however she was not my favourite. Amongst seniors, I favored Payton Petersen from Iowa and Emerson Sellman from Maryland. I additionally LOVED junior Teraya Sigler from Arizona.
When requested to make my closing suggestion, I selected Sellman, the 6-4 OH from Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland. Why Sellman? She was No. 5 on my record of prime Class of 2024 recruits and an early enrollee at Ohio State. She additionally performed for the USA U19 and U21 groups this summer time, then led the Tartans to a 29-0 document, which included 25 kills, 9 digs, three aces and two blocks within the WCAC championship match. She was named Washington Submit All-Met POY for the second straight yr.
After I consider nationwide POY candidates, I search for their impacts on their states in addition to past. Sellman was the one participant to characterize the USA and lead her highschool staff to an undefeated season. When you need to cut up hairs to seek out the most deserving from a gaggle of superstars, these have been the deciding components for me.
• Lastly, with little or no main match motion final weekend, let’s look briefly at extra famous performances from MLK weekend in mid-January.
Arizona Storm Elite 17 Thunder, the 2023 16 Open nationwide open champions, performed within the Fiesta MLK Basic in Phoenix over MLK weekend. The staff went 9–0 within the 18 Open division, whereas solely dropping one set (to Storm 18 Thunder).
Sigler, together with OHs Devyn Weist (Utah), Alyssa Aguayo (Illinois), and Mckaley Herr, all performed with nice effectiveness, as did setter Kaia Pixler, who’s wholesome after accidents impacted her 2023 marketing campaign.
Middles Makenna Rumple (Iowa) and Kenna Cogill (Oregon) additionally stood out, as did liberos Olivia Lenz and Izzy Mahaffey, who held down the serve obtain and defensive aspect of the ball.
“The staff gave the impression to be proper in keeping with the place they completed the 2023 season,” famous coach Aaron Payne.
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Metro 17 Journey secured victory on the JVA Rock and Rumble in Cleveland. Stalwarts included Michigan commit Leni Stanton-Parker (averaging 4 kills per set all through the match) and uncommitted 6-3 setter Isabelle Bardin.
“The match noticed the staff develop in confidence having solely misplaced one match this season (earlier this month to Metro 18 journey),” stated coach Sam Danai. “Metro 17 Journey dropped one set all through the course of the weekend and navigated some troublesome competitors from each the Midwest and Canada.”
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Metro 16 Journey additionally rocked and rumbled to a win in Cleveland with sturdy performances by RS Nadiya Johnson and outdoors hitter Caydence Doolan, together with beneficial contributions from your complete staff.
The competitors was balanced and difficult, however Metro 16 journey was capable of come away with the victory whereas dropping just one set all through the match.
“The staff grew in confidence because the match progressed and the setters (Tayrn Su and Charis Burge) managed the matches higher and higher,” stated coach Corey Hobson. “Defensively, the staff was led by Laila Chadwick, a 2027 libero who made the swap from exterior hitter final yr.”