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 via Junior Nationals this summer time.
• One other 18s qualifier occurred this previous weekend. Three extra groups locked themselves into the Open division for 18s Junior Nationals in Baltimore on the finish of April.
The three that received it achieved had been Dallas Skyline 18 Royal, Pohaku 18.1 and Circle Metropolis 18 Purple. They completed 1-3-5 within the Open Division on the Boston Volleyball Pageant. Earlier qualifiers 1st Alliance 18 Gold and Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite positioned second and tied for third, respectively.
Skyline went undefeated over the three-day occasion. That very same group went 5-3 at Triple Crown, with 4 of its wins in three units. On any given weekend…Volleyball will be like that. That’s why a group, or a participant for that matter, shouldn’t decide self-worth within the sport primarily based on a single snapshot. There’s at all times subsequent weekend. And the weekend after that.
The play of OHs Brianna Watson and Lauren Perry carried the day for Skyline in Boston. Libero McKenna Model additionally was glorious.
“She amazes me every match,” mentioned coach Robert Brown. “She took it up a notch to assist us safe our bid.”
• Pohaku went 7-2 to qualify. The Kansas Metropolis membership misplaced solely as soon as, to a membership from Lengthy Island, earlier than falling to Skyline in a Gold Pool. Key to qualifying was a 3-1 document in three-set matches, which had been a bane for this group in earlier tournaments.
Coach Conan Salanoa mentioned that Boston was “do or die” for his membership, which was dedicated to Open or nothing for Junior Nationals. Boston was its final professional likelihood to get to the dance, as it is going to go to PNQ in two weeks with a depleted roster.
There have been instances on Day 1 when it felt like die was more likely than do. The group was 1-1 after two matches, with that hiccup (15-13 within the third) to CALI, which stands for Membership Ace Lengthy Island. Pohaku wanted a win over Legacy 18-1 Adidas to remain in rivalry and received it in straight units, behind RS Nela Misipeka, who was on hearth.
The win really put Pohaku within the first place in a three-way 2-1 tie, nevertheless it got here at a value. The group misplaced Misipeka (ankle) and certainly one of its liberos, Riley Ourth (finger) to damage.
Pohaku took care of enterprise on the second day, appeared down a spot within the Gold Swimming pools with two wins out of the gate, then outlasted previously-qualified MN Choose 18-1 to get into the pool that Salanoa felt was the higher path to a bid.
The Kansas Metropolis membership received its first two matches in Gold to lock up a bid. Each had been hard-fought and went the gap, however Pohaku had the grit and dedication to clinch its bid, 15-13 within the third over Alamo 18 Premier, on a kill from Ava Spachek.
The group was exhausted when it took on Skyline to get to the ultimate however was capable of construct a 24-19 Recreation 1 lead. Skyline rallied to win that set and Pohaku by no means recovered.
“However we nonetheless left proud of an Open bid,” Salanoa mentioned.
Jada Ingram, who moved just lately to the surface from the center, led the group in kills on the weekend. Ingram was a part of these nice Dynasty groups that fell aside this 12 months with a few of its begin leaving early for faculty and others of its underclass standouts enjoying on Dynasty’s 17 Black group.
Claire Jones introduced nice consistency and vitality on the libero place. Mak Miller, a junior MB and the one uncommitted participant on the group, hit .438 over the weekend. Spachek got here up large on Days 2 and three after the ankle damage to Misipeka. MB Aleki Alexander led the group in blocks. And setter Ava Martin continued to indicate she is likely one of the finest setters within the nation.
“She does a lot for this group that goes unnoticed.,” Salanoa mentioned.
• We will’t inform you a lot about how Circle Metropolis certified, as a result of we didn’t obtain a report earlier than posting.
We will inform you about Rockwood Thunder, which recorded its third high three end at an Open qualifier this season.
Rockwood performed its final two qualifiers (and Triple Crown, the place it tied for nineteenth), with its two beginning middles out with accidents. The group has been surviving due to terrific work from Jacey Younger (Southeast Missouri State), in her first 12 months enjoying on the Open stage; and by having standout pins Claire Morrissey (Missouri) and Maya Witherspoon (2025 Vanderbilt) performing some work within the center along with time on the surface.
“Their versatility is what has made this distinctive offensive system work,” mentioned coach Steven Meuth. “Down the 2 hitters the group is working a 5-2 as a substitute of a 6-2 with setters Alyssa Nelson (Villanova) and Sammy Bergjans (Mercer). These undersized setters are discovering a approach to be efficient within the entrance row and proceed to run a diversified offense.”
• If you happen to’re not counting, there are actually 30 groups certified to play 18 Open in Baltimore. That leaves simply six extra qualifiers, and 18 spots.
ultimate outcomes from the Triple Crown NIT, that are the elite qualifying-playing groups that also are in want of a bid?
Tri-State Elite 18 Blue – The Maria Drapp-led group is a JVA membership that doesn’t typically play qualifiers, however will compete at MEQ this 12 months.
Workforce Pineapple 18 Black — Pineapple, led by star OH Morgan Gaerte, is one other JVA membership, however performed Windy Metropolis and in addition will play MEQ, which is simply two hours from its Fort Wayne homebase.
Miami Hype 18 Emilio — Led by RS Sarah Schnell and MB Jackie Taylor, Miami Hype will use NEQ and Music Metropolis as its alternatives to qualify.
NPJ 18 Forefront – This gifted group comprised of lots of the finest skills all through Oregon (and past) and led by setter Alexis Haury, is 0-2 making an attempt to qualify and may have one final shot at PNQ.
Houston Juniors 18 Elite – Led by OH Dominique Phills (Iowa), HJV performed Open at Lone Star and received USA at Southeast. The group is in Open this weekend at NEQ, albeit with a brief bench.
Momentous VB 18-Dan – One of many shock 17s groups final 12 months, Momentous has been slowed by damage in 2024 however will strive for its bid at Sierra in Sacramento.
NKYVC 18-1 Tsunami – Final 12 months’s Elite 17 Division champion at Triple Crown will probably be on the lookout for its bid at MEQ with a roster achieved with basketball.
Mizuno Lengthy Seashore 18 Rockstar – Led by Charlie Fuerbringer and Isabel Clark, Mizuno is anticipated to attempt to punch its ticket at Sierra and PNQ.
Different groups to look at embody Vegas Aces, San Gabriel Elite, AZ Sky, SAS, OT Tampa, Tstreet, Sky Excessive, High Choose, Elevation and Alamo. That’s 18 groups proper there, however we all know there will probably be surprises. Who will they be?
• The second 2024 qualifier “for the remainder of us” (non-18s) happened this previous weekend down in Orlando. It’s the Sunshine Basic and there was some sunshine for the occasion, but additionally fog and rain and some thunderstorms for the Saturday via Monday occasion.
Within the age teams we cowl, that meant 16s and 17s. For the 16s, this was the primary Nationwide Qualifier of the 12 months. For the 17s, it was the second, following Northern Lights in January.
Houston Skyline, Idaho Crush and Milwaukee Sting received it achieved in Minneapolis, however none was enjoying in Orlando. With full fields in every, groups wanted to be on the high of their recreation to earn bids in Florida. No again door trickle downs for you!
• Beginning with the 16s, the lucky three had been Mintonette m. 61, GP 16 Rox and AZ Storm 16 Thunder.
Mintonette, the runners up at Triple Crown, went 10-0 and dropped simply two units, to HJV 16 Elite and defending nationwide champion Dallas Skyline 16 Royal. Max Miller’s group swept the ultimate decisively over GP.
Miller mentioned that his group began slowly on Day 1 however was helped by the environment friendly scoring of OH Sara Snowbarger, who was good all three days.
The win over HJV got here regardless of certainly one of Mintonette’s setters, Mallory Matheny, leaving with an damage. She returned in subsequent matches.
The win over Dallas Skyline, the fifth time the groups have met over the previous two years, was of the come-from-behind selection late within the third.
Mintonette’s dominant win for the title came visiting a passionate however shorthanded Recreation Level membership.
Coach Sindee Snow couldn’t be extra thrilled with how her GP membership, from Orlando, carried out at Sunshine.
“Unbelievable play by the group the entire weekend,” she exclaimed. “It was undoubtedly a bunch effort. Very, very pleased with the group.”
The group misplaced solely to Mintonette and Triple Brown champion Legacy 16-1 Adidas. The latter was 15-13 within the third.
OH Cate Palmi led the best way all weekend, as did big-banging pin Jordin Southall, Southall, sadly, received harm towards Winter Park in Gold Pool play and was unavailable for the finals.
Others who shined included MB London Adkins, setter Maddie Weir, libero Aylani Correa and pin hitter Jeness Orcutt.
***
Storm was 8-0 when it went up towards GP within the semifinals with a bid on the road. A kind of eight wins, towards A5 16-1 Gabe, got here in three and included a Recreation 1 win, 26-24, that completed with Storm on a six-point run.
“They simply made play after to play to win that set,” mentioned coach Jami Rolfes. “It was unimaginable to look at!”
Storm received the primary set over Recreation Level within the semis however misplaced the following two and needed to regroup shortly, with one other bid at stake within the third-place match versus Dallas Skyline.
Bear in mind, Skyline was the 15 Open Junior Nationwide champion final summer time. Storm received, 25-15, 25-14!
It was a formidable exhibiting, as setter Lily Rolfes took benefit of the group’s energy within the center and fed Hayden Conner and Brooke Harwood all match (and all weekend for that matter). Harwood was so potent this weekend, particularly off of 1 foot! She was a key cause the group received its bid in its first qualifier.
Kalli Lipo and Mattea Saunders got here up large defensively, particularly towards Skyline, to safe the bid. Sara Bowcutt, Madisyn Crnjac and Addison Wieman all had strong performances on the pin.
• AZ Storm Elite 17 Thunder, AZ Sky 17 Gold and Dallas Skyline 17 Royal had been the three 17 Open qualifiers at Sunshine.
Storm, the defending 16 Open Nationwide Champion, was dominant, going 10-0, with just one dropped set in its first match on Day 1. Coach Aaron Payne wrote that Storm’s T-5 at Triple Crown, together with being swept out of rivalry by eventual champion Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold, was invaluable as a result of it highlighted the necessity to unfold the offense extra and never simply depend on celebrity outsides Teraya Sigler and Devyn Wiest. It additionally brought about the employees to acknowledge the have to be quicker to adapt and alter in matches.
“In Orlando, the work confirmed up in each elements,” Payne famous.
Storming via each match, the squad made it to the semifinals, the place Kaia Pixler dished to middles Kenna Cogill and Makenna Rumple with nice effectiveness. The sweep put Storm within the ultimate versus Sky group from its area it had confronted typically and even defeated on Day 2 right here. Right here was Payne’s message to the group earlier than the ultimate:
“We’re about to face one of the best Sky group we now have seen all 12 months.”
“Sky performed powerful, made us work, however at that time I really feel like we had actually discovered our movement and we simply performed level by level till we got here out on high,” Payne added..
Skyline, with Taylor Cook dinner setting the likes of Bella Ocampo and Zoe Gillen-Malveaux, misplaced solely to Sky after which defeated Dallas-area rival TAV 17 Black for the ultimate bid.
Sky misplaced 3 times, twice to Storm and on Day 1 to Skyline, a loss the group avenged with that semifinal win. It is a roster comprised largely of at the moment uncommitted athletes. They went three units quite a bit and performed in a handful of deuce units as properly.
“We needed to battle each day to achieve success,” mentioned head coach Beau Lawler. “The group got here collectively and supported one another and picked one another as much as overcome these pressure-filled moments. They by no means gave up and at all times believed in themselves and one another. I couldn’t be extra pleased with that a part of their efficiency.”
Within the large win versus Dallas Skyline with a bid on the road, AZ Sky, which has a fairly well-known assistant coach in Kayla Banwarth; utilized the profitable recreation plan changes it made the primary time round. With higher protection on the proper, glorious service stress, MB Aubrey Bellus unstoppable within the center and OH Raegan Richardson terminating with large swings in vital moments, AZ Sky did simply sufficient to prevail, 25-23, 25-23.
Bellus was an excessive amount of for opponents, in entrance of and behind the setter, a lot of the weekend. Her being accessible and a risk opened up Richardson and OH Georgi Stein to have a variety of success. Stein will get a star for excelling in all phases regardless of being below the climate.
Sky scored typically out of system and groups observed.
“Completely satisfied to see that, given how a lot we practice it,” Lawler mentioned.
Libero Lily Laflesch additionally had an impactful weekend for AZ Sky. She handed half the court docket and shut down OHs after they swung angle.
“Lily was the guts and soul of our protection,” Lawler mentioned.
“We’re a group of largely uncommitted athletes, so for them to go do what they did this weekend with such confidence, cohesion, and grit towards rosters filled with dedicated athletes makes me actually excited to see what the remainder of the season has in retailer,” Lawler concluded.
• If you happen to’re a setter born on February 28 you retain good firm. Lauren Carlini and Jenna Grey, two of one of the best setters ever in Juniors volleyball (and past) share a birthday!
Each Carlini, who performed for Sports activities Efficiency; and Grey, who performed for MAVS and Invasion; received nationwide championships enjoying membership. Each had been nationwide HS gamers of the 12 months sooner or later of their prep careers. Each have achieved stints with USA Volleyball. Grey was a nationwide championship setter at Stanford THREE TIMES! Carlini is on the nationwide group and may be the Olympic group setter in Paris.
All that to say that if you happen to’re a setter born on February 28 and you aren’t one of many nation’s finest at your craft, chances are you’ll quickly be. You will have a (beginning)date with future.
• I don’t know if Sade Ilawole was born on February 28, however it might make sense given the extent of her expertise.
The volleyball neighborhood rejoiced this week when Ilawole, a setter for Sierra Canyon HS and Mizuno Lengthy Seashore 18 Rockstar, dedicated to play for Indiana.
It is a large deal, as a result of Ilawole stands not more than 5-2 or 5-3 and wasn’t getting a ton of alternatives regardless of enjoying and thriving at a excessive stage for a number of years. She set Sierra Canyon in all six rotations to a Southern Part Div. I title as a junior in 2022, however that top, it’s what one notices first and the factor that doubtless brought about many faculty coaches to dismiss her earlier than critically evaluating simply how good she is.
“So many coaches championed for her and we’re all thrilled to know she discovered a house,” mentioned Sierra Canyon coach Stef Wigfall. “She deserves this opportunity to play on the subsequent stage.”
Kudos to the Hoosiers for investing in her. It is going to repay.
• Talking of setters, I discussed seeing A5 15-Kelly setter Marissa (“MJ”) Jones at Triple Crown. I’m satisfied that the ultra-athletic, 6-1 freshman will in the future be setting the US Nationwide Workforce.
The very first thing you discover is how effortlessly she strikes on the court docket. She glides horizontally and flies vertically. Jones averaged 7.5 assists and virtually two kills per set as a varsity starter at Woodward Academy this previous fall and anticipate these numbers to go approach, approach up in ensuing years. Her setting is pinpoint exact, she is smarter than good, with hopes to be a health care provider in the future; and her first-degree black belt helps maintain her centered and balanced throughout difficult instances.
Keep watch over Jones. She may be the following MJ!
