Archive for category Result
Gold Playoffs and Tough Competition Cap Presidents’ Day Play in D.C. and Vegas
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on February 21, 2012
13 Orange, which finished 5th overall, listen to the National Anthem before gold playoffs at the Capitol Hill Classic.
Feb. 21, 2012 –Five Synergy teams reached the gold bracket playoffs in Presidents’ Day tournament play, capping off a busy weekend of challenging volleyball against some of the country’s best clubs.
At the Capitol Hill Classic in Washington D.C., 16 Orange and 15 Orange surprised the competition as they advanced to the gold brackets in older age divisions. In 17 Open playoffs on Monday, 16 Orange won its first match against Lower Hudson 17s, but fell in the quarterfinals to Pittsburgh Elite 17. The team finished 5th overall among 47 older teams. In 16 Open, the 15 Orange also shook things up, powering through the first two rounds, winning tough matches against strong 16s teams. In the gold playoffs, 15 Orange finally lost to local-favorite Metro American 16s, the team that went on to win the gold medal. Overall, 15 Orange placed 9th among 48 teams.
Playing in the largest division of the tournament, 14 Orange and 14 Lehigh remained undefeated heading into gold playoffs. Orange won its first match against Downstate 14 Red of Peekskill, NY but fell in quarterfinal play against Pittsburgh Renaissance, finishing in 5th place overall among 96 teams. In the first round of gold playoffs, 14 Lehigh fell to NVVA Ice of Northern Virginia, a tough team that made it to the final match before falling to the eventual winner of the 14 division, K2 Volleyball of Louisville, Tenn.
Meanwhile, 13 Orange, also undefeated heading into the gold playoffs, fell in the quarterfinal round to Aviator 13s of Brooklyn, a scrappy defensive team that made it all the way to the finals, where it lost in a 16-14 tie break to NVVA Ice 13s. The 13 Orange also finished in 5th place out of 44 teams.
14 Orange finished 5th at the Capitol Hill Classic with a 7-1 match record.
And at the Las Vegas Classic, 18 Orange won its first silver bracket playoff against Club Utah but lost in the semis to City Beach Black of North Carolina. Vision Gold of California, the team that knocked 18 Orange out of the gold playoffs, won the tournament. The 18 Orange finished 11th overall. Also in Las Vegas, 17 Orange won the third flight, beating Woodlands Wave of Spring, Texas.
Other results from the Capitol Hill Classic include:
18 Lehigh: 14th out of 48
17 Navy 15th out of 47
15 Navy 27th out of 48
18 Navy 35th out of 48
16 Navy 38th out of 47
14 Navy 41st out of 96
To learn more results, go to the tournament pages for the Capitol Hill Classic and the Las Vegas Classic.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches for their hard work this weekend. And thanks to all the parents and family members who supported the teams throughout both tournaments.
Sensational Sunday for Synergy in D.C. and Vegas
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on February 20, 2012
18 Orange Sharay Barnes in Las Vegas
Five Synergy teams are headed to the gold medal rounds after a sensational Sunday of Presidents’ Day Weekend tournament play in Washington D.C. and Las Vegas.
At the Capitol Hill Classic, 16 Orange remained undefeated playing up in the 17 Open division and will face Lower Hudson Volleyball Association 17s in the first round of 8 in the gold medal bracket. It was an all-Synergy start to the day as 16 Orange faced 17 Navy in second round play. The 16 Orange won the match, continuing to charge through the pool, dropping only one set to Piedmont Mizuno 17s. Meanwhile 17 Navy also took Piedmont to a third set, but lost in a 15-10 tiebreak game. Coach Peggy Hopton cited standout play for setter Meghan Stranick, who stepped in for injured setter Nicole Hopton and will take the team to the Silver bracket playoffs on Monday.
In 16 Open play, the 15 Orange also took on the challenge of playing up, and ended the day headed to the gold bracket after dropping only one set to Maryland Juniors 16 Elite. “Synergy has had great serving and setting from Haley Kleespies and Jillian Grammer,” said Coach Pat Rucker, who received no yellow cards in Sunday play. The 15 Orange will play D.C. team Metro Americcan Volleyball Club in the first round of gold medal play. Meanwhile 16 Navy ended the day with 2 losses and a hard-fought win over United Volleyball Club of Setauket, NY.
In the 15 Open, 15 Navy was undefeated in second round play, winning decisively against fellow KRVA team Keystone Juniors, New Jersey’s Allegro and Brooklyn’s Aviator Black to win the bye in Flight 1.
The 14 Orange remained undefeated for the second day in a row, with decisive wins in all three matches. “The entire team played great matches,” said Coach Donna Smith. “Great setting by Emily Ahern and Brooke Lichty.” And 14 Lehigh also powered through its pool, also remaining undefeated for the second day in a row. Both teams are headed to the Gold medal round where they could meet in the semi-final. And 14 Navy, facing a particularly tough draw in second round play, ended the day last in its pool but played some of its best volleyball to date, noted Coach Mike Lott. “Even though it wasn’t a great day on the score board we actually played pretty well,” said Coach Lott. “We’re getting better every tournament as the girls get more confidence”
And after a grueling day that began with a 9 a.m. work match and ended with an 8 p.m. challenge match, a tired 13 Orange got the job done, and they remain undefeated as they head into gold medal quarterfinals against Aviator Black of Brooklyn.
After dropping 2 matches in second round play, 18 Lehigh heads to the silver bracket finals where it faces Brandywine Blackout. And 18 Navy placed second in its pool and faces New Jersey’s DIGS 18 Red in Flight 2 on Monday.
At the Las Vegas Classic, 18 Orange, seeded 10th in the tournament, heads to the silver bracket where it faces No. 15 team Club Utah. In Sunday play, Orange won its first two matches but dropped the final match to No. 7 ranked Vision Gold of California. After a rough start Saturday, 17 Orange won every match in second round play, winning the bye for playoffs in Flight 3. On Monday, 17 Orange meets Dinamo 17 Elite of Arizona in Flight 3 semi-finals.
Finally, congratulations to 18 Orange’s Sharay Barnes whose photo (above) was featured in a Prep Volleyball roundup of the Vegas tournament.
Presidents’ Day Weekend: The Saturday Roundup
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on February 19, 2012
Feb. 18, 2012 – In Washington D.C. and Las Vegas, Synergy’s Orange, Navy and Lehigh teams kicked off Presidents’ Day tournament play with several standout performances, as six teams ended the day undefeated in first round play.
At the Capitol Hill Classic in Washington, five Synergy teams won their pools. Playing up in the 17 Open, 16 Orange dominated its pool despite loaning setter Bayleigh Hoffman to 17 Orange for the weekend. The team faced a challenge from Norlanco 17 Blue, but won the match in a 15-13 tiebreaker. Also in 17 Open, 17 Navy rallied with Meghan Stranick stepping in after the team lost setter Nicole Hopton to injury. The team finished second in its pool, staying in contention for gold in second-round play. In the 18 Open, 18 Lehigh placed 2nd in its pool, with 18 Navy coming in 3d.
In 16 Open play, 15 Orange also played up and ended the day undefeated in pool play. In 15 Open, it was a day of closely contested matches for 15 Navy, who, after two tie break games, finished 3rd in its pool.
Synergy teams dominated the 14 Open, with three teams still in contention for gold. 14 Orange, powered by strong serving from Stephanie Judkins and Megan Jacobi, was perfect for the day. 14 Lehigh also ended the day undefeated, while 14 Navy impressed by finishing 2nd in its pool. And 13 Orange showed its strength, besting the competition by a wide margin in every match, and finishing the day undefeated in pool play.
In the Las Vegas Classic, play continued late Saturday night, but 18 Orange remained undefeated in three games. In a competitive pool, 17 Orange fought hard in close matches, but ended the day with one win and two losses.
Synergy Shines in Valentine Weekend Play
Posted by tpope in Events, King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on February 13, 2012
14 Orange wins silver in the 15 Open.
Feb. 12, 2012 – Playing with heart on Valentine weekend, all five Synergy teams competing in area tournaments advanced to their respective playoffs, with silver medal finishes for 14 Orange and 17 Lehigh.
In Saturday play, it was an all-Synergy semifinal when 14 Orange and 15 Lehigh advanced to the playoffs of the Keystone Juniors 15 Open tournament in King of Prussia. In pool play, 15 Lehigh played strong all day, finishing first among five teams. Meanwhile, 14 Orange, playing up an age division, took second in its pool, which meant the two Synergy teams would face each other in the semifinal. When the match was over, it was 14 Orange who advanced to the finals. Playing tough against an older and more experienced 15 Integrity, 14 Orange had much to be proud of as it celebrated winning the silver medal.
“In a very good tough match (against Lehigh) we were able to turn the corner by passing the tough serves that were coming at us left and right, and that was one of the turning points,” said Coach Chris Kleespies. “We faced Integrity again, and they were too much for us, though we did score a few more points and had a good run at the end of the second set.”
The girls were also able to stay in the competition long enough for Coach Donna Smith, who had a work commitment at Immaculata University, to coach them in their final match. “Donna Smith has been coaching for roughly 30 years (yes, she started coaching when she was 5), but in that entire time she has never missed coaching her team,” said Coach Kleespies. “We were able to hold on long enough for her to make it back, so it was all in all a great day!”
Two courts away at the Keystone Juniors 14 Open, 13 Orange also took on the challenge of playing up an age division. After stumbling in its first game, 13 Orange rallied and finished second in its pool of five teams. The only 13s team to advance to the playoffs, Synergy nearly pushed the match to a third-game tie breaker, but fell just short.
In its first tournament of the year, 13 Lehigh also played up an age group in the Valentine’s Day 14s at Aspiring Champions in King of Prussia. It was a day of comebacks for the young team, and in one memorable match, the girls had fallen behind by 12 points before rallying to win the set.
“I am excited with my team’s performance in their first tournament” said Coach Jill Lichty. “We have a very young team overall. Every match they got better and more comfortable with each other. I am excited to get back in the gym and work with them.”
On Sunday, 17 Lehigh collected a silver medal in a closely contested final match against Cava 17 Lime at the CAVA Classic 17 Open. The scores tell the story in this nail biter of a match, with Synergy falling just short 29-31 and 23-25. Coach Michael Krause noted the team’s standout performance despite the absence of outside hitter Kelly Robertson who is recovering from an injury.
“The match went back and forth in a high intensity and hard fought battle in CAVA’S home tournament,” said Coach Krause. “The team represented Synergy displaying drive and determination in the seesaw epic match!”
Congratulations to all our Synergy teams for their strong performances this weekend. And good luck to everyone heading to the Capitol Hill Classic in Washington D.C. next weekend.
Golden Weekend for Lehigh, Navy and Orange
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on February 6, 2012
In an all-Synergy final, 15 Navy took the gold.
Feb. 6, 2012 — In another weekend of terrific Synergy volleyball, Lehigh, Navy and Orange teams dominated local tournament play, collecting three golds and a silver.
In 18 Open play on Saturday, Synergy’s 18 Lehigh, 18 Navy and 17 Navy battled in the Marauder Clash at Millersville University. At the end of the day, it was 18 Lehigh that emerged with the gold medal.
In pool play, 18 Navy and 17 Navy fought in several close matches, with both teams just missing a chance to advance to the playoffs. The 17 Navy assistant coach Peggy Hopton said the team took on a challenge playing up an age division. “The team is moving in the right direction and competing at a higher level,” said coach Hopton. “The coaches are encouraged by the improvement in the team effort.”
18 Lehigh wins the Marauder Clash
Meanwhile, it was an all-Synergy showdown in Lancaster, Pa. as 15 Navy and 15 Lehigh faced off in the finals of the Norlanco 15 Open Classic. The two teams were well-matched, but in the end, it was Navy that took home the gold after fending off a set point and winning the final game 26 to 24. Navy went 12 and 1 for the day, dropping only 1 game in pool play. Congratulations are also in order for 15 Lehigh, who proved a tough opponent and earned a well-deserved silver for the day.
Assistant coach Tom Wiechecki had high praise for 15 Navy, noting that each player contributed to the win. “Madison McCunney and Carly Cooper anchored the middle while Lauren Mueller, Gwyneth Parisse and Sierra Corbett provided strong attack from the pins,” said Wiechecki. “Defensively the trio of Sophia Schena, Brittany Fichter and Brynn Buonocore dug up the field. The setting duo of Alexis Orvieto and Rebecca Purcell provided strong leadership to the attack. Overall the team can attribute their success to tough serving, dependable serve receive and a unrelenting desire to win.”
16 Orange nets gold in 17 Open
In nearby York, 14 Lehigh and 14 Navy made it to the playoffs at the Str8 Down Sports 14 Open. Lehigh was undefeated in pool play, but met a tough Yorktown Blue team in the semi-finals, losing in a tie break. 14 Navy started the day in a competitive 5-team pool that included Valley Forge and Yorktowne, the teams that eventually finished first and second in the tournament. Navy played tough all day and finished in a tie for third in the pool, sending the young team to the one-set quarterfinals. After falling behind early, Navy kept their composure and rallied back to within 3, before taking the loss in an exciting match.
“The girls really battled today” said coach Mike Lott, “We did some good things and some not so good things, but we definitely are showing improvement from match to match.”
On Sunday, 16 Orange wrapped up the weekend with a decisive win in a higher age bracket, competing in the Marauder Clash 17 Open tournament in Millersville. 16 Orange won every set in pool play and moved on to the playoffs, where the team remained undefeated to claim gold. “Another great team effort with contributions coming from everyone all day long,” said Coach George Trabosh.
Congratulations to all the players from Lehigh, Navy and Orange for continuing to showcase the depth of talent on all our Synergy teams.
Synergy Orange Takes Two Golds at CAVA
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Result, Tournament on January 30, 2012
18 Orange is golden at CAVA.
Jan. 30, 2012 — Two Synergy teams captured gold this weekend at the CAVA New Year Revolution tournament, where 18 Orange and 15 Orange faced down teams from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey to win the day.
Orange and Navy were on full display in Easton, Pa. where five Synergy teams competed in two age brackets, with four Orange teams landing in the playoffs. In the 18s division, 18 Orange dominated, defeating CAVA 17s, Yorktowne 18s and Under Armour Elite 18′s of Baltimore County, Md. in pool play. In the playoffs, 18 Orange defeated New York’s Downstate 18s and CAVA 17s to take the title. Middles Randy Leath and Alexa Swann were named all-tournament players.
“The team passed well all day,” said Coach Missy McLinden. “Everyone contributed to the team’s success. Setters did a great job of running our offense, hitters were smart and powerful in their swings, and serving was good.”
17 Orange, coming off a win at the MLK Tournament, also posted another strong performance, beating three 18s teams in pool play without dropping a set. Although it looked like the team was heading to an all-Synergy final, an injury during the semis disrupted the play, and the team dropped its first match of the season.
15 Orange rallied for gold. (Photo: Charley Lowe)
In the combined 15-16 Open, the 15 Orange emerged undefeated in pool play, winning a playoff bye. After defeating an athletic CAVA 16s team in the semis, 15 Orange headed to the finals where they faced tough competition from the Yorktowne 16s. In a rough start, Yorktowne jumped to a commanding 10 point lead, but the 15 Orange players kept their composure and rallied to win the game. The second and deciding game turned into an epic battle, finally ending with a 31-29 win for Synergy. Heather Swann, Mackenzie O’Brien and Haley Kleespies were named all-tournament players.
Coach Pat Rucker credited the win to “aggressive net play, crisp passing, hustle, great setting and serving runs by multiple players.”
“It was a total team effort,” said Coach Rucker.
In the same division, a precocious 14 Orange took on the challenge of playing up, battling three 16s teams to make it out of pool play. In the quarterfinals, 14 Orange continued to impress, taking the match to three before losing the tie breaker. Maddy Correll was also named an all-tournament player. Meanwhile, 16 Navy played strong in close matches despite being down a player
Congratulations to all the players for showcasing the talent, hustle and discipline of Synergy Volleyball.
13 Orange Wins Gold at January Frost
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Result, Tournament on January 29, 2012
13 Orange celebrates gold. (Photo: Bob Stranick)
Jan. 29, 2012 — In a long day of volleyball, the 13 Orange emerged undefeated after 6 matches, winning gold in the January Frost 13 tournament.
Aspiring Champions in King of Prussia played host to 15 teams. After pool play, 13 Orange emerged in first place, gaining the playoff bye and then defeating teams from TCA and PVA in semis and finals. The win marks the first gold medal of the season for 13 Orange.
“Team play seemed to be the focus of the day,” said Coach Jolen Aldaya. “We served super tough and executed plays. This first win was well deserved.”
Congratulations to all the girls for a great day, and thanks to the players and coaches from other Synergy teams who manned the snack bar, sold t-shirts, tracked results and contributed to the success of the tournament.
Silver Medal for Synergy 12 Lehigh
Posted by tpope in Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on January 24, 2012
12 Lehigh Takes Silver at CAVA
Jan. 24, 2012 – Congratulations to Synergy Volleyball’s youngest players who recently battled to win a silver medal in their second tournament of the year.
The 12 Lehigh team competed among 9 teams at the CAVA New Year Revolution 12s Tournament. After a slow start, the team rallied with a strong finish, winning a tie-breaker to make it to the playoffs. Following a three-set win in the semi-finals, the team fought hard in the finals, taking the silver against a solid team from Delaware’s Brandywine BAM.
The performance follows the team’s strong finish in the MLK Kickoff Classic in Lancaster, Pa., where the girls took on the challenge of playing up in the 13s division, besting several older teams and finishing in the semi-finals of the silver bracket.
“They may be young, but they play with a lot of heart,” said Coach Donna Roman. “They work hard at practice and games, and focus on improving their skills. I feel this team is going to continue to grow and develop as volleyball players and as a team. They are achievers, and this is only the beginning.”
Synergy Dominates MLK Tournament
Posted by tpope in King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on January 18, 2012
14 Orange wins Gold.
Jan. 18, 2012 – Synergy Volleyball dominated the 2012 MLK Kickoff Classic, nearly sweeping the Open division and winning gold medals in the 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s age groups. In all, a total of 16 Synergy teams from King of Prussia and Lehigh Valley all posted standout performances, often facing their fiercest competition from another Synergy team.
In the 14 Open division, 14 Orange was undefeated going into the gold medal round, where they faced tough competition in a semi-final match against 14 Lehigh. Orange prevailed and went on to win Synergy’s first gold medal of the day in a 3-game final against a feisty defensive team from Pittsburgh 3 Rivers. Meanwhile, 14 Lehigh earned a strong 3rd place overall finish out of 20 teams. 13 Orange took on the challenge of playing up a division and held their own against some of the tournament’s top teams including their 14 Orange teammates in second-round play. The 13s moved on to the silver bracket where they made it to the semifinals, placing 9th overall. A young 14 Navy team played with heart each match and closed out the tournament in the quarter-finals of the Bronze division. 12 Lehigh also played up in the 13s division, making it all the way to the semi-finals of the silver bracket.
A team effort takes 15 Orange to gold.
IT WAS ALL GOLD for three Synergy 15s teams that battled their way into the Gold bracket, with 15 Orange placing 1st, 15 Lehigh taking 3rd and 15 Navy advancing to 5th out of a total of 32 teams. All the teams faced their toughest competition from each other. “We showed that all three teams can beat anyone if we play our best,’’ said 15 Orange coach Pat Rucker.
In the second round, Orange squeaked out a win against Navy in a match that included a 29 to 27 nail biter. In the semi-finals, a tenacious Lehigh team took Orange to three sets in a exciting match worthy of the finals.
“Navy and Lehigh played great defense, served tough and hit efficiently,’’ said Coach Rucker. “I was most impressed by the hitting of Lauren Mueller on the outside for 15 Navy and the setting and net play by Lehigh setter Emmy Geis. She was awesome and the best player for her size in the tournament.”
16 Orange celebrates MLK gold.
THERE WAS MORE GOLD in Lancaster for the 16 Orange which took the top prize in 16 Open, with a hard-fought, three-set win against P3R. “It was a good team effort,” said Coach George Trabosh. “The girls showed their mettle as they fought back from a deficit.”
Coach Trabosh noted that one of the toughest teams Orange faced in the tournament was in the second round against our own 16 Navy team, which battled in several close matches and finished in the quarterfinals of the silver bracket.
17 Orange on their way to gold.
THE WINNING continued with 17 Orange taking the gold medal in 17 Open, while 17 Lehigh also advanced to the gold bracket, where it lost a 27-25 heart-breaker to DE United in the quarter finals. A talented 17 Navy team advanced to the semi-finals of the Bronze bracket.
Finally, in the 18 Open, 18 Orange took 2nd place overall in the Gold bracket. It was a thrilling, all-Synergy final in the 18 Open Silver division, where 18 Lehigh and 18 Navy fought a close 3-set match, with Lehigh taking the win.
Congratulations to all the Synergy teams for their outstanding performances at the MLK. The bar has been set for another great year of Synergy Volleyball!
2011 Junior National Classic Highlights
Posted by Synergy Webmaster in Events, King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Result, Tournament on July 12, 2011
This article was amended 7/13/2011 due to an accidental omission of content. My sincerest apologies to those affected. – Synergy Webmaster
The 12 Orange, coming off an amazing season, were put to the test immediately in Atlanta — their pool included the two teams that would eventually battle in the finals. Despite the tough draw, the girls held their own, especially against Borinquen Coqui of Puerto Rico, who won the national championship. The Synergy family is especially proud of their great effort and a terrific season.
The 14 Orange set the bar high while competing in the 14 American Division a week earlier. Dominant and confident play characterized their first several days of competition, toppling the 4th seed in 2 sets. Things looked promising until drawing the top seed in a challenge match late in day 3. Still, their previous strong play earned them a seat in the Silver quarter finals where they fell just short of a semi-final appearance in a 3 set nail-biter.
The 16 Orange fought through lots of adversity this season with the unexpected departure of 2 assistant coaches and several untimely injuries. But, in the 16 National Division, the 16 Orange epitomized everything Synergy. After several days of 3 set battles, the feisty team lost in the semi-final round of the Bronze bracket. Finishing 19th overall, the team caught the attention of several coaches – some drawing comparisons reminiscent of a younger version of the 18 Orange. The 16 Lehigh also finished in the top half of the 16 American Division. Like their national division counterparts, they fought hard in true Synergy fashion in the 3rd day play — nearly upsetting Gold and Silver quarter-finalist teams.
The 17 Orange battled injury and position changes throughout the season, but showed positive growth by taking home the top spot in Flight 1 in the 17 American Division. The final push was a good experience for the young squad, with several players earning quiet accolades from opposing club and college coaches. Everyone was proud of their end of season effort and learned how to finish when it counted.
Last but certainly not least, the 18 Orange finished what is arguably the most successful season ever for any team on the eastern seaboard! In any case, it’s definitely the most successful team in Synergy history. In addition to a long list of individual accolades, the team upset regional favorites for titles at the MLK and MAPL tournaments and captured 2 Open Qualifier titles at Big South and NEQ (undefeated in matches and sets respectively). Their achievement was nationally recognized when they secured a #1 ranking on PrepVolleyball.com and the #1 spot overall in the 18 Open National Junior Classic. Falling only 4 points shy of their season-long goal, the 18 Orange made their friends, coaches, parents and all of Pennsylvania proud by bringing home the National Junior Classic Silver Medal as well as 3 All-Tournament Team Awards.
This seasons experiences left many proud parents, coaches and players with an overall good feeling, yet extremely hungry and excited for all the possibilities next year. It’s been a week now since the final day of the 2011 campaign — that’s plenty of rest! If you didn’t end up where you want to be, your training for the next opportunity STARTS NOW!
-
You are currently browsing the archives for the Result category.
Memories
