16 & Under National Travel Team

Final CHRVA Ranking: 7th out of 73 teams

Head Coach - Phil Laquinta

Assistant Coach - Rosanna Drake

Parent Representative - Kim Mercier

The Lightning regularly scheduled practice days are:

Columbia Lightning Excel at Villanova Tournament

“We have a volleyball team, ladies,” Columbia Lightning 16s volleyball coach Phil Laquinta told the players on his team after handing them their silver medals in the PVA Invitational tournament held at Villanova January 13th and 14th.

The tournament, which featured strong teams from the Mid-Atlantic region and New York, was the first real test for the Lightning. Despite exhaustion and injuries, the team hustled and powered its way to first place in its pool division and second place going into the playoffs. In the quarterfinals, the Lightning faced Fredericksburg. The Lightning trailed throughout most of the first game, but battled back with key kills by Becky West, Emily Tyson, and Kasey Mercier to win 28-26. The Lightning led most of the second game, which featured excellent defensive play by Samantha Todorovich and Paige O’Prey, and won 25-21.

In the semi-final match, the Lightning dominated Niagara Frontier in the first game, 25-15. The teams battled neck and neck in the second game. Jackie Hawkins and Karen Hillsley directed the offense with a combined total of 10 assists, and the Lightning scored with blocks by Mercier, Julie Poston, Kate Calvert, and Emma Chang, kills by West, Chang, Mercier, Tyson, Calvert, and Hawkins, and serving aces by Mercier. The Lightning won 25-23 when Poston made a diving save, passing to West for the kill and match point.

In the championship match, the Lightning faced the Delaware Juniors, a team that had beaten them in three hard fought games on the first day of play (23-25, 25-20, 15-10). Although without star performer Poston, who had been injured when saving the ball in the semi-final match, the Lightning fought gamely but even with back-to-back blocks by Calvert and excellent defensive play by Todorovich, they ultimately fell to the Juniors, 25-12 and 25-15.

Throughout the tournament, the Lightning was led by standout Becky West, with strong passing, nearly flawless serving (80 of 81 made for 98.7%, including 9 aces), 49 kills, 29 digs, and 9 blocks. West received the most votes for the 16s All-Tournament team. Jackie Hawkins, also nearly perfect in serving (64 of 67, 95.5%, with 1 ace), had 45 assists, 16 digs, and 9 kills. Karen Hillsley, another star server (55 of 57 for 96.4% and 3 aces), contributed 37 assists and 38 digs. Kasey Mercier, providing outstanding passing and serving (23 of 24 for 95.8% and 2 aces), had 18 kills, 18 digs, and 13 blocks. Julie Poston had 18 kills to go along with strong serving (83 for 89 for 93.2% and 10 aces). Kate Calvert contributed 13 blocks, 7 digs and 8 kills, along with strong serving (47 of 51 for 92.1% and 4 aces). Libero Sammy Todorovich stymied opponents with quick defensive play, strong passing, and athletic saves; she posted 39 digs. Emma “Kitty” Chang, with another notable serving performance (32 of 36 for 88.8% and 4 aces), had 29 digs, including some daring saves, 11 kills, and 4 blocks. Emily Tyson had 10 kills, some of which came at key junctures, 5 digs, and 5 blocks. Paige O’Prey hustled on back row defense and chased after errant balls, racking up an impressive 27 digs.

Lightning Wins Gold

After finishing second in four straight tournaments, the Columbia Lightning finally struck gold in the Columbia 16s Invitational Tournament held March 3rd at the Volleyball House in Elkridge. The win came over the NVVA Select 16s, a team from northern Virginia that had been top-ranked in the region.

While injured setter Jackie Hawkins provided encouragement from the sidelines, the Lightning started the tournament with convincing wins over teams from the Roadrunner and Wild Blue volleyball clubs in games that featured solid offensive play by Kasey Mercier and Emily Tyson. The Lightning won a closer match against the MVSA Starz. In the semi-finals, they defeated the Columbia Thunder 25-16 and 25-15.

The Lightning’s energy seemed to run out as they started the championship match, and they dropped the first game against NVVA Select 25-6. Rallied by solid serving and smashing kills by Becky West and strong net play by Julie Poston and Kate Calvert, the Lightning roared back in the second game and won on a serving ace by Kitty Chang, 25-23. In the tie-breaker game, outstanding defense by libero Sammie Todorovich allowed setter Karen Hillsley to run offensive plays that led to kills by West, Mercier, Poston, and Calvert. At the end, Mercier served five straight points to give the Lightning a 15-8 win.