App-5 Fall Semester Recap
Authors: Colin Bourn, Ben Mertens, Caleb Van Buren
The Appalachian 5 (App-5) Conference completed half of its first full season! The Fall 2022 semester has renewed rivalries, brought competitive matches, and created some fun storylines to keep an eye on for the rest of the USQ season. One of the most intriguing storylines of the fall has been the joint team Virginia Reunited (VAR), comprised of collegiate programs Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and the newest member to the App-5 Conference James Madison. Despite having very little experience playing with each other, they have shown impressive chemistry along their chaser and beater cores, with help at times from sideline coach Colin Bourn. Elsewhere in the conference, University of Virginia (UVA) has continued their momentum from last springs sweet 16 run and continues to perform as one of the top teams in the nation. QC Pittsburgh (PITT) has shown that they have an enviable amount of depth at every position. Rounding out the conference, Penn State’s (PSU) physical playing style has been a big challenge for every one of their opponents this fall. The App-5 programs have made big strides already this season, and the spring will continue the competitive race for the conference title.
Starting in September, the App-5 season kicked off with the first ever USQ official game since the change of the sport’s name to quadball. QC Pittsburgh hosted Penn State in the Keystone Classic series, where the in-state rivals played 1 official game and 2 unofficial games with alternate rules. All three games were close at the 20-minute mark, but PITT was able to catch the flag runner in all 3 games and earned a series sweep on their home turf. Later in September, another pair of in state teams faced off when University of Virginia and Virginia Reunited faced off in Charlottesville, VA for a 3 game series. The first game was unofficial with an alternate ruleset and Reunited was able to come away with the victory, but short rostered and feeling the intensity, lost the following 2 games to a deeper and more disciplined UVA team. At Cavalier’s Cup in October, the Virginian teams faced off again in another game with UVA again coming out victorious. The final App-5 event of the fall took place in Morgantown, WV on the first Saturday of November, a double round robin between Virginia Reunited, QC Pittsburgh, and Penn State. Titled Bappalachia Bludger Bash, this was the first event where James Madison players rostered for Virginia Reunited, and with their short roster issues fixed, went undefeated in 4 consecutive wins. Penn State was able to get revenge and come out on top against PITT, a reversal of their September losses.
Here’s a look at how the standings hold at the end of the fall semester:
Note: The points system for the standings is as follows: Win = 4pts, Loss within 30 game points = 2pts, Loss by more than 30 game points = 1pt.
Last year’s App-5 regular season champions, University of Virginia (UVA), are the only remaining undefeated team left in the conference. Virginia Reunited, however, has played game after game to push their standing totals above them and gain first place for the end of the fall. Penn State finds themselves in a very close third place, pushed forward by their wins at Bappalachia Buldger Bash. QC Pitt is still very much alive though, and can make a run to finish in the top half of the conference with a strong spring semester.
Our thoughts on each team
Here's a look at how each team's fall semester went, as well as the team's MVP(s) of the fall and our top player to watch for in the spring:
Penn State
Overview: Penn State’s semester was a story of steady improvement. They lost the season opener to Pitt but in a reversal of fate defeated them twice a month later at the Bappalachia Bludger Bash (BBB). They similarly lost twice to Virginia Reunited at BBB, but rebounded the next month and narrowly defeated them at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship (not counted in the official App 5 standings). The team boasts an enviable core of chaser/keepers. Maddie Throne is excellent with or without the ball, Players like Lucas Oppenheim and Arya Mehta excel at finishing difficult goals, while Lenhart Twins Erika & Emily are savvy cutters off the ball, and Nathan Quint is an excellent downhill driver. The team is capable of stitching together beautiful passing sequences when they look for them. At times, however, the team is over reliant on having their beaters creating an opening and then looking to drive with ballhandlers like Quint, finishing with a dunk or a shot. This play overwhelmed Pitt at BBB, but was less successful against teams that have stronger point defenders or understand a good gang tackle. In the beater game, regardless of the success of the offensive chasers, Penn State’s beaters often overcommit and make dangerous throws. When it works, it’s great, but many times transition opportunities are created for Penn State’s opponents. Penn State boasts strong tackling and talented beaters who make for a stout half-court defense, but they were buried by transition goals in their games against Virginia Reunited at BBB. With better synergy between beaters and chasers and a focus on strategic use of dodgeball control, Penn State should be able to increase their offensive scoring without sabotaging their defense, which will set them up for a strong showing in the Spring.
Fall semester MVP: Connor Morrow (Beater). Morrow's athletic presence is felt whenever he's on the pitch. He's got a great arm and has made many highlight reel worthy blocks and catches. Being left handed, Morrow is able to make throws from angles that opposing players are not expecting. While his choices as a less experienced beater may at times give up plays in transition, his speed and ability to recover from mistakes often makes up for it. As freshman that’s already the face of the Penn State beater core, Morrow’s talent will only continue to develop.
Spring Semester Player to Watch: Luke Oppenheim (Chaser). Penn State is at it’s best when Oppenheim is on the pitch. His size and physicality caused problems for opposing teams in every game he played this season. Not only is he one of the best hoop defenders in the App-5 (using Penn State’s condensed 2-2 zone), but he also has developed into one of their strongest weapons on offense. Oppenheim masterfully uses his size and the drive and dish to draw defenders to him before getting rid of the ball. With great field awareness to find his teammates cutting, he has orchestrated scoring opportunities for many of his teammates. When the quadball isn’t in his hands, Oppenheim is a dangerous off ball playmaker with dangerous cuts and a knack for sniffing out his best chance of scoring. How Penn State uses Oppenheim will surely be key in getting the push they need to reach the top of the conference.
QC Pittsburgh
Overview: QC Pitt opened the season with a win over Penn State at the season opener, but struggled to an 0-4 finish at the Bappalachia Bludger Bash. Pitt boasts talented chasers and beaters, but a propensity for high-risk play left them open to counterattacks at BBB. Beaters Kevin Tang and Bethany Wilson play in an aggressive manner that creates no dodgeball opportunities, but with Pitt’s top quadball player Spencer Reisig out for the tournament, their offense struggled to find the same success they’d found previously. Neofes brothers Jackson and Daniel stepped up as primary ball handlers and would often settle for passive looping drives to the outside instead of meeting their opponents head on. Opposing defenses responded by barricading the hoops without giving up easy passing options, leaving Pitt unable to turn their offenses into goals even on good opportunities. Having Reisig healthy and getting more of their other ball carriers more experience with offensive decision making will make a difference in the spring version of this Pitt team. With the tools they have, a little more ball handling experience and increased cohesion amidst the whole team will boost them to their full potential in the spring.
Fall semester Co-MVPs: Kevin Tang & Bethany Wilson (Beaters). Pitt's starting beater pair has made huge strides in their senior year. Tang's throw heavy approach and ability to make dynamic plays in one on one situations makes him one of the most dangerous engage beaters in the conference. His battle heavy style is well complimented by his field general of a partner Bethany Wilson, who consistently makes smart decisions and can clean up tough plays. Tang and Wilson have also shown that they can make in-game adjustments and reconfigure their defensive style to prioritize control or defend the hoops to cut off their opponents strengths. Pitt has a deep beater line, but the most success has come when their top beater pair is in control of the game.
Spring Semester Player to Watch: Melissa Gemma (Chaser). Gemma brings the veteran off ball chaser presence that every good team needs. Her chemistry with Pitt's top ball handlers makes for an important centerpiece in Pitt's offense. Look for her to continue being in the right spot at the right time throughout the spring semester, from almost telepathic passes to loose ball recoveries as Pitt rises to the challenge of their conference competitors
University of Virginia
Overview: The University of Virginia is a true powerhouse top to bottom, and a real contender for a national championship. They have the dynamic passing attack that has come to be synonymous with UVA over the years, powered by the driving threat of Andrew Bowman, the wing scoring threat of Zan Siddiqui, and the high level passing of Emma Rollins. The chaser defense is nearly as impressive as the offense, though a tendency to overcommit to tackles and earn yellow cards are the team’s only weaknesses to overcome in the chasing game. At beater, the team is led by Madison Myott, a dynamic and still developing beater who blends arm strength, accuracy and decision making to lock down the center of the famous UVA zone. With Alex Cruz as a top level seeker, and sideline coach David Littleton, the team boasts all the pieces needed to make a championship program. To take the final step and hoist the trophy in April, the team needs to continue working on integrating its beaters into their offense while maintaining positioning to stamp out any opposing transition opportunities. Controlling the flow of the game will the final step of UVA’s evolution as they fight to win against other top 5 programs deep in the championship bracket come April, and a conference title while they’re at it.
Fall semester MVP: Andrew Bowman (Keeper). Andrew Bowman may be the most complete chaser/keeper to ever come out of the perennial powerhouse that UVA has become. Bowman is a real triple threat on offense. Very few players in the sport have the same combination of passing, shooting, and driving skills that Bowman does. Whether Bowman is weaving his way through an entire team, completing a pinpoint pass to a cutting teammate, or making a laser shot on medium hoop, he’s been a thrill to watch. On defense, Bowman is a smart and advantageous defender looking for opportunities to force resets and create turnovers to fast break. He can play either at the top of the UVA hybrid zone as a keeper immune point defender or on hoops as a traditional keeper. His leadership on the field is very evident, bringing a level headed and calming energy that balances out the high energy of some of his teammates and coach. Andrew Bowman is a rising college star that will be a name known across the nation come April.
Spring Semester Player to Watch: Madison Myott (Beater). UVA had several of their top beaters graduate last year, leaving some big shoes to fill. Nobody has stepped up in a bigger way to fill in the missing pieces than Myott. She has become a true leader for her team’s beater core, with a knack for high level decision making on defense. With expert positioning and field awareness, Myott tempers her play to leave opposing teams struggling to win dodgeball control. On offense, Myott creates lanes for off ball chasers to cut to and score. If Myott continues to improve her mechanics in the beater game and continues her chemistry with talented beater partner Drew Reidy, UVA will have all the pieces it needs to win a national title.
Virginia Reunited
Overview: This superteam looked strong enough when comprised of just WVU and VT, but adding reinforcements from JMU in time for BBB took the team to the next level and powered them to decisive wins and a lead in the standings. Co-lead ballhandlers Shane McConaghie and Jack Melnick both bring sharpshooting and passing, though their tendency to settle for shots over dunks leaves their ability to score up to their opponents’ ability to shot block. The addition of Elizabeth Nolen from JMU gave the team the ability to have 3 confident ballhandlers on field at once. In the beating game, the WVU duo of Cam Speaker and Davia Daulys were dominant against Pitt and Penn State and performed will even in the losses to the University of Virginia.
Though talented on paper, VARU is clearly still experiencing the growing pains of being one team comprised of 3 teams that rarely practice together. At Mid-Atlantic regionals, the team struggled without Melnick, and they will be without Daulys after she graduates this winter, leaving a huge hole in the beater game. The team will need to continue building their internal chemistry and find replacements in the beating game for Daulys in the spring if they want to hold onto their lead in the conference and avenge losses at regionals to University of Virginia and Penn State.
Fall semester MVP: Shane McConaghie (chaser/keeper). McConaghie is an extremely talented player who looks years beyond the 2nd year player he is. A summer of MLQ experience has turned him into a dangerous ball handler and he is one of the best transition players in the conference. His long lanky frame and shiftiness makes him difficult to tackle in the open field, and in the half court McConaghie uses these same attributes to get by defenders for big dunks or floating midrange shots. When not looking for a lane, he is an excellent facilitator directing teammates and stringing together excellent passes. On defense, McConaghie is a great shot blocker and rebounder, converting opponents shot attempts into a fast break offense. While he may be a young player, his ability is advanced for the college game and is the heart of this VARU team who still has plenty of development ahead of them. McConaghie has true potential to become a bona-fide star of the sport.
Spring Semester Player to Watch: Elizabeth Nolen (Chaser). the mid semester addition of Nolen was exactly what this Virginia Reunited team needed. She's brought the signature grit James Madison University has been known for to an already explosive top line. She has a nose for sensing how to create goals and a willingness to fight through contact to get buckets while serving as a dangerous outlet for Jack Melnick and Shane McConaghie. On defense, Nolen is a great hoop defender and loves to put in a tackle. Next semester she will be a valuable asset for a team that might be forced into more two male beater sets with Daulys no longer playing for them.
