That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag’s take a look at 10 issues in membership volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully curiosity you. We end up our take a look at the 2024 membership volleyball season by recapping the 15s by way of 17s age teams at USA Volleyball’s Junior Nationwide Championships, which concluded on July 11 in Las Vegas:
• The 17s age group this membership season was ridiculous. A lot expertise! Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold gained Triple Crown in February. Houston Skyline 17 Royal entered 4 nationwide qualifiers and gained all of them! 1st Alliance 17 Gold lent two of its stars to the 18 Gold group and virtually gained Junior Nationals in 18 Open in April!
Regardless of there being celebrity gamers and elite groups round each nook on this age divisions, USA Volleyball’s Junior Nationwide Championships, which concluded final week after a nine-day run in Las Vegas, confirmed that AZ Storm Elite 17 Thunder stands above the remainder.
For the second straight 12 months, Storm captured the Open nationwide championship for groups whose gamers largely comprise the Class of 2025 (16 Open final 12 months; 17 Open this season). For the second straight 12 months, the group did it by going 11-0 at Junior Nationals. Storm has had a variety of nice groups over the previous dozen years, however this core group will go down because the membership’s greatest thus far.
AZ Storm has in all probability the most effective outdoors hitting duo within the nation in Teraya Sigler and Devyn Wiest. Sigler, a Nebraska recruit and Arizona’s present Gatorade HS POY, was named MVP and was dominant. Wiest, a Utah commit, additionally earned All-Match honors. Each performed each level of the match for 4 days straight. The group additionally has an elite libero in Izzy Mahaffey, two large middles in Kenna Cogill and Dyborrah Johnson and an athletic, lively setter in Kaia Pixler.
And but, regardless of all of that expertise and extra, Storm barely survived a ultimate day that veteran head coach Aaron Payne referred to as “in all probability essentially the most intense day of volleyball I’ve ever been part of.”
The primary match on Day 4 – the quarterfinals – got here versus a WAVE 17 Juliana group that gained the opening match of the primary pool, then misplaced 4 straight to limp into Day 3, barely staying within the advancing group. The San Diego membership then gained three matches in a row, together with a sweep of a CUVC 17 Open group that actually distinguished itself for the way onerous it performed, the difficulty it gave Storm in pool play and its upset win over Sting; to make the ultimate eight.
Outsides Mae Kordas and Quinn Loper led the resurgence for WAVE.
Storm, to begin Day 4, can be the largest take a look at but, WAVE coach Juliana Conn admitted.
“We knew we have been the underdogs and the stress was completely on them,” Conn mentioned. “We performed tight the primary recreation however turned it round and shocked them in Recreation 2 enjoying freely, glad and heavy volleyball. They have been shocked.”
Kordas, particularly, was on fireplace versus Storm and helped WAVE rally from behind to guide 15-14 within the ultimate set.
“We let it slip,” Conn mentioned of the 20-18 loss. “Positively high 5 most memorable matches that I coached high to backside.”
Two extra barnburners adopted for Storm, a three-set win over perennial contender 1st Alliance within the semis, the place the primary two units have been determined at deuce; and a championship win over Houston Skyline, 24-26, 27-25, 15-13. Mahaffey, a Lengthy Seaside State recruit, was unimaginable all match — passing at 2.34 — however saved Storm when the championship end result was on the road late within the second set. She dove by way of the signage on the sideline to avoid wasting a dug ball, then adopted that with an ace – “off of an extremely gutsy brief serve that hardly cleared the tape,” Payne defined — to win the set and power a 3rd and ultimate set.
“The ultimate in opposition to Houston Skyline was precisely what you’d need in a nationals ultimate match,” Payne mentioned. “We dropped the primary set to an excellent group and I’d be mendacity if I didn’t really feel the stress, however I’ll give a variety of credit score to this group. I really consider that they by no means doubted in the event that they have been going to win. The timeouts once we have been down by no means felt panicked, by no means felt pressing; we merely restated time and again that we consider that we’re the most effective group and if we are able to simply give attention to the subsequent level that we have to win that we’d be OK.”
Mahaffey joined Sigler and Wiest on the All-Match group, however Johnson additionally was at her greatest with the match on the road. Johnson, who touches 10-5, used her lateral quickness to primarily block half the online on the final day of play.
• Houston Skyline got here inside 4 factors – two within the second set of the ultimate versus AZ Storm and two within the third – of being within the dialog for many profitable membership season ever by any group. Alex Edwards’ squad got here into Junior Nationals as the highest general seed, as the results of qualifiers wins at Northern Lights, NEQ, Lone Star and Present Me, and really practically added a nationwide championship to its lofty record of achievements.
Two losses at deuce, after profitable the primary the identical approach – the smallest potential margin — meant Silver not Gold.
“We left all of it out on the courtroom, however extra importantly we completed the match enjoying as a group and for each other,” Edwards mentioned.
Houston Skyline was shocked on Day 1 by the No. 35 seed, Membership V 17 Ren Reed, however recovered to win the remainder of its opening pool matches. V, from Utah, went on to win the pool at 5-0. The group obtained a lift from celebrity junior OH/MB Taylor Harvey (Texas recruit) dropping down from the 18s group to play with this group.
Houston Skyline gained its three-team pool on the third day with a 1-1 file. A sweep of Idaho Crush 17 Bower and first set win over OT 17 T Aaron gave Skyline the margin it wanted to prevail and advance. A dominating Problem match win over Mizuno Lengthy Seaside 17 Rockstar adopted to clinch a spot within the quarterfinals.
On Day 4, Houston Skyline grinded out three-set wins over Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno and Dallas Skyline 17 Royal to make the ultimate. The quarterfinal win over MEVBA helped Houston Skyline break by way of a psychological roadblock that had foiled this core group the previous two seasons. The semifinal victory came visiting an impressed Dallas Skyline group that ousted Membership V within the Problem part and overwhelmed a sizzling Circle Metropolis 17 Purple squad within the quarters.
Going through an AZ Storm group it had not met this season, Houston Skyline gained the primary set at deuce between the 2 general high seeds, however misplaced the subsequent two by the identical margin.
“The match itself was unimaginable and is the way you need a 17 Open ultimate to complete,” Edwards mentioned.
OH Bailey Warren had an unimaginable match to guide Houston Skyline. The Wake Forest commit hit over .300 and handed over a 2.0 in a sterling six-rotation efficiency. She was joined on the All-Match group by teammates Kassie O’Brien, who ran the offense fantastically; and libero Morgan Madison, whose passing and beautiful digs steadied the group. Different high performers for this star-studded group included dynamic middles Mackenzie Collins and Bayleigh Minor and pins Ella Lewis, Taylor Porter and Bekah Pfefferkorn (FIU commit) contributed on the pin as nicely.
“We might haven’t been profitable if it weren’t for each member of this group and enjoying as one!” Edwards exclaimed.
“Summarizing this season and GJNC match brings up blended feelings of delight, pleasure, inspiration and finally unhappiness that this historic season has ended,” Edwards added. “I’ve by no means been extra happy with this group and the accomplishments we achieved collectively … They’ve set the usual for what any group can do in the event that they play for each other. Our teammate connections together with our ability set is what made this group particular.”
•1st Alliance and Dallas Skyline tied for third to take dwelling Bronze medals.
1st Alliance, the No. 3 general seed, was undefeated for the match earlier than dropping to Storm in a three-set semifinal. OH Abby Vander Wal and S/RS Hannah Kenny made the All-Match group for the Chicago squad.
Dallas Skyline’s sturdy end honored cancer-stricken head coach Ping Cao, who missed teaching the group in January and February whereas in Houston for therapy and who returned to Houston two days each week for ongoing therapy beginning in late April. Setter Sophia Wei and libero Madeleine Smotherman have been acknowledged on the All-Match Staff for his or her contributions to the trigger.
“Our group’s journey to the rostrum was marked by resilience, strategic execution, and distinctive performances,” a Dallas Skyline assertion learn. A key second for the group got here within the second set of the Problem match win over MAVS KC 17-1, when Smotherman’s brief serve shocked MAVS and produced an ace that helped ship Dallas Skyline to a 3rd set.
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Within the Membership divisions, Chloe Meester led Iowa’s Adrenaline 17 Ben to the 17 Nationwide title with a 9-2 file.
Adrenaline, a squad loaded with multi-sport athletes, didn’t hit its stride till later within the spring. It hoped to safe an at-large bid into the Open subject, due to success in opposition to many Open-qualified groups, however when that didn’t occur, the group did the subsequent smartest thing!
Adrenaline gained 17 Nationwide in essentially the most significant and thrilling approach. Within the quarterfinals, Adrenaline took out a Premier Nebraska 17 Gold group, 19-17 within the third, to avenge a 16-14 third-set loss from Present Me. Within the semifinals, Adrenaline outlasted a Mintonette m.71 squad it misplaced to within the opening pool. And, within the championship match, Adrenaline additionally avenged its different loss within the match, to AVC Cleveland 17 Purple.
Early on within the championship ultimate, the duo of setter Belle Groomes and Natalya Bergant couldn’t be stopped for AVC, which gained Recreation 1 in an overscore state of affairs.
Recreation 2 went even deeper into further factors. Adrenaline trailed 23-20 within the second earlier than Meester’s sturdy serving obtained Ben Braun’s group again within the set. Adrenaline finally fought off a number of championship factors in opposition to it to win, 34-32, thanks for a Kate Shafer dig and dish from Meester to Sydney Maue for the set clincher.
Braun shared what occurred within the ultimate set:
“Going into set 3, the group appeared extremely tight after the marathon of the match. As we left the huddle for the road ups, our group huddled collectively for the YMCA dance simply as we started to begin the match. After easing the strain, we jumped out to an early lead of 8-2 with the primary day out. After buying and selling sideouts for a number of factors, a mirror dig from Kate Shafer left a deja vu second for a ultimate Sydney Maue kill to shut the 2024 membership season.”
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Excel 17 Nationwide White gained 17 USA behind MVP Julia Hicks. Addie Fielder was named MVP for 501 Volley 17-1 Nationwide, which captured 17 Liberty. Senior RS Taylor Treahy (George Washington signee) led San Gabriel Elite 17 RoShamBo to the title in 17 American. And Paige Felder set the usual for RRHVB 17-1 Robyn, out of the Intermountain Area, to win 17 Freedom.
• The 16 Open Junior Nationwide Championships ran concurrently with 17 Open and featured a handful of groups able to profitable all of it, topped by AAU champion Mintonette m. 61, Triple Crown victor Legacy 16-1 Adidas, defending age group nationwide champion Dallas Skyline 16 Royal and three-time qualifier winner TAV 16 Black.
The group I believed may win was Austin Skyline 17 Royal, which boasted a fearsome entrance line boosted this 12 months by new addition OH Henley Anderson, arguably the highest energy participant within the class.
None of these groups took dwelling the Gold.
As a substitute, it was SCVC 16 Roxy, which went 11-0 with simply three units dropped, to win all of it, turning into the second SCVC group to win an Open nationwide championship in as many seasons.
Simply over 16 months in the past, the core group of SCVC 16 Roxy, enjoying on the 15s stage, made an enormous splash by reaching the ultimate of the Triple Crown NIT, the place it misplaced to Dallas Skyline. Since then the group has been constantly good, with flashes of brilliance, however was held again considerably by accidents and second sport commitments. The group completed T-9 at Junior Nationals a 12 months in the past, T-5 this 12 months at Triple Crown in February and double certified for 16 Open, profitable Purple Rock Rave whereas dropping twice. In different phrases, a stable contender for positive however in no way a favourite for Gold.
SCVC head coach Amir Lugo-Rodriguez knew two issues heading into the match:
1. He had a group whose middles, Taylor Boice and Maya Stillwell, have been 100%, one thing that had not been the case throughout instances this season; and
2. The group had discovered a brand new stage the final month of apply in getting ready for Junior Nationals and “it turned the norm,” he mentioned.
The group gained its first eight matches to make the quarterfinals. It was pushed at instances, nevertheless it performed like a favourite in all of its wins resulting in the ultimate day.
The quarterfinal versus Legacy was completely different. Like SCVC, Legacy was 8-0 going into that match. The Michigan membership, that includes a proficient setter, large again row, wonderful middles and an amazing outdoors hitter, was favored to win. SCVC gained in two units.
“I believed we served very nicely and obtained a variety of free balls again, which allowed us to run Taylor and Maya lots in transition,” Lugo-Rodriguez defined. “I feel somebody informed me these two have been 12 for 13 in that match.”
After that win, SCVC stayed on observe within the semifinals by sweeping a Pohaku 16-1 group that upset then-9-0 TAV 16 Black in a quarterfinal match.
The championship ultimate pitted SCVC in opposition to shocking 1st Alliance 16 Gold, which superior by defeating Mintonette-vanquishing Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold within the quarterfinals and Dallas Skyline within the semis. SCVC took the primary, 25-20, then gained the second, 27-25 on an ace serve from OH Audrey Flanagan.
Flanagan and libero Kaitlyn Herweg made the All-Match group alongside match MVP Abby Zimmerman, a RS dedicated to Cal and daughter of former seashore nice Lisa Arce. Zimmerman performed out of her thoughts and was an ideal complement to hard-hitting lefts Flanagan and Sammy Destler. Milly McGee, Geeter’s child, both in a 5-1 offense or setting and blocking in a 6-2 with Kate Scherlacher; was very impactful as have been each middles, who blocked a ton of balls and have been an enormous a part of the offense as nicely. Herweg was a unbelievable backcourt basic and was clutch in maintaining the ball in play in tight recreation conditions. Jordan Shelor and Mindy Phan every contributed with key serving runs.
“The match consequence was a whole group effort and it was nice to see everybody contribute of their personal approach,” Lugo-Rodriguez mentioned. “The play from our middles actually stood out to me down the stretch.”
Lugo-Rodriguez mentioned the title answered a query the group requested itself from the start of the 12 months.
“The messaging for the season was to seek out out simply how good this group could possibly be,” he defined. “Nothing else mattered. The main target from the group stemmed from desirous to push their limits, making displaying as much as each apply and match an absolute pleasure…We by no means named or had a captain and as a substitute selected to empower all 11 of them to drive the group collectively. That’s what individuals noticed in Vegas; 11 decided younger girls working collectively for a standard purpose.”
• 16 Open runner up 1st Alliance didn’t even qualify for the Open division as 15-year-olds final 12 months. However the 15 Nationwide Silver Medalists in 2023 set a purpose leaving the rostrum in its hometown of Chicago not solely to qualify in Open this season, however to compete and compete nicely.
Mission completed.
“All match, our focus was ‘group first’ and ‘management our destiny,’” famous head coach Trish Samolinski. “We set mini targets every day of the match to tempo ourselves and I’m actually happy with how nicely we performed in opposition to a few of the hardest competitors within the nation. This group continued to get higher each time they stepped on the courtroom and actually exceeded all my expectations I had for them. Couldn’t be prouder.”
Coming off a string of 5 straight first-place finishes, beginning with the Salt Lake Metropolis Showdown in April, 1st Alliance, with 5 new additions from final 12 months’s group, held its No. 8 seed all the way in which to the quarterfinals, together with a Problem match sweep of proficient Houston Skyline 16 Royal. Certainly, its pool play loss to Dallas Skyline snapped a 25-match profitable streak.
After sweeping Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold within the quarterfinals, gaining revenge over the group that denied it the 15 Nationwide nationwide championship final 12 months; 1st Alliance once more took on Dallas Skyline. Like the primary matchup three days earlier than, this battle went to a few units. Not like the primary battle, 1st Alliance prevailed, ousting the reigning nationwide champions.
“We performed a few of the greatest volleyball I’ve seen all 12 months in our problem match in opposition to Houston Skyline after which once more within the semis in opposition to Dallas Skyline (each extraordinarily bodily groups),” Samolinski famous.
Lynney Tarnow, a 6-6 center, led the group with 104 kills whereas hitting .560 for the match. Tarnow, setter Niki Bulatovic (320 assists) and six-rotation outdoors Elle Schara (65 kills; 2.5 passing) made the All-Match Staff. Different standouts included pin Samantha Shelton, libero Lucy Maloney and center Alaina Pollard.
• Dallas Skyline and Pohaku, every high 5 finishers on this age group a 12 months in the past, tied for third to say Bronze medals.
Skyline was 8-1 and on observe to efficiently defend its 15 Open nationwide title earlier than working into revenge-minded 1st Alliance within the semifinals. Regardless of falling simply brief, the group completed enjoying its greatest volleyball of the season in accordance with coaches.
MB Keoni Williams (42 kills; hitting .471) and libero Kiley Brooks (145 digs; 2.4 passing) made the All-Match group. Defender Georgia Whann and RS Taylor Clarke additionally distinguished themselves.
Pohaku began because the 14th seed within the subject of 36 and performed erratically in its first pool, ending 2-3 and in fourth place.
“We have been going to have robust video games, and we have been going to need to maintain enterprise once we wanted to,” mentioned coach Abby Wittman. “For us, we referred to as it survive and advance.”
The Kansas Metropolis group superior second behind 1st Alliance out of its second pool, then outlasted high-powered Imaginative and prescient 16 Gold in a Problem match earlier than stunning then-undefeated TAV 16 Black in a three-set semifinal, 23-25, 28-26, 15-11, avenging a throttling by the Texans within the first pool. Wittman mentioned her group confirmed grit and relentless effort in getting previous Imaginative and prescient, then did what it wanted to do to knock TAV from competition.
“I wouldn’t name the TAV recreation a rematch, however this was the subsequent opponent we needed to knock all the way down to get to that podium,” Wittman mentioned. “It wasn’t about proving our recreation to TAV however proving we belong on the high. I’m happy with the way in which our gamers stepped as much as end that TAV match!”
Setter Ella Florez and OH Grace Martin have been All-Match honorees for Pohaku. Florez used her athleticism to dish from anyplace on the ground. Martin, a fiery participant, confirmed off her huge time arm from the pins and banging balls from the pipe.
“Their connections offensively have been constant the complete match!” Wittman mentioned.
Different main contributors included libero Miranda Como, who annoyed a variety of attackers; and undersized middles Morgan Sears and Kennedy Derks. Sears did an amazing job of blocking and Derks used her fast arm to attain in opposition to greater middles, complementing the offense from Martin and Hailie Vaughn, who handed in addition to she contributed offensively. .
“We couldn’t have gotten that far with out everybody on this group,” Wittman concluded. “From the women on the courtroom to the women on the bench, it was a complete group effort! I’m happy with the 11 of them who confirmed up and confirmed out when it mattered most.”
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AAU 16 Open champion Mintonette, the highest seed general, misplaced its first match out of the gate, then gained six in a row to get to the Problem match. After dominating Sting in Recreation 1, m.61 misplaced the subsequent two units, 25-23, 16-14 to fall out of competition.
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MAVS 816 16-1 overcame two first-pool losses to win 16 Nationwide. The Kansas Metropolis-area group swept its ultimate 5 opponents behind the play of libero Madilynn Benne, who was named MVP; and All-Match performers Catlin Shao (setter) and Leah Robinson (outdoors hitter).
“We had some shaky performances in our opening pool play and talked about how we would want to have the ability to execute a recreation plan and keep assured in our capacity to set the tempo with our personal stage of play if we wished to beat the upper stage groups that we’d quickly face,” famous coach Connor Gregston.
The group performed its greatest volleyball of the match, and the season, on the ultimate day, ousting Circle Metropolis 16 Purple and LAV 16 Nationwide Black earlier than sweeping to the title over beforehand undefeated TVC 16 Black. MAVS completed Day 4 profitable 4 of the six units performed at deuce, a testomony to the group’s fortitude and resilience.
Along with the All-Match performers, six-rotation OH Peyton Liming had her greatest displaying of the 12 months, Carlie Pandjaris and Paige Lattimer steadied the group’s protection, lefty RS Chesnie King hit robust angles all weekend lengthy, and MBs Brielle Gengelbach, Parker Kimball and Leilah Perry have been defensive catalysts on the internet, funneling balls to defenders and bringing offensive sparks when wanted.
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Malia Miller was named MVP of 16 USA. Her group, Integrity 16 Intense Blue, gained the title. Skyler Perez took dwelling high honors in 16 Liberty for champion GJ 16 Eric. Taylor Stanley of 16 American champion Dynasty 16 Black was named MVP. And MVP honors in 16 Freedom went to DaMya Mann of champion Alamo 16 Premier.
• TAV 15 Black, the defending age group nationwide champion final 12 months at 14s, was the clear favourite to defend its title in 15 Open. In any case, Jason Nicholson’s group had gained Tour of Texas, Triple Crown and two nationwide qualifiers.
If not TAV, then AZ Storm Elite 15 Thunder, which gained two qualifiers and misplaced to TAV within the semifinals at Triple Crown.
If not these two, maybe it might be Membership V 15 Ren Kalee, which was the Triple Crown runner up.
Tstreet 15-Asics, 9 gamers sturdy, defeated ALL of them on the ultimate day to finish an 11-0 run by way of the match to seize the 15 Open title.
“Nothing got here simple,” mentioned Tstreet head coach Bailey Tanner. “I’ve by no means seen a group struggle so onerous for that many hard-earned matches in a row.”
Tstreet got here into the match because the No. 4 general seed and dominated the primary two swimming pools and the Problem match, dropping only one set in beginning 8-0.
Three different SCVA groups – Mizuno Lengthy Seaside 15 Rockstar, WAVE 15-Brennan and Metropolis Volleyball 15 Gold – joined Tstreet within the high eight. Although Tanner’s group didn’t face any of them on Day 4, their presence gave Tstreet the boldness to realize it belonged and will thrive on this atmosphere.
“It will get just a little redundant enjoying the identical groups each weekend at tournaments, nevertheless it actually ready us nicely for Nationals,” Tanner mentioned.
Tstreet’s path to the title was the toughest of the groups within the quarterfinals, as a result of all the high groups in its approach additionally held seed. Membership V was Tstreet’s first opponent on the ultimate day. The match went three units and was hard-fought from the primary level to the final.
Tstreet subsequent took on high seed TAV within the semifinals, a match Tanner referred to as “objectively essentially the most intense recreation I’ve coached to this point in my profession. I’ve coached on open gold-medal-winning groups, and this recreation felt completely different. We weren’t on a championship courtroom, so we had an enormous crowd proper on us as a result of there wasn’t that house between. It was electrical on and off the courtroom. We got here again from a deficit on the finish of the third with huge performs from participant after participant.”
Tstreet gained, 28-26, 22-25, 16-14, to advance to face AZ Storm within the ultimate. Those self same two groups met within the quarterfinals of 14 Open final 12 months, with Storm prevailing. Tstreet may achieve revenge and win a nationwide championship with one immaculate efficiency.
The gamers, eight of whom have been on the squad that tasted defeat final 12 months, delivered, profitable emphatically, 25-20, 25-16. The group was led at setter by its lone newcomer, Royal Banducci.
“She set an epic match,” mentioned Tanner, who herself gained nationwide championships as a setter. “She saved us in nice rhythm, made medium passes look good, and performed the most effective protection on our group. She had many defensive performs that modified the rhythm of matches and saved our group feeling hopeful.”
Different standouts included middles Katherine Nowak and eighth-grader Megan Hodges and outsides Ella Olson and Kate Jackson. Nowak performed six rotations and contributed in all phases. Hodges was composed for a younger participant and took house away from groups on the internet. Olson is a gamer who led with vitality and took the large swings the group wanted in huge moments. Jackson performed regular for 11 matches and delivered simply as you’d count on her to many times and once more.
Certainly, the championship wouldn’t have been potential with out the contributions of all 9 gamers.
“They got here collectively and battled for 4 days straight,” Tanner mentioned. Each participant had a big impression. The group battled so onerous and put within the work for each match.”
Tanner added that credit score for the title prolonged even past the gamers and coaches.
“It actually took a village,” she defined. “So many individuals poured into this group and it was so particular for an enormous quantity of people who watched their entire journey.”
• 15 Open runner-up AZ Storm stormed by way of its first two swimming pools with out dropping a set. However attending to the championship match took a bodily and emotional toll on Terri Spann’s group. It wanted to win three straight three-set matches, together with 17-15 over Mizuno Lengthy Seaside within the quarters. There merely wasn’t sufficient left within the tank to stick with Tstreet within the championship ultimate.
• For 9 matches, TAV appeared poised to repeat. The Dallas-area squad had dropped just one set – to Membership V – earlier than it took on Tstreet within the semifinals.
“We simply bumped into a really sturdy Tstreet group that was positively very motivated to play in opposition to us,” Nicholson mentioned.
After splitting the primary two units, TAV led 9-5 and 13-11 within the ultimate set to fifteen factors, solely to see Tstreet rally to win.
“Their protection was the distinction down the stretch, and an enormous block gained the match,” Nicholson defined. “We didn’t play nicely, however credit score to them for forcing us into errors and actually difficult our physicality on the internet.”
Standouts for TAV all match lengthy included outdoors Brynn Stephens, setter Sophee Peterson and MB Nyla Livings. Others who contributed to TAV’s success included RS Lexi Martin, middles Onita Davis and Mariah Akinsola, sparkplug OH Gentry Barker and defenders Ansley Shafer and Carsyn Evans. Pin hitter Naomi Livings missed the match because of damage.
“It clearly wasn’t the consequence that we wished, however our season was an enormous success, and the ultimate 4 groups have been separated by only a few performs,” Nicholson mentioned. “Tstreet was in a position to make these performs down the stretch within the shut units.”
Metropolis was the least seemingly of the medal-winning groups to complete on the rostrum. Seeded 24thh to begin, the Southern California squad dropped its first match of the match in straight units to TAV earlier than profitable its subsequent three matches, together with taking two deuce units from OT 15 T Randy, to clinch development.
“We needed to play one in all our greatest matches of the season to get by them, 2-0,” coach Stefanie Wigfall defined. “They have been enjoying for his or her lives after having a really tough Day 1.”
Metropolis used a sweep of A5 15-1 Kelly to propel it to first place in its three-team second pool, then gained a tricky Problem match over Madfrog 15’s Nationwide Inexperienced to get to the quarters, the place it gained a barnburner over WAVE, 15-13 within the third, earlier than falling to Storm within the semis.
The win over WAVE was particularly memorable, as Metropolis trailed 7-0 within the third set earlier than rallying.
Metropolis rode that perception that it may beat anybody to a Recreation 1 win over Storm, “however they uncovered some weaknesses in our protection and from there they took the match,” Wigfall defined.
“It was fairly the trip and so rewarding to come back in as an underdog, catch fireplace and actually play to our full potential,” Wigfall added.
High performers for the squad, included 6-3 RS Eva Jeffries, who was unstoppable; 6-3 setter Piper Chylinski, who set nicely and was aggressive on her dumps; and libero Ella Garner, who performed fantastically all 4 days. Different notables included outsides Halle Bryce and Maya Harris and center Ruby Sampson.
“I’m so happy with this group,” Wigfall concluded. “I believed it might take us a full season to seek out the very best stage of play, however we obtained there on the proper time and I’ve this full group returning- I’m enthusiastic about the way forward for this extraordinarily athletic, bodily and decided group of women. Among the most enjoyable I’ve ever had at Nationals, and it’s large for CITY and these children!!”
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Idaho Crush 15 Bower led a quintet of Membership-level champions.
Crush beat Iowa Rockets 15-R to seize 15 Nationwide.
“It was simply an superior 4 days stuffed with a variety of emotion,” mentioned coach Caroline Bower. “They began just a little sluggish on Day 1, which may have been a catastrophe, however to see their resilience and pure tenacity from that time on going undefeated in the remainder of the match was so enjoyable to see.”
Rachel Bower was named match MVP, with Reese Meier, Eva Wall, McKenna Satterfield and Lyla McClure all making important contributions.
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Three of the opposite 4 Membership champions hailed from Southern California. United 15 Evren and Sunshine 15v Pacific every went 11-0 to win 15 USA and 15 American, respectively. Seal Seaside 15-Black went 10-1 in taking 15 Freedom. Kansas facet Manhattan Mayhem 15P gained 15 Liberty.
• That is my ultimate Dots column for VolleyballMag.com. After a quarter-century protecting the game nationally, from Scholar Sports activities to PrepVolleyball.com to VolleyballMag, it’s time to cross the torch to another person. Thanks to everybody who made this trip so thrilling. I had SO MUCH FUN!
Lastly, due to VolleyballMag editor Lee Feinswog for giving me house on his web site to cowl ladies volleyball and for not protesting an excessive amount of after I mentioned it was time to place the pen and yellow notepad down for good.
Keep on.
Lee right here: Oh, I’m nonetheless protesting. To your readers and the women membership volleyball world, you can’t overstate how vital John has been to our sport. He modified the way in which ladies membership and ladies highschool volleyball was coated. Merely put, John was a pioneer who labored more durable than anybody else, was meticulous to a fault in his protection, and cared greater than most will ever know. His community of relationships with membership administrators and coaches is unimaginable. It is a large loss, however we get it. Thanks, John, for all you’ve carried out, in your professionalism and your friendship.
When you, or somebody you already know, desires to take a crack at filling the void, electronic mail lee@volleyballmag.com
