17s Champions Crowned in Reno

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org

RENO, Nev. (July 1, 2010) – The 17 Open, National and American Divisions at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships concluded play Thursday with the respective gold-medal matches and named their champions Thursday in Reno, Nev.

The 17 Open Division battle for the gold-medal was between fourth-seeded TAV 17 VB Rags Black (North Texas) and the third-seeded Synergy 17 Orange (Keystone).

In the first set, the two squads kept the game close until TAV broke away and tallied a five-point lead, 17-12. Even though Synergy kept fighting, the gap was too large for Synergy to close. TAV won the set 25-15.

The second set started out much like the first with both teams battling back and forth for a moment to break away. That moment, once again, fell in TAV’s favor. The Texas team took an eight-point lead, 13-5. It maintained this distinct lead and won the set 25-14. Much of TAV’s success came from its ability to keep Synergy out of system and its sound, disciplined blocking at the net.

TAV reached the gold-medal match after defeating the top-seed, Vision 17 Gold (Southern California), 25-20, 27-25, in the semifinal.

Synergy defeated second-seeded Premier 17 Mizuno (North Texas) 25-14, 25-21 in the semifinal.

Michigan Elite 3rd Degree (Lakeshore) and Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 (North Country) competed for the title of champion in the 17 National Division. It was a battle of the top-two seeded teams, Elite as the second-seed and Northern Lights as the one-seed.

Elite came out playing like it was the top-seed in the tournament. Everything it did worked to tally a point on the board; whether it was hitting aggressively or playing an off-speed shot, things were falling in their favor. Northern Lights swung aggressively but every time it appeared the ball was going to drop, a player from Elite came in for the dig. Its scrappy defense led them to a 25-17 victory.

Northern Lights came out in the second set more defensive minded and was very sound with their blocking at the net. But once again, things seemed to be clicking for Elite as it took the first distinct lead at 12-7. Even though Northern Lights put up a fighting effort, every time there was a glimmer of a momentum swing in its favor, Elite battled back with a big play. Elite won the set, 25-15.

Northern Lights reached the final after defeating eighth-seeded San Francisco Jrs 17 Roshambo (Northern California) 25-20, 27-25 in the quarterfinal. It then beat fifth-seeded TAV 17 Rags Blue (North Texas) 28-26, 14-25, 15-12 in the semifinal.

Elite defeated the seventh-seed, Rage 17-1 Red (Iowa), 26-24, 25-10, in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, they defeated sixth-seeded Atlantis Pterodactyls (Ohio Valley) 30-28, 25-17.

Competing for the 17 American title was eighth-seeded JJVA 17-N Rox (Florida) and third-seeded FC Elite 17-1 (Badger).

The two squads opened the match battling back and forth for the lead, but smart setting decisions and tough attacking led JJVA to a 25-19 victory. With momentum on its side, JJVA came out swinging hard, serving tough and digging everything that was hit on their side of the court. Once again, strong setting decisions pushed the team ahead of FC Elite to a 25-16 victory.

JJVA defeated the top-seed, Tribe 17 Platinum (Florida), 29-17, 25-16, in the quarterfinal. It then defeated fifth-seeded Southwest 17 ASICS (Lone Star), 25-19, 25-23.

FC Elite defeated sixth-seeded Mo-Mavs 17-1 (Heart of America) 29-27, 25-16 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, it defeated Bakersfield 17-Judy (Southern California) 25-21, 25-20.

Volleyball fans across the nation can see what some of the recruiters are scouting this week, thanks to the Internet. In a partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Volleyball will stream live video of championship matches scheduled between July 1 and July 3 can be viewed live. This schedule includes gold-medal matches in the Open, National and American Divisions for 17s (July 1), 18s (July 2) and 16s (July 3) age groups. To access the stream during the matches, visit usavolleyball.org/live.

For more information on the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships, click here. For all brackets, results and schedules, click here.

Click here for the complete Schedule.

USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships
12 National: Gold - Borinquen Coqui 12-1F (Puerto Rico), Silver - I Mua Girls 12s (Aloha), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 12 Blue (Heart of America) and WAVE 12 Jade Spalding (Southern California)
12 American: Gold - Club West 12 Elite (Southern California), Silver - Laguna Beach 12 Gaido (Southern California, Bronze - SG Elite 12 Roshambo (Southern California) and Excel 12 Elite National (North Texas)
13 National: Gold - SG Elite 13 Roshambo (Southern California), Silver - ASICS MAVS 13 Blue (Heart of America), Bronze - Arizona Sky 13N1 (Arizona) and WAVE 13 Katie Spalding (Southern California)
13 American: Gold - Rockwood Thunder 13-1 (Gateway), Silver - Team Piko 13 (Aloha), Bronze - Iowa Rockets 13 Black (Iowa) and Mizuno Long Beach 13 Mizuno (Southern California)
14 Open: Gold - Delta Valley 14-1 (Northern California), Silver - Miz LB 14 Rockstar (Southern California), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 14 Blue (Heart of America) and TAV 14 VB Rags Black (North Texas)
14 National: Gold - Ka Ulukoa 14 Wekiu (Aloha), Silver - City Beach 14 Black (Northern California), Bronze - Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 (North Country) and Amarillo Aces 14-1 (Sun Country)
14 American: Gold - Nike Six Pack 14-1 (Iowa), Silver - NKYVC 14 Tsunami (Ohio Valley), Bronze - So Cal Elite 14-Elite (Southern California) and Coast 14-1 Luis (Northern California)
15 Open: Gold - Invasion 15 Black (Heart of America), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 15-1 (North Country), Bronze - STL CYC 15 Green (Gateway) and TAV 15 VB Rags Blue (North Texas)
15 National: Gold - City Beach 15 Black (Northern California), Silver - Tejas 15 Kaepa 1 (North Texas), Bronze - Synergy 15 Orange (Keystone) and Black Swamp 15 Orwig (Ohio Valley)
15 American: Gold - Vision Zone 15 Elite (Northern California), Silver - Club West 15 Elite (Southern California), Bronze - Lakewood Performance 15 (Rocky Mountain) and Springfield 15 Blue (Heart of America)
All Girls’ 16 Divisions: June 30- July 3
17 Open: Gold - TAV 17 VB Rags Black (North Texas), Silver - Synergy 17 Orange (Keystone), Bronze - Vision 17 Gold (Northern California) and Premier 17 Mizuno (Northern California)
17 National: Gold - Michigan Elite 3rd Degree 17-1 (Lakeshore), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 (North Country), Bronze - TAV 17 VB Rags Blue (North Texas) and Atlantis Pterodactyls (Ohio Valley)
All Girls’ 18 Divisions: June 29- July 2

Tags: USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships