July 4 Brings USAV GJNC to a Finale

Candice Kasischke
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: candice.kasischke@usav.org

ATLANTA (July 4, 2011) - The USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships, which has been taking place since June 25, concluded competition on Independence Day with the final gold-medal matches in the 16 Open, 16 National and 16 American Divisions.

Kristin Sessler, (Fremont, Ohio), most valuable player of the 16 National Division gold-winning Blackswamp 16 Cordova, feels that ending the tournament with a gold medal marks this July 4 as a holiday her team will never forget.

“It is hard being away from our families, but they are watching it at home,” Sessler said. “It is a great way to end the tournament by being able to go back to them. This will be a holiday that our team and our Ohana, which means family in Hawaiian, will always remember.”

Morgan Patterson (Marietta, Ga.), a participant of the 16 American Division gold-winning A5 Mizuno 161 Gabe, felt that ending both the tournament and the team’s season on July 4 was a great way to close out.

“We had so much adrenaline and it was a great way to end our season,” Patterson said. “It was unreal to be named as National Champions and to get gold medals with the red, white and blue on the band, especially on such an important day in our country. The way everything worked out is actually pretty amazing.”

Frankie Shebby (Long Beach, Calif.), a member of the 16 Open Division gold-winning Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar, felt that her team came together on this holiday.

“It was amazing to have our play end on July 4,” Shebby said. “We have been through a lot and we really came together and played our best on the court today. We accomplished the dream and it is an amazing feeling.”

USA Volleyball Senior Event Manager Kristy Cox felt that the 2011 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships was a great success.

“It was another successful tournament with many deserving winners,” Cox said. “We would like to thank the city of Atlanta for being such a great host.”

USA Volleyball Competition Committee member Scott McQueen felt that the tournament brought fantastic competition this year and hopes next year’s tournament will grow even more.

“Atlanta was great city for USA Volleyball,” McQueen said. “There was great weather, great competition and the tournament ran very smoothly. This year’s competition seemed to be more competitive than ever, as proven in the number of three-set matches. The kids seemed to enjoy the competition and hopefully next year’s tournament will grow on the success from this tournament.”

All USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships gold-medal matches were video streamed live at http://usavolleyball.org/live. All USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships (BJNC) medal matches except 13 Club will be streamed and accessed through the same URL. The BJNC started June 29 and continues through July 6.

For USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships results, click here. For more information on the tournament, visit http://usavolleyball.org/events/4873.

Visit www.usavolleyball.org and become a fan of USA Volleyball's Facebook page for all the latest news. Fans are encouraged to share their family-friendly pictures on the USA Volleyball Facebook page.

USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Results

12 National: Gold- Borinquen Coqui 12-1F (Puerto Rico); Silver- ASICS MAVS 12 Blue (Heart of America); Bronze- Wave 12 Casey (Southern California) and MadFrog 12s Lewellen (North Texas)
12 American: Gold - Starlings-Monrovia 12 (Southern California); Silver – Victory 12 Elite (North Texas); Bronze – Alamo 12 Kaepa (Lone Star) and Laguna Beach 12 Gaido (Southern California)
13 National: Gold - Borinquen Coquir 13-1F (Puerto Rico); Silver - ASICS MAVS 13 Blue (Heart of America); Bronze - Madfrog 13s NAT STEF (North Texas) and Nebraska Elite 13 Thunder (Great Plains)
13 American: Gold - Club West 13- National (Southern California); Silver - Xtreme 13 Black (Lone Star); Bronze – Seal Beach 13-Tony (Southern California) and Premier 13 Gold (Great Plains)
14 Open: Gold – Cleveland Volleyball Company 14 Black (Ohio Valley); Silver – Mizuno Long Beach 14 Rockstar (Southern California); Bronze – OVA 14 Asics (Florida) and Nebraska Elite 14 Mayhem (Great Plains)
14 National: Gold – Team Piko 14 Ho’omau (Aloha); Silver – Coast 14-1 Luis (Southern California); Bronze – Iowa Rockets (Iowa) and Blackswamp 14 Orwig (Ohio Valley)
14 American: Gold – Texas Image 14 Mizuno (North Texas); Silver – Sunshine 14 South Bay (Southern California); Bronze – Pinellas Heat 14 Elite (Florida) and Woodlands Wave 14UA (Lone Star)
15 Open: Gold - Northern Lights 15-1 (North Country); Silver - TAV 15 VB Rags Black (North Texas); Bronze – City Beach 15 Black (Northern California) and Woodlands Wave 15UA (Lone Star)
15 National: Gold – Blackswamp 15 Oberst (Ohio Valley); Silver - Miami Elite Blue 15 (Florida); Bronze- Ultimate G15 Gold (Great Lakes) and ASICS MAVS 15 Molten (Heart of America)
15 American: Gold – AZ Sky 15 Magic (Arizona); Silver – Iowa Rockets 15R (Iowa); Bronze - Cincy Classics 15 Red (Ohio Valley) and River City Juniors 151 (Great Plains)
16 Open: Gold- Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar (Southern California); Silver- Northern Lights 16-1 (North Country); Bronze- OVA 16 Asics (Florida) and St. Louis CYC 16 Green (Gateway)
16 National: Gold- Blackswamp Cordova (Ohio Valley); Silver- NCVC Black 16-1 (Northern California); Bronze- Circle City 16 Purple (Hoosier) and Tsunami 16-Jing (Southern)
16 American: Gold- A5 Mizuno 161 Gabe (Southern); Silver- Austin Juniors Volleyball 16 Mizuno (Lone Star); Bronze- Mintonette- m.61 Rox (Ohio Valley) and Uno Girls 16 Elite (Great Lakes)
17 Open: Gold- Austin Junior Volleyball 17 Mizuno (Lonestar); Silver- A5 Mizuno 171 Heidi (Southern); Bronze- Club Red 17 Mizuno (Arizona) and Invasion 17-Black (Heart of America)
17 National: Gold- Orange County 17Blue (Southern California); Silver- Northern Lights 17-2 (Northern); Bronze- Alliance 17 Mizuno (Southern) and Iowa Rockets 17R (Iowa)
17 American: Gold- Instinct 17 Tigers N (North Texas); Silver- NorthShore Wood (Ohio Valley); Bronze- Alamo 17 Kaepa (Lone Star) and Nebraska Elite 17 Edge (Great Plains)
18 Open: Gold- Sports Shack 18-ASICS (Southern California); Silver- Synergy 18 Orange (Keystone); Bronze- Coast 18-1 (Southern California) and Vision 18 Gold (Northern California)
18 National: Gold- Six Pack 18 (Iowa); Silver- Surf City 18 Craig (Southern California); Bronze- Imi Ike 18s (Aloha) and ECJ 18 Elite (Ohio Valley)
18 American: Gold- Santa Barbara 18Smack (Southern California); Silver- Alamo 18 Kaepa (Lone Star); Bronze- Jamba 18 Tom (Southern California) and Fond Du Lac Fusion 18 (Badger)

Tags: 2011 Girls' Junior National Championships, junior, Junior Nationals, Juniors, USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships