Balboa Bay, Puerto Rico Take 16s Gold at BJNC

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

MINNEAPOLS, Minn. (July 5, 2011) –Balboa Bay 16 Quiksilver (Southern California) and Vaqueros 16-1  (Puerto Rico) captured the 16 Open and 16 Club Division titles, respectively, Tuesday afternoon at the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships held at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The 2011 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, which began on June 29, concludes on Wednesday with the 17 Open and 17 Club championships.

In the 16 Open division, seventh-seeded Balboa Bay rallied in both sets to defeat No. 16 seeded Huntington Beach Club 16-Adam (Southern California) 25-23, 27-17 in the gold-medal match.  HBC had early control of the first set with an 8-3 run. Balboa Bay then held HBC to one point with a six-point jump to keep the set within one. The score reached 10-all when Balboa Bay took charge. HBC called a timeout after trailing 17-15. Miscommunication and unforced errors caused HBC to take a 21-18 deficit. On its second set point, Balboa Bay’s Jimmy Webb earned Balboa Bay the set victory at 25-23.

Balboa Bay had control of the second set with a 10-5 start, maintaining a five-point lead for most of the time. HBC continued to swing with long attack errors giving Balboa Bay a steady increase on the scoreboard. HBC’s Michael Such showed his offensive talents by finding an open gap and capitalizing on it, bringing the game to 23-16. Match point was set at 24-17 when Balboa Bay’s Kevin Rakestraw recorded a kill to seal the gold-medal victory at 25-17.

Balboa Bay, which had also defeated HBC in the third round, defeated SCVC 16 Quiksilver (Southern California) to 25-22, 25-23 to earn a spot in the championship match. HBC topped Shorebreak 16 Mikasa G (Southern California 24-26, 25-22, 15-7 in its semifinal match to advance to the title match. SCVC finished the tournament by defeating Shorebreak 25-23, 17-25, 16-14 in the bronze-medal match. 

In the 16 Club division, top-seeded Vaqueros defeated No. 8 seeded High Line 16 Black (Southern California) 25-14, 25-22 to capture the gold medal. Vaqueros was dominant in all aspects of the game, capitalizing on its speed and hitting power. The first set finished at 25-14 after a brief discussion between referees on the ball’s landing placement.

High Line’s weakness seemed to be unforced errors due to attacks continually slapping the top of the net tape. High Line kept the second set closer getting within two with an ace from Daniel Lockett to bring the set to 8-6. At the 15-9 point both teams were on the ground more often than not, diving for tough balls off the hits of the opposing team. A ball dropped short and a rotation error for Puerto Rico brought High Line back within two at 16-12. A High Line service error gave Vaqueros its first match point, but a service error elongated play. Ricardo Rodriguez ended the match with a kill securing the top spot in the 16 Club division with a 25-22 finish.

Vaqueros reached the title match by defeating Gigantes 16 (Puerto Rico) 25-19, 22-25, 15-7 in the semifinal round. Vaqueros had won 11 consecutive matches to end the tournament after opening with a three-set loss to NVC B16-Quiksilver (Great Lakes). High Line, whose only two losses in the tournament were to Vaqueros, topped SG 16 Black (Southern California) 25-19, 25-22 in the semifinal round. Gigantes ended the bronze with a 25-18, 25-21 victory over SG 16 Black.

Both the 17 Club and 17 Open division medal matches will take place Wednesday on the Championship Court in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The matches will be streamed live at www.usavolleyball.org/live.

For up-to-date results and upcoming schedules for the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, click here. For more information on the tournament, visit http://usavolleyball.org/events/4872.

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2011 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships Results
12 Club: Gold - Vaqueros 12-1 (Puerto Rico); Silver - Outrigger Red B12 (Aloha); Bronze - Gigantes 12G (Puerto Rico)
13 Club: Gold - WA Lightning B13 (Badger); Silver - SCVA 13 Qs (Southern California); Bronze -Ku’Ikahi 13W RoShamBo (Aloha)
14 Club: Gold - Gigantes (Puerto Rico); Silver - Pitirres (Puerto Rico); Bronze - Vaqueros (Puerto Rico)
14 Open: Gold - Halcones de Torrimar (Puerto Rico); Silver - SMBC 14-Black (Southern California);Bronze - PAC RIM (Northern California)
15 Club: Gold - Vaqueros (Puerto Rico); Silver - Gigantes (Puerto Rico); Bronze - Caciques (Puerto Rico) 
15 Open: Gold Ka Ulukoa (Aloha); Silver - Borinquen (Puerto Rico); Bronze - MB Surf (Southern California)
16 Club: Gold - Vaqueros (Puerto Rico); Silver - High Line (southern California); Bronze - Gigantes 16 (Puerto Rico)
16 Open: Gold - Balboa Bay (Southern California); Silver - HBC (Southern California); Bronze - SCVC (Southern California)
17 Club: Finals on July 6
17 Open: Finals on July 6
18 Club: Gold - Spectrum 18s (Southern California); Silver - APV 18-Errea (Arizona); Bronze -Borinquen Coqui (Puerto Rico) (Southern California)
18 Open: Gold - Balboa Bay 18 Quiksilver (Southern California); Silver - SMBC 18-Black (Southern California); Bronze - HLVBC 18-Black (Southern California)

Tags: 2011 Boys' Junior National Championships, USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships