MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (May 28, 2017) – The USA Volleyball Open National Championships for adult competitors crowned 12 champions Sunday afternoon in various age and skill levels at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota.
Men’s AA
Legion (Southern California) and Southside Bangers (Great Lakes) excited the standing room only crowd in the Men’s AA Division finals, but it was Legion who walked off the court with the gold medal with a 25-23, 23-25, 15-11 victory. Legion ended the tournament with an 8-1 record, which included three wins over the silver medalists. Southside Bangers, which also lost to Legion in the winner’s bracket semifinals 25-18, 18-25, 15-13, defeated bronze-medalist Luau Chicago (Great Lakes) 25-23, 25-23 to advance to the title match. Legion’s Joshua Tuaniga was named the Men’s AA most valuable player.
Men’s A
Team CORE (Badger) won the Men’s A Division, though it was forced to play an extra set to take the gold. In the finals, silver medalist Team Bear Claw (Iowa) came back from the loser’s bracket and earned a 29-31, 25-23, 15-10 victory over Team CORE forcing the extra set. However, Team CORE rebounded with a 25-21 victory in the golden set and finished the tournament with an 8-2 record. Team Bear Claw, which beat bronze medalist NFVB Crank Blasters (Western Empire) 23-25, 27-25, 15-13 in the loser’s bracket finals, ended the tournament 7-2. The Men’s A Division most valuable player was Kyle Buckley of Team CORE.
Men’s 45s
Balboa Bay 45 (Southern California) captured the Men’s 45s Division with a 25-17, 26-24 victory over Fog Canada 45 Men in the gold-medal match. Balboa Bay went undefeated in the competition and not losing a single set in nine matches. Brazil’s Pro Combat/Botafogo finished with the bronze medal after Fog Canada 45 won its play-back match 25-18, 25-18. Lloy Ball, a four-time Olympian and 2008 gold medalist with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team, was awarded the Men’s 45 Division most valuable player.
Men’s 55s
Kings Mountain Fog 55 (Northern California) topped Western States Laguna (Southern California) 25-22, 23-25, 15-11 in the Men’s 55s Division title match to earn gold. Kings Mountain Fog 55 went undefeated in seven matches, including four victories that went the full three sets. Fog Canada 55s earned bronze after losing to Western States Laguna 25-17, 25-10 in the loser’s bracket final. Pat Ryan of Kings Mountain Fog 55 was selected the Men’s 55 Division most valuable player.
Men’s 65s
Sao Paulo Masters 65M (Brazil) captured the Men’s 65s Division by defeating Kings Mountain Fog 65 (Northern California) 25-14, 25-18 in the division finals. Sao Paulo Masters 65M finished the tournament with an 8-0 record and was extended to a third set only once – that by silver medalist Kings Mountain Fog 65 in the second round playoffs. Quiksilver Legends 65 (Southern California) earned the bronze medal after falling to Kings Mountain Fog 65 in three the loser’s bracket final, 18-25, 25-17, 15-3. Sao Paulo Masters 65M’s Gerson Oliveira was chosen most valuable player of the Men’s 65 Division.
Men’s 73s
Rustys 73 (Columbia Empire) needed an extra set to clinch the Men’s 73 Division, but they will take the gold any way they can. The champions lost to silver medalist Outback Steakhouse 73 (Puget Sound) 23-25, 25-17, 15-11 in the final match forcing a golden set with Outback came through the loser’s bracket. In the deciding set, Rustys 73 came back to win 25-20 for the title. TeamSota (North County) gained the bronze medal after losing to Outback Steakhouse 73 25-22, 11-25, 15-11 in the loser’s bracket final. Rusty 73’s Gary Pfingsten was named the Men’s 73 Division most valuable player.
Men’s 78s
In the oldest age group of the tournament, MAC Magic 78 (Chesapeake Region) won the Men’s 78s Division by defeating Highlanders 79 (Rocky Mountain) 25-18, 25-13 in the gold-medal match. With the victory, MAC Magic 78 (8-1) avenged its only loss of the tournament as Highlanders 79 won 25-17, 25-19 in the second round of pool play. Rusty 78 (Columbia Empire) took home the bronze after falling to Highlanders 79 25-13, 22-25, 15-12 in the loser’s bracket. Mickey Maguire of MAC Magic 78 was named the most valuable player of the Men’s 78 Division.
Women’s AA
CU ‘Olden Bears (North Country) swept Blue Ballers (North Texas) in the Women’s AA finals to earn gold. CU ‘Olden Bears ended the tournament with an 8-0 record, and that included four matches going the full three sets and defeating the silver medalists Blue Ballers 24-26, 25-18, 15-8 in the winner’s bracket semifinals. Angry Beavers (Rocky Mountain) finished the tournament with the bronze medal after falling to Blue Ballers 21-25, 25-22, 15-13 in the loser’s bracket final. Ellie Duffy of CU ‘Olden Bears was chosen the Women’s AA most valuable player.
Women’s A
Team Bison (North Country) swept Spank (Badger) 25-21, 25-13 in the Women’s A Division finals to claim gold. Team Bison went undefeated in 10 tournament matches and was extended to three sets just once. Spank defeated bronze medalists Foxy Ladies (Gateway) 25-20, 22-25, 15-9 in the loser’s bracket final. Jennifer Lopez of Team Bison earned the Women’s A most valuable player honor.
Women’s 40s
In an all-Canadian Women’s 40s final, Fog Canada Masters 40 defeated Winnipeg Fog to win the gold medal – but needed an extra set to do so. Fog Canada Masters 40 won the match 25-21, 25-19, but needed to win the golden set 25-15 as it came from back from loser’s bracket to win the title. Winnipeg Fog, which arrived in the title match undefeated, had beat Fog Canada Masters 40 25-19, 23-25, 15-10 in the second round for the champion’s only loss of the tournament. San Diego Beaches (Southern California) earned the bronze medal. Patrice Arrington of Fog Canada Masters 40 was selected as the most valuable player of the Women’s 40 Division.
Women’s 50s
Panama Jack San Diego (Southern California) rallied from the loser’s bracket a set down in the championship match to capture the Women’s 50 Division. They defeated Fog Canada Masters 50 22-25, 25-16, 15-13 in the title match, then won the golden set 25-20 to win the gold medal. Fog Canada Masters was undefeated entering the championship match, including a 25-22, 26-24 victory over Panama Jack San Diego in the winner’s bracket semifinals – the only loss for the Southern California team. B.A.D. (Northern California) earned the bronze medal after Panama Jack San Diego wont 25-22, 25-15 in the loser’s bracket final. Panama Jack San Diego’s Cathy Noth claimed the Women’s 50 Division most valuable player.
Women’s 60s
Brasil Mix-60 fended off WWConnect-60 (Rocky Mountain) to win the Women’s 60s Division, but it did not come easy. WWConnect-60 rallied to win the finals match 16-25, 26-24, 15-13 handing Brasil Mix-60 its only loss of the tournament in seven matches. Since WWConnect-60 was coming up through the loser’s bracket, was unable to win the golden set with Brasil Mix-60 winning 25-8. Juliane Sperandio of Brasil Mix-60 earned the Women’s 60s Division most valuable player award.
Special Olympics
The Special Olympics Division as broken into three brackets. GA Henry County Gladiators won the Red Bracket by defeating Wisconsin Bad-Pack 26-24, 25-21 in the finals. Flyers ’17 won the Blue Bracket with a 26-24, 25-20 win over Ohio Madison Tigers. The Ohio Superstars won the White Pool with a 2-0 record.
The Open has 15 division crown yet to be determined. The Men’s and Women’s Open Division titles will be settled on May 30, while Men’s and Women’s BB and B, Men’s 40s, Men’s 50s, Men’s 60, Men’s 70s, Women’s 45s, Women’s 55s and Women’s 65s will have finals on May 31.
Sport Court is the official athletic flooring for the USA Volleyball Open National Championships.
2017 USA Volleyball Open National Championships Medal Winner Recap (through May 28)
Men’s AA: Gold – Legion (Southern California); Silver – Southside Bangers (Great Lakes); Bronze – Luau Chicago (Great Lakes)
Men’s A: Gold – Team Core (Badger); Silver – Team Bear Claw (Iowa); Bronze – NFVB Crank Blasters (Western Empire)
Men’s 45s: Gold – Balboa Bay 45 (Southern California); Silver – Fog Canada 45 Men (Canada); Bronze – Pro Combat/Botafogo (Brazil)
Men’s 55s: Gold – Kings Mountain Fog 55 (Northern California); Silver – Western States Laguna (Southern California); Bronze – Fog Canada 55s (Canada)
Men’s 65s: Gold – Sao Paulo Masters 65M (Brazil); Silver – Kings Mountain Fog 65 (Northern California); Bronze – Quiksilver Legends 65 (Southern California)
Men’s 73s: Gold – Rustys 73 (Columbia Empire); Silver – Outback Steakhouse 73 (Puget Sound); Bronze – TeamSota (North Country)
Men’s 78s: Gold – MAC Magic 78 (Chesapeake); Silver – Highlanders 79 (Rocky Mountain); Bronze – Rusty 78 (Columbia Empire)
Women’s AA: Gold – CU ‘Olden Bears (North Country); Silver – Blue Ballers (North Texas); Bronze – Angry Beavers (Rocky Mountain)
Women’s A: Gold – Team Bison (North Country), Silver – Spank (Badger), Bronze – Foxy Ladies (Gateway)
Women’s 40s: Gold – Fog Canada Masters 40 (Canada); Silver – Winnipeg Fog (Canada); Bronze – San Diego Beaches (Southern California)
Women’s 50s: Gold – Panama Jack San Diego (Southern California); Silver – Fog Canada Masters 50 (Canada); B.A.D. (Northern California)
Women’s 60s: Gold – Brasil Mix-60; Silver – WWConnect-60 (Rocky Mountain); Bronze – BLT (Northern California)