2026 Week 3 - Tournament Recaps

Juniors Winter Classic hosted a majority of our teams but we also had teams at 1 day events. Tough competition and one of our teams is on a hot streak! Can you guess who it is??

10 RED

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11 RED

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12 RED

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12-1 BOYS

Our team stepped up—literally—by playing in an older, more competitive division on a higher net with a heavier ball, and they proved they absolutely belonged on that court. From the first serve to the final whistle, the boys showed grit, teamwork, and a level of composure well beyond their years. We started off strong against Club W 14 Black sweeping the match 25-21 and 25-14.  Our 2nd match in pool play brought a tougher challenge - CCVBC 14-2's had stronger serves and taller players.  After winning the first set 25-13, we dropped the second set 20-25 forcing a third set that would determine which team would advance to the Gold Bracket.  The boys stepped on the court with confidence and poise and came out on top in the third set 15-7. 

The first match of the Gold Bracket came against a few familiar faces from our competitions last year - Southport 14 Blue.  They came out ready to play and caught us a bit off guard with some strong service runs.  We found our footing and gained momentum.  We won the first set 25-23 and settled in the second set, winning 25-17 sending us to the championship! The final was a thriller: three sets, huge rallies, clutch serves, and every player contributing. In the deciding set, the boys fought point for point before falling in a heartbreaking 14–16 finish.

Even in the loss, they walked away with something bigger—confidence, pride, and proof that they can compete with anyone. Their effort, attitude, and resilience were outstanding.  

This group is growing fast, and weekends like this show just how high their ceiling really is. On to the next challenge - Brew City Battle this coming weekend!

13 RED

The team participated in the Winter Classic this past weekend in the 13 Open/Premier division with a nice seed and a path to the Gold Bracket on day 2.  We started the morning a bit sluggish and spent as much effort getting ourselves out of our own way as we did competing against our opponents.  While the sets were close in terms of score (19-25, 20-25), too many unforced errors were as much to play in the result as our opponent's (Sky High Elite) offense.  After a reffing break, and a discussion about expected levels of effort and engagement, we proceeded to get more cohesive and focused.  The results were more convincing sweeps over VC United Elite and MOD Elite.  This put us in 2nd place in the pool, and an opening round match in Gold against Sting Black on Sunday morning.

On day 2, we did come out more fired up and the effort was much better.  However, we just weren't able to rediscover the offensive groove we left Saturday afternoon with.  The sets were very tight early, with leads going back-and-forth, but ultimately we were swept in a competitive match.  We were in a much better rhythm offensively, as the match wore on, but their floor defense was just a bit better than ours.  However, the loss was not discouraging and it reinforced that this was a team we can certainly beat.  We then ended the day against a NIVA Purple for Indiana and came out on absolute fire!  We won 25-13, but it felt like a larger margin given our serving prowess and consistent in-system play.  This gave us incredible momentum going into set 2, but that proved to be short-lived.  We struggled mightily with communication, consistent effort, and desire.  We were able to pull off the sweep with a 26-24 set 2 win, which placed us in 5th for the weekend.

As we turn towards February events, the focus, in addition to already mentioned competing at all times, will be consistent effort that is truly needed to do that.  The talent is here, and the experience is here; now we need to step up the intensity and enthusiasm.  When we do that, the team can do some pretty remarkable and exciting things.

Also, Olivia Harry and Jaidyn Alexander exhibited some nice flashes of what our offense can bring from the right side!  Overall, we had many more positive plays and stretches, and that shows the coaches, players, and parents, what we are capable of!  Gotta keep pushing for that!

14 BLACK

The I AM 14 Black squad took to the courts this past weekend for the Winter Classic, facing a field of high-caliber competition. It was a weekend defined by grit, close sets, and valuable experience for the team as they battled through pool play into the Silver Bracket.

Day 1: Pool Play Battles

The opening day was a roller coaster of momentum, highlighted by a strong start and several nail-biting finishes.

Match 1 vs. Kokoro 14-1: The team came out firing, securing a straight-set victory (25-15, 25-23). Their ability to maintain composure in a tight second set set a positive tone for the morning.

Match 2 vs. NIVA 14 Purple: I AM 14 Black ran into a tough NIVA squad, falling 12-25, 19-25. Despite the loss, the team showed improvement in the second set, finding their rhythm against a heavy-hitting opponent.

Match 3 vs. OVBC 14 Purple: This was the match of the day—a three-set thriller. After taking the first set 25-23, I AM narrowly dropped the second by the same margin. The tie-breaker went to OVBC (10-15), but the match proved that 14 Black can go toe-to-toe with the best in the region.

Day 2: Silver Bracket

Moving into the bracket phase, the team looked to capitalize on the growth shown during Day 1.

Semi-Final vs. Sky High Adidas 14 Onyx: I AM started strong, winning the first set 25-20. However, Sky High found their footing in the second and third, eventually taking the match (18-25, 5-15).

9th Place Game vs. Kokoro 14-1: In a rematch of the tournament opener, I AM 14 Black fought hard but couldn't replicate their Day 1 magic, falling 13-25, 22-25 to finish the weekend.

Key Takeaways

While the win-loss column doesn't tell the whole story, the I AM 14 Black players showed significant heart. Five of their sets this weekend were decided by just two or three points, proving that they are just a few plays away from swinging the momentum in their favor. This experience against elite clubs like Sky High and NIVA will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for the rest of the season.

15 RED

Winter Classic was a great test of strength and will this weekend. Our team lived up to the hype day one with the 1 seed in our pool and the 5th seed overall. Two great matches took place as we bested Sky High 15 Black in 3 close sets. Staying disciplined with our game plan and keeping pressure on their team. Midwest Penguins was the next match it is always great to play WI teams to see how we stack up. We were able to take that in 2 with an overpowered offense.

This led to our crossover match against Sky High 15 Elite who won their crossover match to play us to make it to Gold! Pure grit and will power against a tall tough serving team that made us 100% lock in on serve receive to keep them at bay. We were able to win 27-25 and 25-23 in a nail bitting match!

We punched our tick to gold. Little did we know going in, this would be a learning day. We went 0-2 on Sunday. Match one against New Wave showed us that the level we want to be at, we cannot take any team or point for granted. We couldn't string plays together and when it came to siding out, we would always get it done on our 2nd try. At that rate, New Wave was tacking on 2 points to our 1. Lost pretty good but ready to move on. We got to play 1st Alliance 15 Silver in a great match to end our day. We lost in 3 but nothing to hang our heads on. They made plays and we didn't towards the end.

Very happy with the overall performance and even more excited about this season as we are working on a special project to share in the next week or two! :)

15 BLACK

A wonderfully cold and snowy Saturday with an early start in downtown Milwaukee.  15 Black continues to challenge themselves with a higher level of play each week.  This week we had a focus on Line shots, minimizing service errors and improving our front row defense.

Starting with Rapid Fire 15 Blue, served aggressively to keep opponents out of system.  Zoe and Elizibeth led the offence with 15 kills while Jovie anchored the Defense with 19 digs.  Team total of 6 service errors out of 50 attempts.  We stumbled a little bit with our serve receive in the second set, but kept focus and finished with a win in 2. 

Next up was Nivia Black.  Again strong serving led the way - with 11 aces.  Zoe earned her second Ace pin of the year with 5 Aces in this match.  Out kill total also increased with 19 led by Sophia with 5.  Another win in 2 sets. 

Last match of the day was against 1st Alliance White.  Another tall team, but this group did not back down.   While we dropped the match with a 2 set loss, we scrambled and fought hard against a team that would go on to play in the finals for our division.  I heard their coach after the match say “we almost lost to that team, they could have easily beat us, their scrappy play should be a guide - never quit”  (Or something like that)

Finishing 2-1 in pool play, put us in the Silver bracket and another cold and early start.   At least there was no snow.   We had our first and only 3 set match of the weekend in a battle with Mod Elite Gold.  Edie led the offense with 8 kills and only 1 error.   Strong serving was not enough to carry us thorough, but continued scrappy defense kept us in the match.   A little bit of a mental letdown at the final few points of the match, but another great fight from 15 Black.

Final match of the day was against Team One Onyx.   Zoe, Elizabeth and Sophia combined for 11 of our 15 kills in the match.  Eloise picked up 10 digs during the match.  We finished the day with a 2 set win.   

Lots of tired bodies when we finished the weekend.   Shout out to Zoe for another Ace pin, Eloise for having a heck of a defensive day on Sunday and to Jovie who stepped into a hitter role for several of our matches this weekend.   As stated in the beginning we were attempting to be diligent about our hit selection - the team exceed their goal of more than 10 kills down the line, with Zoe and Edie leading that charge.  We held our serve errors lower than our Ace count and increased our blocking totals to 28 total blocks. 

In addition to the Ace pin, Grace and Sophia each earned 2 Overpass Kill pins.  Well done ladies.  

16 BLACK

What a weekend of grit and growth for this team. Day 1 tested us right out of the gate against tough competition. Gianna came up with incredible saves that kept us in rallies, Emily stepped up in a big way; our middle performed exceptionally well on defense while serving in the absence of the libero and Aubryn was the silent hero in the back row, calm, steady, and exactly what we needed. We wrapped up Day 1 at 1–2, battle-tested and determined.

Day 2 showed the heart of this group. Every match went to three sets, played back-to-back, and the team never backed down. Grace lit up the court with her hitting, bringing energy and momentum when it mattered most, Leah and Abby played with steady confidence while McKinley’s positive attitude helped keep everyone motivated. We ultimately fell short in the semifinals, but the effort, resilience, and teamwork displayed all weekend were something to be proud of. This team continues to grow, and the future is bright.

17 RED

his weekend 17 Red was at the Baird center in Milwaukee for the Winter Classic. The girls started saturday off strong going 3-0, having a fast start to every game. Sunday they won their challenge match and headed to Gold. The girls fell short to Sting Gold in the finals, placing second in the 17/18 open division. 

The girls proved themselves to not inly us coaches but to each other that they belong in the the fast paced, tough competition tournament. The best match they played was against Kokoro. This team is a great team with some tall players but that didn't scare them. 17 red went into it giving it there all. They played as a whole unit with everything firing on all cylinders. 

Next up: power league! 

17 BLACK

17 Black competed in the 17/18 Premiere Division at Winter Classic. After losing a player in the first match of the tournament, the team was reduced to eight available players. Summer Wille was called upon to play out of position as a six-rotation outside hitter. During pool play, the team demonstrated strong effort and finished with a 2-1 record. On Day 2, the players competed in a highly competitive match against SWVBC 17 Blue, taking the first set 25-13, narrowly losing the second set 22-25, and narrowly falling in the third set 15-17. The team showed resilience and determination, battling back to tie the third set at 14-14 before ultimately concluding the match in defeat. Despite the Day 2 opening loss, the team competed in the Copper Bracket and performed strongly against Rapid Fire 17 Black and CI Elite 17 Red, controlling both matches from the opening serve.

Throughout the weekend, this team displayed exceptional volleyball, competing in every match. They finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, winning the Copper Bracket, and placed 13th overall out of 27 teams. The team totaled 61 aces, led by Maliyah Tuszkiewicz (18 aces, 94% serve accuracy), Leilah Prichard (11 aces), and Abby Barthelemy (92% serve accuracy). Offensively, Amary Dione (56 assists) and Maliyah Tuszkiewicz (50 assists) spearheaded the team attack, led by Leilah Prichard (2.36 kills per set), Stella Fernald (.240 attack percentage, 1.86 kills per set), Ruby Fernald (.210 attack percentage), and Summer Wille (1.86 kills per set). Defensively, Abby Barthelemy (57 digs), Summer Wille (54 digs), Amary Dione (50 digs, 4 successful pancakes), and Leilah Prichard (48 digs) contributed significantly to the team's defensive strength.

This team continues to develop both individually and collectively, consistently supporting one another throughout every point and match. I am incredibly proud of these players and their growth as a team.

18 RED

The Windy City U18 Qualifier was a weekend full of high-level volleyball, and adversity. Over three days, 18 Red played eight very competitive matches and earned five impressive wins against strong opponents from across the country. The girls met every challenge with toughness, resilience, and togetherness.

Day one set the tone. We came out confident and focused, going 3–0 and playing some of our most complete volleyball of the season. Communication was strong, effort was consistent, and the girls trusted each other in big moments, including a win over a team that would go on to finish fifth in the tournament.

Day two tested us more. We went loss–win–loss, with both losses coming in tight matches against teams that would go on to finish second and third in the tournament - a clear reflection of how competitive the pool was. The response in between was outstanding: the girls bounced back and won convincingly against a team that had beaten one of the teams we lost to. Disciplined volleyball and staying connected allowed us to quickly regain momentum.

Day three delivered one of the most memorable wins of the weekend. We faced a very tall, physical team from Texas and found ourselves behind late in both sets, but 18 Red refused to panic. We stayed composed, executed under pressure, and pulled out a huge win, 25–23, 28–26. In that match, Taylor and Laila delivered their best offensive performances of the tournament, each recording five kills while hitting above .500 and providing a major boost when it mattered most.

This weekend also captured what being a true student-athlete looks like. One player traveled back and forth to attend her varsity basketball games, while another had to leave early due to her basketball commitments. Despite constant adjustments and disrupted routines, 18 Red stayed mature, supported one another, and continued to compete at a high level.

The individual performances throughout the weekend reflected the collective effort. Anya led the offense with 50 kills, averaging three kills per set, while Alayna added 35 and Grace contributed 26. Serving was a major strength all tournament, with the team serving at approximately 90% overall, and Emy, Alayna, Reese, and Morgan all serving above 90%. From the service line, Grace and Reese each delivered double-digit aces. Offensively, Morgan led the team with 81 assists. Defensively, Emy and Anya each finished just under 70 digs, extending rallies and creating extra scoring opportunities.

At the net, the team made a significant impact. Grace and Taylor each recorded 16 blocks, scored key points offensively, and anchored the middle with a true team-first mentality. In addition, Anya, Alayna, Morgan, Lily, and Laila delivered multiple impressive block stops in key moments, shutting down runs and swinging momentum at critical points.

Grace and Taylor’s consistency, leadership, and influence were recognized as both earned Tournament MVP honors. This recognition reflects not only players’ performance but also the selfless leadership and team first mentality both ladies have demonstrated throughout the tournament.

Multiple players battled injuries and illness throughout the weekend and still gave everything they had. The effort, resilience, energy, and fight on display reflected the identity we’re building: connected, tough, and relentless to the final point.

Off the court, the team continued to grow just as much. Team dinners, ice-cream runs despite the brutal cold, and meaningful conversations helped build real chemistry. 18 Red will move forward stronger and more connected because of what we went through together this weekend.