Tournament Recaps - Week 18

Coming off a two week break for our National Teams, they jump into the tournament play this weekend! Our 18's went out to Reno for Nationals!

15 RED

Playing up this time around in the 16's Premier Division. We had the unique opportunity to have players try new roles on day 1. Running a 5-2 instead of our typical 6-2. The player embraced the new challenge and we played extremely well at times and sometimes we found ourselves in too much chaos.

Pool play was against RVA, Iowa Select, and Sky High. We got some high stakes games against RVA 16 Pink (28-26, 23-25,) and we were able t get a good jump in game 3 and win 15-9. Sky High played well against us and beat us in two. But we were still going gold for Sunday.

After looking at the schedule for Sunday we noticed we played Sky High 16 Onyx, if we won, we play Sky High 16 Red, and if we won that, there was a high potential we would play Sky High 15 Black (whom beat us on Saturday).

We had to come in confident against the Sky High Gauntlet of teams so we wore our Sky High Tournament Champs shirts!

Loved that the kids and parents embraced some friendly taunting. The coaches from Sky High found it funny :)

We beat the first two teams and made it to the championship! Unfortunately Sky High 15's didn't win their match to help complete our storyline. We faced off against MVP 16 Silver. We came out fired up and won 25-10 but MVP was having a good day with close matches and won the next two 26-24 and 15-13.

Great weekend of volleyball with coaches and players on both sides playing well and having fun. We continue to work hard in the gym and prep for a good National run.

Make sure to catch Grace, Janie, and Reagan on the latest I AM Volleyball Podcast!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5p6OKaV8uQuQ9UX7jbMdWF?si=OHx1PmcOSQC_P5OIfKNlTw

15 BLACK

15 Black traveled to New Berlin for the Cornbelt Showdown where we expected to play several very tough teams throughout the weekend.   Our first day was off to a tough start vs Sky High Adidas 15 Red team.  We played tough but fell in 2 sets.    Next match against Epic United 15 select. Another hard fought match but not quite able to pull out the win.  Final match against FC Elite resulted in another close match without a win.  

Day 2 we won our first match in the Silver bracket. We started with a 3 set win against MVP Silver.  Our second match was another battle vs the other FC Elite team in the tournament.  our final match was a 3 set loss to MOD Regional 15 Blue.   We finished the weekend 1-5, but the win Loss record does not tell whole story.  

As we are now finally at full strength with all players back to full health, we continue to build our identity.  The team played very well with 11 of 14 sets finishing with less then 5 points differential.  We continue to serve tough and build our game from there.  Our attacking players are grooving with the setters and our defense continues to improve.    

The important things:  Liz, Ava and Sophia each had 2 Overpass Kill pins awarded.  

15 GOLD

What a way to finish the season for our 15 Gold team!!

Lakeshore Volleyfest was a success! The girls came out strong on Day 1, going 3-0 and earning their spot in the Gold Bracket heading into Day 2. They played some really strong volleyball all day long, winning every match in two sets. Our final match of Day 1 challenged us the most, but the girls stayed composed and battled their way to a 25-21, 25-21 finish.

Day 2 brought even more fight from this group.

We opened the day with a hard-fought three-set match against Chicago Elite, dropping the first set 19-25 before responding with grit and composure to win the next two sets 25-10 and 15-10. This team showed so much perseverance all weekend long, battling back from deficits of 5+ points multiple times and refusing to quit when things got tough.

In the semifinals, we faced A2 15 Green National — the eventual Gold Bracket champions. They had an almost unstoppable middle hitter who was bouncing balls at the 12-foot line when she got the right set. Honestly, we were in awe watching her compete. But our girls never backed down. They showed up ready to battle point for point.

Not only did we take the first set 25-22, but we were the ONLY team all weekend to take a set off this National team. Such an incredible accomplishment for our 4’s team. We eventually fell in three sets, losing the second 22-25 and the third 7-15, but we walked away incredibly proud of the way we competed.

What made this weekend so special was that it truly took every single player. Every girl competed to the best of her ability, and every athlete had her moment to shine on the court. The energy, support, effort, and belief they had in one another was something special to witness as a coach.

More than anything, these girls became a team in every sense of the word — a family. They stayed positive, lifted each other up, and fought together until the very last point.

Finishing 3rd in Gold to close out our season is something these girls should be incredibly proud of. I truly loved working with this team and their amazing families this season. Saying goodbye at the convention center was emotional for all of us — happy tears streamed from our players as we wrapped up such a memorable season together.

So proud of this team and the heart they showed all season long. 💛

18 RED

As our 18 Red season comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for the athletes, the families, the growth we shared, and the memories this team created together. Ending our season at USAV Nationals in Reno was a special experience and a powerful reminder of why the 18s season matters so much. It gives athletes one final opportunity to compete, grow, travel with their teammates, and finish their club journey on a national stage they will remember for a long time.

Nationals was everything we hoped it would be: challenging, exciting, emotional, and full of moments that showed who this team is. 18 Red had the opportunity to compete in the Liberty Division against strong teams from across the country, and every match reminded us how competitive this level can be. It also showed how valuable it is for athletes to experience volleyball beyond their local region — to see different styles of play, different levels of pressure, and the standard required to compete nationally.

The results on paper do not fully show how well this team played. So many sets came down to just a couple of plays, and multiple matches were decided by the smallest margins. We opened against TK Legends Elite from Georgia and lost two very competitive sets, 21–25, 21–25. We followed that with a strong win over RAGE Carmelo from California, 25–20, 25–22. Against FSJ from Arkansas, we had a true battle — dropping the first set 22–25, responding with one of our strongest sets of the weekend, 25–14, and then falling just short in the third, 13–15.

We also had a tough match against Bakersfield from California, including a 25–27 first set that could have gone either way. Later, we beat Corpus Christi Storm from Texas, 25–21, 25–19. Against Coast Caio from California, we lost both sets by the smallest margin, 23–25, 23–25. Matches like that show how thin the line is at Nationals. One intentional serve or swing, one disciplined touch, one calmer moment — and the result can change.

Our final day started with one of our best performances of the weekend against 414 from Wisconsin. The girls came out confident, aggressive, and free, dominating the first set 25–14. In the second set, we settled back in, found our rhythm, and finished just as strong, 25–17. Our final match was another battle against ECVBA from California. We lost in three, 28–30, 25–16, 8–15. That first set was one of those sets you think about afterward because it was so close, and we had multiple chances to close it. Even though we did not get the result we wanted, the girls kept fighting, and that match was another reminder that we belonged in the Liberty Division at USAV Nationals.

More than anything, I hope our athletes walked away from this final club experience knowing they are capable of competing at a high level. We were not overwhelmed. We competed against strong teams from across the country and had many stretches where we played outstanding volleyball. Of course, we would have loved to close a few more of those tight sets, but I am beyond proud of the way 18 Red represented I AM.

The off-court memories were just as special. Going to USAV Prom as a team was such a fun experience, and USA Volleyball truly went above and beyond to make it memorable for the athletes. Our Lake Tahoe day was beautiful and gave the girls a chance to enjoy time together away from the gym, surrounded by incredible scenery and plenty of picture-worthy moments. The Cirque Alice show by Cirque du Soleil on the last day was another highlight and made the trip feel even more unforgettable.

Those are the moments that will stay with us for a long time. The matches and scores matter, but so do the team meals, prom pictures, Tahoe views, the show, the laughs, and all the little moments the girls shared along the way. Years from now, they may not remember every score, but they will remember how special it felt to be there together.

That is what makes the 18s season so meaningful. It is not just another club season. For many athletes, it is their final year of junior volleyball — their last chance to compete, travel with teammates, face national-level competition, and finish their club experience with pride. Playing 18s gives athletes more than extra touches. It gives them closure, confidence, memories, and one more opportunity to grow before they step into college, adulthood, or whatever comes next.

For younger athletes and families in our club, I hope this season is also a reminder of how valuable the 18s year can be. It is a chance to finish the journey the right way — with competition, friendship, travel, growth, and memories that go far beyond the court.

I want to sincerely thank all of the parents who made this season possible. A year like this takes time, patience, flexibility, travel, and commitment from everyone. Thank you for supporting the girls, encouraging them, trusting the process, and helping make Nationals such a positive experience.

To our seniors, I wish you the very best as you step into your next chapter. I am excited to see where life and new opportunities take you, and I am confident that each and every one of you will continue to shine bright in your own way.

To our two juniors, thank you for being such an important part of this group. You were surrounded by older players this season, and you handled that with maturity, toughness, and a willingness to grow. I hope this Nationals experience gives you confidence and motivation going into next year, because you both have so much more ahead of you.

Overall, I am proud of this group and grateful for the season we had. We competed, we grew, we created memories, and we finished the year together on a national stage that reminded us why this sport is so special. It was truly a privilege to coach these girls, and I am thankful I got to be part of their journey this season.

As our team season comes to a close, my schedule has also opened up, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue helping athletes grow. For players who are looking for extra touches, focused feedback, and continued development before summer, I will be offering small group lessons in May. The sessions were recently added to the I AM website, so there is still good availability for anyone interested.

With gratitude,Coach Alla