Week 20 - Tournament Recaps

Going south to Rockford, IL to compete in the two day Summer Splash Tournament hosted by the Juniors. Lots of success on day one and let's see how far our teams went on day two!

12 RED | 6-0 | 1st Place

Like many of the teams still playing this year for IAM, we headed to Rockford for one last tune-up before we head to Kansas City for Nationals on the 20th.  We entered the event as the overall number 2 seed with our sights set on finishing 1st.  There were some unique rewards that were at stake for this team that we set during our practice last Thursday; so they were motivated.

On day 1, we knew that the competition would not be that formidable, so emphasizing some specific types of attack, using new serving techniques, and moving some girls around would be attainable.  On day 2, we knew we'd see tougher teams from other pools.  In the quarterfinals against Mindest VB, we dominated.  In the Semi's of Gold, we found ourselves up against a very scrappy, determined, and aggressive team in McHenry County Juniors.  They always play hard and if we don't, we can get caught.  This is exactly what happened in the 1st set.  They served us very tough, outlasted us in the long rallies, and touched everything we hit at them, as we lost 21-25.  There was some concern from the coaches as we just couldn't seem to get ourselves to match the intensity of our opponents.  We had stopped playing as a team and our reluctance to communicate, if maintained, would certainly be our downfall.  The night before the girls had an amazing bonding.  IF they brought this sense of togetherness to the court, then we could bounce back.  We did do that in set 2, but it was a back-and-forth affair.  We didn't serve very well, but in every other aspect, we outplayed them and won set 2 25-23 (we certainly kept it close with our missed serves). In set 3, we stormed out to a big lead, only to see our opponents fight back to take it to a 15-15 tie.  We won the final 2 points, and earned them, too.  This put us into the championship match against a common foe in the Wisconsin Juniors.  In front of many other I AM players, I AM coaches, and curious onlookers as the waves were transitioning, we played very sharp.  Our serving was outstanding as the girls were repeatedly able to attack our opponents' weak spots, we won the majority of long rallies, and our first contacts allowed us to deliver balls to all of our hitters; who were unstoppable. Every attacker was able to get a kill in system, with our middles Alliyah and Hanlee being dominant when they got great sets from Kennedy and Jaidyn.  We secured the championship 25-8, 25-20.  IF we can play like we did in this match in Kansas City, we can do some really great things!  

13 RED

Coming Soon!

14 RED | 4-1 | 3rd Place

14 RED had an impressive showing at the Summer Splash tournament, finishing 3rd overall with a 4-1 record. Day 1 was a statement performance—the team went 6-0 in sets, holding every opponent to under 16 points. A key focus for the weekend was running a faster tempo offense with the middles, and the team executed it beautifully, finding rhythm and success that they’ll continue to build on. Serving was another standout area; the team has grown more aggressive and accurate, hitting their zones with consistency and confidence.

Day 2 brought a tough battle against a very talented Balance 14s team. 14 RED came out loose and aggressive, taking the first set 25-17. Despite dropping the second set 17-25, they stayed competitive and composed. Balance capitalized on a strong service run early in the third set to close it out 8-15, but the match showcased 14 RED’s ability to rise to the occasion and challenge high-level opponents. The coaching staff was especially proud of how the team competed and handled the pressure throughout the match.

Moving forward, the team will continue sharpening serve receive, pushing the pace offensively, and maintaining composure in critical moments.

🎯 Player Highlights:

• Overpass Kills: Scarlett, Jordin, and Megan brought the heat at the net with big swings off tight balls.

• Serving: Megan led the charge with tough, on-target serves that kept teams off balance.

• 🏅 MVP & All-Tournament Team – Elin: Elin had an outstanding weekend. Her serve receive was rock solid, her serve was the most aggressive it's been all season, and she anchored the defense while rotating through every back row position. Her all-around performance was vital to the team’s success.

15 RED | 6-0 | 1st Place

Coming in as the overall #1 seed adds the pressure of being best at all times as other teams will play at their peak to take our spot. We played Balance 16's, Net Force 16's, and Milwaukee Juniors 16's the first day and the team was in stride the whole day! Winning each set bey an average of 10 points. We had our last match vs the Juniors where we staged an amazing comeback ini set 2 where we were down 18-22. We were aggressive all set but a few too many swings landed out of bounce. Sophie Williams went back and served us to 23-22 before they scored on us. 23-23 we got a break from a missed serve and Libby closes out the set with a mid-rally setter dump!

Day two we face off with our 15 Black team. Both teams competed and we were able to get the W advancing us to the Gold Semifinals! Now we play a team we have never seen before, the Iowa Rockets. They had a huge Middle that we had to stay focused on all while we continue to play our style of volleyball. This was a great 3 set match. Game two we lost a bit of focus on our strategy but game 3 we locked in and shut them down winning 15-6.

Championship match was against PAO Southside 15's. Both sets were close at first but we took off again after the first round of serves. Winning 25-16, 25-17.

#Shoutout to Ana, Malia, and Libby for their outstanding play all weekend. They were awarded All Tournament Team and Malia was our MVP!

One more tournament and then off to Nationals!!

15 BLACK

Coming Soon!

16 RED | 6-0 | 1st Place

16 RED had a dominant performance at the Summer Splash tournament, finishing in 1st place with an undefeated 6–0 record. The team did a fantastic job maintaining their fast-paced offensive system, even when facing opponents who played at a slower tempo. Their ability to adapt while staying in rhythm was a major factor in their success. Communication was another key strength—they navigated tough in-game situations with clarity and composure, which kept momentum on their side throughout the weekend.

Serve receive was sharp and reliable, giving their setters quality touches, while their serving consistency helped apply pressure right from the service line. Defensively, the team held strong against increasingly tougher competition, showcasing grit and awareness across the board.

Looking ahead, 16 RED will focus on strengthening the connection between setters and hitters as they continue to implement new offensive patterns. As the level of competition rises, they'll also aim to tighten up defensively to match faster, more aggressive opponents. The coaching staff praised the team’s performance overall, highlighting both their teamwork and their willingness to compete at a high level.

🏅 Player Shoutouts:

• Huge congratulations to Hannah, Paige, and Alessandra for being named to the All-Tournament Team!

• Special recognition to Hannah for stepping up and playing six full rotations when the team was short a player—her effort and leadership were crucial all weekend long.

16 BLACK | 4-1 | 3rd Place

Our team had a strong showing at the Jr’s Summer Splash tournament in Rockford, IL, finishing in 3rd place overall. On Day 1, we went undefeated with a 3-0 record, demonstrating solid fundamentals and teamwork throughout the day.

We started with a two-set victory over WI Juniors 16-Elite, where our serving consistency and defensive positioning set the tone. In the second match against STARZ 16 Blue, our aggressive attacking and quick transition game led to a decisive 25-15, 25-13 win. The third match tested our resilience, as we battled Mindset Premier 16 Red in a tight three-set match. Our ability to communicate on court and execute strategic plays under pressure was key to securing the win. Abby Barthelemy had some notable saves, effectively covering the back row.

Day 2 began with a gold challenge match against Wisconsin Elite 16-Red, a familiar opponent. We relied on strong serve receive patterns and precise setting to outmaneuver their defense, winning to advance to the gold bracket. In the gold bracket, we faced JAG VBC 17-Black National in a tough three-set match. Despite a valiant effort and excellent defensive digs and blocking, we fell short.

Summer Willie and Abby Barthelemy led the team with their standout serving skills while Leilah Prichard and Isabell Hilgart dominated as attackers all weekend, consistently delivering powerful kills and smart shots.  Sierra Hoeft is a notable leader, consistently motivating the team, encouraging teammates, and keeping her energy up even through long rallies and tough plays.  Throughout the tournament, the girls showed impressive court awareness, consistent serving, powerful hitting, and cohesive team defense. Even with a teammate missing, they filled gaps seamlessly and played with great energy and focus.

17 RED

Coming Soon!