Redemption is not the most accurate description of SCVC 16 Roxy’s accomplishments on Day 4 of USAV nationals in Las Vegas. While there was an element of it in play, the team’s performance was more a master class in winning, one that brought SCVC the 16 Open national championship after defeating 1st Alliance 16 Gold, 25-20, 27-25, in the gold-medal match.
Entering the four-day competition ranked No. 7 in Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 national rankings, it wasn’t that SCVC’s flawless effort was stunning. It’s just that it was the biggest storyline in a tournament full of them.
While high seeds and top-ranked teams were falling like dominos, SCVC stood firm against all challenges in finishing a perfect 11-0. Top-seeded Mintonette Sports m.61 – which captured the AAU 16 Open gold medal and was ranked No. 1 in our Top 50 – was upset in challenge play on Day 3 and was not around for the gold bracket. Boiler Jrs 16 Gold, ranked No. 4, and Austin Skyline 16 Royal, ranked No. 5, were also absent.
Legacy 16-1 Adidas – ranked No. 6 – did reach the quarterfinals without a loss but found itself across the net from SCVC in one of the four quarterfinals. If SCVC’s run was going to end, it seemed like Legacy would be the one to make it happen. Instead, SCVC swept, 25-19, 27-25.
As impressive as that victory was, it didn’t top what Pohaku 16-1 managed to do in upsetting national No. 2 TAV 16 Black in three, 23-25, 28-26, 15-11, in another quarterfinal. Pohaku trailed 19-14 in Game 2 before turning it around.
It set up a showdown between SCVC and Pohaku in the semifinals. It was last year when Pohaku eliminated SCVC in the challenge round. SCVC went on to finish ninth, going 9-1 with its only loss to Pohaku. Saturday offered a measure of revenge, with SCVC sweeping, 25-17, 25-15, to reach the semifinals.
The other semifinal featured eighth-ranked Skyline 16 Royal – last year’s 15 Open champions – and No. 13 1st Alliance. 1st Alliance squashed MKE Sting 16 Gold‘s dream of medaling with a sweep in the quarters. Skyline took care of upstart Forza1 North 16 One in the other quarterfinal, 25-23, 25-17.
Skyline defeated 1st Alliance on Day 2 to win their respective pool. However, playing for a gold medal two years in a row wasn’t in the cards as 1st Alliance returned the favor and took the clash in three games, 25-22, 17-25, 15-9.
SCVC and 1st Alliance met once previously at the Salt Lake City Showdown back in April. 1st Alliance swept that meeting. After losing the first set this time around, there would be no sweep for 1st Alliance. But 1st Alliance did give itself two looks to extend the match to a third set, leading 24-23 and 25-24. Yet, SCVC wasn’t deterred.
Abby Zimmerman’s roll shot from the right side saved the second set point before Audrey Flanagan’s served clipped the top of the tape and fell in two points later to deliver the national championship to SCVC.
It was the second year in a row the So Cal club stood on top at nationals as the club captured the 17 Open title last summer in Chicago.
