Throughout the season, the strength and depth of the 17 Open division was something to marvel at. Everywhere we traveled coaches spoke about all the teams which could possibly be in the running for a gold medal at season’s end. Simply put, there was no way the four days in Indianapolis for the USAV GJNC could disappoint.
All season long 1st Alliance 17 Gold proved itself as a serious threat, winning both the Northern Lights and Windy City national qualifiers, taking fifth at the Sunshine Classic and third at Triple Crown. There was no arguing 1st Alliance was worthy of the No. 1 seed it received in 17 Open. The only question mark was could 1st Alliance hold it throughout the four-day gauntlet it was about to enter?
“I think the competition is so even in this division,” 1st Alliance coach Danielle Mikos said. “I have so much respect for so many of these teams. I didn’t really know if we could do it. It comes down to matchups and who was more mentally confident. I think our team is very confident and they woke up ready to win today. We beat some very good teams. I don’t think the score reflects how good those teams were who we beat.”
There were a few moments of doubt, as 1st Alliance did drop two matches along the way. However, when it mattered most and 1st Alliance could not afford to lose is when the club shined brightest, ending with a convincing sweep over MN Select 17-1, 25-20, 25-20, in the championship match.
“This is the culmination of what this team has been about all season,” Mikos said. “We don’t have one all-star and that’s what makes it so special about them. They take turns getting everyone their moment to shine. They relish and support each other. This match was no different.”
Downing MN Select in straight sets capped an impressive final day. 1st Alliance was all business, first sweeping Premier Nebraksa 17 Gold, 25-21, 25-14, in the quarterfinals, then stopping Coast 17-1, 25-23, 25-15, in the semifinals. 1st Alliance was so unstoppable on Day 4 it seemed like lightyears ago the gold medalist was fighting just to stay in contention.
It was a rocky start to Day 3 for 1st Alliance, which was surprised by AZ Rev 17 Premier, 17-25, 25-19, 15-13, in its first outing in its three-team pool. The loss left 1st Alliance in a must-win position against a Legacy 17-1 Adidas squad that was 6-0 after winning its pool and defeating AZ Rev already on Day 3. It turned out to be a statement match for 1st Alliance, which swept handily 25-16, 25-14, to not only advance, but surprisingly knock Legacy out of contention on top of it.
“Our mantra we’ve had all season is one play, one point, one set and one match,” Mikos said. “We lost a couple matches in pool play over the first three days. All that mattered is doing enough to stay alive up to the elimination matches.”
The only other time 1st Alliance lost was on Day 1. It also came in a three-set nail biter as OT 17 John prevailed, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13. It just so happened the only times 1st Alliance lost was went it went to three. Other than that, 1st Alliance earned all sweeps in finishing 9-2 overall.
1st Alliance’s run was a classic lesson in volleyball 101. There were bigger teams. There were stronger teams. There were teams which brought the wow factor. Yet, the passing and serving of 1st Alliance was the backbone of its success and no one was better at it than the eventual champs.
“Our ball control, defensively and our serve and pass might have been arguably the best in the gym,” Mikos said. “That helped. If we got into trouble we could cover it back up. We had the confidence if the other team made a big play, we get to pass again and we get to reset again.
“I want to say how much I love this team. How unselfish they are. If you see them in the gym at practice you would think they were ranked No. 200 in the nation. They have so much confidence when they play but they are the most humble individuals when you watch them train.”
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With its size, physicality and setting, the pieces were there for MN Select. Really, the only question mark was passing. When MN Select took second at the Show Me Qualifier in April, the club flashed its potential and showed what’s possible when it can take care of the ball. MN Select tuned up for Indy by first participating in 17 Open at AAU, where it took fifth after losing to OT 17 John in the quarterfinals.
No doubt the field and competition in Indy was going to take a huge step upward and it was difficult gauging where MN Select would ultimately wind up. The first sign MN Select was poised to make a run came on Day 1. MN Select edged Drive Nation 17 Red, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13. MN Select went on to win its pool, despite losing to Tstreet 17 Naseri in its last outing. By that point though, MN Select already had first place locked up so the result was irrelevant.
MN Select didn’t lose again until running into 1st Alliance in the championship clash. MN Select took care of KC Power 17-1 and Dynasty 17 Black in its three-team pool on Day 3 before sweeping Mintonette m.71 in challenge play.
AZ Rev was a bit of surprise quarterfinalist for MN Select to start Day 4 but there was no looking back in that one as MN Select swept handily. Up next was Club V 17 Ren Reed in the semis. Club V was playing as well as any team and seemed to have the advantage, but MN Select held firm, staying in system and playing strong defense to overcome Club V in straight sets.
Taking home the silver medal was an incredible feat, even more so considering MN Select relies on three starting players from the Class of 2024 in setter Stella Swenson, outside Olivia Swenson and middle Kaia Caffee.
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Club V was as good as anyone during qualifying season. The team produced victories at the Salt Lake Showdown and Far Western. It took third at Lone Star and fifth at Red Rock. If that wasn’t enough to announce Club V as a legitimate contender come Indy nothing was.
Club V opened as the No. 4 overall seed as a result and came out hammering on Day 1, picking up big wins over AZ Rev and Sunshine 17 LA. Club V ran into Premier Nebraska in the pool finale, dropping that one in three, 19-25, 25-19, 15-11, to finish second.
Club V started Day 3 with an attention-grabbing victory over Metro 17 Travel. Club V took in three, 20-25, 42-40, 15-5, winning an unbelievable second set to force a Game 3. Given that Wave 17 Juliana was up next, beating Metro was critical as Wave went on to down Club V. Club V was already guaranteed a spot in the challenge round because Wave defeated Metro as well. Club V showed up well in challenge play, taking down AJV 17 Adidas in straight sets.
The quarterfinals figured to be the end of the line for Club V, as Circle City 17 Purple was waiting. Circle City was the only undefeated team in the final eight and with Chloe Chicoine on the roster seemed poised to challenge for the gold. Yet, after a slow start, Club V found its rhythm and came alive, eventually winning in three, 15-25, 25-19, 15-12. The victory gave Club V the bronze medal.
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Coast was among the many teams in the conversation for possible contenders based on the year it put together. This was a team that headed to AAU and played in 18 Open in Orlando in hopes of preparing for its time in Indy. Coast wound up with a bronze medal there.
The question mark in Indy was how Coast would fare on Day 3 while playing without its glue piece outside hitter in Claire Little, who because of her faith doesn’t play on Sundays. That happened to be the day of three-team pools and challenge play. Coast was shaky to start, falling to AJV in three. After AJV surprised Drive Nation too, it left Coast and Drive Nation in a must-win showdown to make the challenge round. It was one of those crazy twists that make up the drama of Junior Nationals. Coast found a way though, pulling it out in three, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13.
It didn’t get any easier, as Coast drew rival Wave in challenge play. Without Little playing for Coast, Wave appeared to have a key advantage. But Coast didn’t back down, coming through in three once more, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13, to make the quarterfinals.
It was on at that point, as Coast was full of confidence and feeling like it could make a run on Day 4 with Little back in the lineup. Waiting in the quarterfinals was Madfrog 17 Green, which was on its own run and the biggest surprise in the final eight. Coast showed up well, sweeping, 25-15, 25-18, to make the semis. There, 1st Alliance proved too much and stopped Coast’s quest for gold. Still, given the depth and strength of the 17 Open field, Coast getting a medal was a huge accomplishment.
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Running through the rest of the divisions, MKE Sting 17 Gold took home the gold medal in 17 National after sweeping past 1st Alliance 17 Silver, 25-14, 25-18. Rev Raptors 17-1 – which earned the silver medal in 17 Open at AAU – and Union 17-1 UA were the bronze medalists. MKE Sting lost just once all tournament, falling to Premier Nebraska 17 Black in three sets on Day 3 in pool play. The only other set MKE Sting lost came in a three-set victory over AVA TX 17 Adidas in challenge play.
In 17 USA, Skyline 17 Black downed Sky High Adidas 17 Elite, 25-22, 25-16, in the championship match. Skyline finished 9-2 overall. Ozark Jrs 17 Elite and TCVA 17 Green Adidas earned the bronze medals.
TX Legacy 17 Elite swept Flyers 17 Chip, 25-20, 25-19, in for the 17 Liberty gold. Both teams entered the final undefeated. TIV 17 Asics Red and Northern Lights 17-B finished tied for third and received the bronze medals.
In 17 American, Iowa Select 17 Mizuno clipped NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami, 25-23, 16-25, 15-5, for the gold medal. SDVBC 17 Danielle and Iowa PowerPlex 17U Black were the bronze medalists.
Wildfire Brian 17 outlasted Gulfside 17 Prime, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11, in the 17 Freedom final. MKE Sting 17 Black and SF Tremors 17 Wolverines earned the bronzes.
In 17 Patriot, Empowered 17 Elite Black captured gold after downing Black Swamp 171, 25-19, 19-25, 15-10, in the final. MVVC 17 Red and Club Cactus 17 Mizuno tied for third and received bronze medals.
