COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 30, 2021) – After a year off due to the pandemic, the USA Volleyball Girls 18s National Championship stormed back in 2021, giving teams one last chance to compete. The tournament wrapped with five champions crowned after three days of competition, April 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio.
Premier Nebraska 18 Gold from the Great Plains Region came away with the top prize of a gold medal in the Open Division. Premier Nebraska beat Adversity G18 Adidas (Great Lakes Region) in the final, 2-1 (25-19, 19-25, 15-13).
Another Great Plains Team, VNebraska 18 Elite, won the National Division with a 9-0 record.
Also undefeated, MichioChicago 18 Natl from the Great Lakes Region took the USA Division crown at 9-0.
Madfrog 18’s N Green out of North Texas won the American Division at 9-1.
NIVA 18 X out of the Hoosier Region won the Patriot Division at 9-1.
OPEN DIVSION
Premier Nebraska 18 Gold came back to win the division after a 2-1 (18-25, 25-23, 15-9) pool play loss to AZ EVJ 18N1-Tempe from the Arizona Region.
“I just couldn’t be more proud of these girls who represented Nebraska at a very high level,” Head Coach Shannon Smolinski said. “We came in under all circumstances through a lot of adversity this season and for this group to finish their senior season as 18 Open national champions, I couldn’t be more proud for this group to represent Premier and to win as Premier so it’s been a blessing.”
1st Premier Nebraska 18 Gold (Great Plains)
2nd Adversity G18 adidas (Great Lakes)
3rd Elevation 18 Goller (Ohio Valley)
3rd Union 18-1 UA (Pioneer)
AMERICAN DIVISION
Madfrog 18’s N Green from the North Texas Region lost its very first match of the tournament, 2-1 (19-25, 26-24, 17-15) to Unified 18-1 out of the Lakeshore Region. It came back to win the American Division final with a 2-0 (25-21, 25-20) victory over Siesta Key Jrs 18 Charlie out of the Florida Region.
“This tournament was so much fun,” said Madfrog middle blocker Chloe Thomas. “I love my team so much. They make me the player I am. I’m about to cry but I love them so much and this means the world to me and I’m so happy that it’s our 18s year and we won. So, yay!”
1st Madfrog 18’S N GREEN (North Texas)
2nd Siesta Key Jrs 18 Charlie (Florida)
3rd A2 18 Green (Ohio Valley)
3rd Unified 18-1 (Lakeshore)
NATIONAL DIVISION
VCNebraska 18 Elite from the Great Plains Region went undefeated through the tournament and lost only one set. It won the division with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-18) victory over the Hawaii Region’s Ponahaku 18-1.
1st VCNebraska 18 Elite (Great Plains)
2nd Pohaku 18-1 (Hawaii)
3rd CVC 18 Black (Ohio Valley)
3rd Gulfside 18U Prime (Florida)
USA DIVISION
MichioChicago 18 Natl out of the Great Lakes Region made it through the tournament without losing a match and losing only three sets. In the USA Division final, it defeated Vegas Aces 18 UnderArmour from the Southern California Region, 2-0 (25-20, 26-24).
“We won two qualifiers this year to get us here and this team means everything to me,” said MichioChicago outside hitter Emma Best. “Everyone gives their all 24/7 in the gym. Out of the gym, we’re all a family and I’m very emotional because I love this team and my coach and we worked for this and we deserved it. We knew coming in here as the No. 1 seed that we’re going to leave as the No. 1 seed too.”
1st MichioChicago 18 Natl (Great Lakes)
2nd Vegas Aces 18 UnderArmour (Southern California)
3rd HJV 18 Premier (Lakeshore)
3rd TAV 18 Blue (North Texas)
PATRIOT DIVISION
NIVA 18 X out of the Hoosier Region lost its first match of the tournament, 2-1 (22-25, 25-22, 15-10) to AVA TX 18 Attack out of the Lone Star Region. It won all its matches after that, including the final where it defeated Legacy 18-1 adidas out of the Lakeshore Region, 2-1 (25-23, 14-25, 15-10). The final was Legacy’s only loss of the tournament.
“It was so thrilling to coach with NIVA 18X this year,” said NIVA Head Coach Hallie Enderle. “We definitely had our moments throughout this season, but they really put it together at the end of the year and it was just fantastic to watch this great group of girls end their season on the best win possible at a USAV Nationals.”
1st NIVA 18 X (Hoosier)
2nd Legacy 18-1 adidas (Lakeshore)
3rd Impact VBC 18-1 (Ohio Valley)
3rd Sunshine 18 North (Southern California)
View all the tournament results at advancedeventssystems.com.