By Austin Kingsley
PrepDig.com Winning a Triple Crown NIT title is a feat in itself. Dropping only one set on the way to that title is an entirely different accomplishment. MADFROG 14’s National Green left little doubt about its frontrunner status in 2024’s 14U division at NIT. The North Texas Region team defeated HPSTL 14 Royal in three sets (23-25, 27-25, 15-10) to win the 14U championship and cement a 9-0 overall record in Kansas City. Before the title bout, MADFROG exhibited a level of dominance rarely seen on the Triple Crown NIT stage. 14’s N Green did not allow an opposing team to exceed 20 points in a set in Saturday’s power pools. That momentum seldom wavered as MADFROG reached bracket play. Triple Crown NIT draws the best club teams in the country, but MADFROG seemed to be on another level compared to its 14U peers. However, a grueling title match would quickly change the narrative. HPSTL 14 Royal met MADFROG in the 14U championship match and carried a 7-1 record into the contest. The lone loss came in power pools before the St. Louis club surged through the Elite bracket. Then, 14 Royal did what no other NIT team had done all weekend. HPSTL won a set against MADFROG with a 25-23 decision in the title match’s opening stanza. MADFROG 14’s N Green finally had its first dose of serious adversity. Head Coach Olaya Pazo had poignant reminders for the team after the Set 1 defeat. “We made sure they know we’re playing a Triple Crown and it’s a high-level tournament. We came here to compete. Losing is sometimes part of competing,” Pazo said. A sudden stress test would not change MADFROG’s identity. 14’s N Green kept leaning on its group of rising stars in Set 2. High-flying outside hitter Maya Ogbogu had game-changing impact in the front row. Unparalleled heat from the left side made Ogbogu one of the most intimidating attackers in the 14U field. Even if Ogbogu wasn’t on the court, MADFROG wielded other weapons on the outside pin. Olivia Kitur was a six-rotation asset and rivaled Ogbogu’s range. Peyton Robinson is another important piece of MADFROG’s terminal unit. And, as championship pressure mounted, outside hitter Kate McGough found her stride. Still, HPSTL applied more pressure in Set 2 and stayed in lockstep with MADFROG. 14 Royal’s ability to extend rallies would test MADFROG’s own resolve in the ball control phase. This is where defensive specialists Bella Osborn and Addison Tucker contributed to MADFROG’s efforts. Further emphasis was placed on tough serving, and Ella McNeal stepped up in this regard. After a two-point opening set, the second frame went to a deuce marathon—a fitting scoreline for a championship match. Finally, Ogbogu tallied a solo block to give MADFROG a 27-25 win. On to a third. In a race to 15 points, every decision is magnified. Starting setters Aleyna Bramschreiber and Chloe Kim would need to make wise choices while also providing consistent location for the 14’s N Green frontcourt. Even with all of MADFROG’s firepower on the pins, the middles still went to work on in-system opportunities. Gracie White and Hayden Thomas overwhelmed teams with their physicality, especially when teaming up with Kate Clegg on the right. A balanced effort was needed to make the title comeback. Several early ties gave way to a late MADFROG surge in Set 3. McGough was unstoppable on the left side as 14’s N Green closed in. One final McGough kill ended the perfect weekend as MADFROG became 14 Elite champions. Even after such a dominant weekend, Coach Pazo conveyed a desire to aim higher. “When it comes to fundamentals, there’s still work we have to do. Our blocking needs improvement. But, I’m proud of them. I feel like we’re getting there,” Pazo said. It’s a mindset that will have MADFROG ready for the long haul in the 2024 club season. For now, Pazo takes pride in what she said were “many good, clean matches.” And, even in the face of adversity, MADFROG was resilient enough to bounce back—the mark of a Triple Crown champion. |
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