From PrepDig: KC Power 18 Black defends turf against Dallas Skyline in Elite Division action2/18/2024 By Austin Kingsley
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – KC Power 18 Black has seen every big stage club volleyball offers. Some of those events, like Triple Crown NIT, have been right down the road in Kansas City’s Bartle Hall. Perhaps that makes 2024’s NIT extra special, particularly with the 18s season marking the final act for club athletes. It’s a chance to defend home territory one last time. 18 Black did exactly that in its Round of 16 bout with Dallas Skyline in the Elite bracket. KC Power claimed an emphatic two-set win over Skyline to advance to Monday’s quarterfinals. Here’s the breakdown of KC Power’s triumph—and a look ahead at what’s to come. A Matter of Perspective We have two ways to look at KC Power 18 Black’s journey at Triple Crown NIT. First, there’s the very short physical journey to Bartle Hall. 18 Black Head Coach Dave Johnson was quick to admit that competing in your home city is a welcomed perk. "I sleep in my own bed. I walk my dog. I can hang out with my kid. It’s wonderful,” Johnson said. It’s a sentiment echoed by setter Janelle Green, who signed her letter of intent with the University of Cincinnati. However, Green also said that the team’s approach remains the same regardless of venue. “It’s the same, ‘get up, grind, finish it…go home, sleep, ice bath, eat, recover, and do it the next day,’” Green said. Sure, it’s easy to point to KC Power’s home success. 18 Black started the 2024 season with an Open qualifier championship at Kansas City’s MLK Tournament. But this KC Power group has brought that title-winning form to other locales as a regular Open contender. Like Green, Johnson emphasized that while the home environment is nice, it’s not the deciding factor. ”We enjoy practice. We enjoy playing together,” Johnson said. “So, for us…this is our favorite thing. The whistles bring us comfort.” ”Comfort” may not have been the way KC Power supporters characterized 18 Black’s NIT matches leading up to the Skyline meeting. While KC Power may not have traveled far to reach Bartle Hall, its first few matches were akin to a marathon. 18 Black opened with a three-set defeat to TAV, the age group’s #1 overall seed. It was a back-and-forth power pool match that showed KC Power’s ability to spar with the tournament’s best. Momentum started to shift as KC Power notched two wins against MADFROG and COAST. Still, these were both three-set matches that tested 18 Black’s resolve under pressure. By the end of Sunday’s bracket play, Johnson saw this constant pressure as a blessing. ”We’re pretty battle-tested. Usually, we can kind of jump on that, take that momentum, and bring it home. [The players] do a really great job of that,” Johnson said. Embarking on a three-set gauntlet in power pools is tough, but it’s even harder when the threat of elimination is lurking. KC Power survived a three-set challenger slugfest with AVC CLE just to make the 32-team bracket. From there, we saw the momentum Johnson had mentioned. A sweep over Momentous put KC Power a step further. That led into the Round of 16 clash with Dallas Skyline. Sealing the Deal KC Power was ready to capitalize on all the weekend’s build-up and effort. 18 Black raced out to an early lead over its Texas opponent. Green set the team’s familiar high-powered offense—one that is accustomed to running at a blistering pace. The eye-popping swings captured our attention, but Green was sure to credit the players who locked down the backcourt. ”You don’t see a ball touch the floor without one, maybe three bodies on the ground,” Green said. “Along with that, our serving is a big strong point for us.” Libero Mya Bolton was a common source of those self-sacrificing defensive saves. She worked in tandem with Abby Boyd and Felicia Wu to create a defensive juggernaut in Sunday’s match against Skyline. Of course, serving and defense is not limited to the backcourt specialists. Outside hitters Alea Goolsby and Rachel Van Gorp were major contributors to KC Power’s ball control. Goolsby wielded a wicked topspin serve that affected passing on the other side of the net. 18 Black soared to a Set 1 win over Skyline behind these collective strengths. Right-side hitter Jillian Huckabey put down an incredible shot on set point to seal it. KC Power’s singular focus was apparent as 18 Black gained another advantage in Set 2. Depth at middle blocker is never a concern. Zoe McDonald, Cy Rae Campbell, and Julia Headley show a willingness to run a variety of routes along the net. KC Power loves their slide attacks. Tatum Tindall can join the fray at this position or slot into the right side whenever needed. It’s enough versatility and firepower to overwhelm any opponent, whether at home or in a far-away venue. In this case, KC Power delivered in front of a home audience to secure a spot in the final eight. KC Power now looks for that “bring it home” moment that Coach Johnson alluded to. It’s both figurative and literal. |
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