By Adam Burns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Clarke and Skylar Jackson of Dallas Skyline didn’t quite reach the championship match of the Triple Crown NIT last year. But the two came close enough — while playing for a different club — that they had a solid feel for the insanity of Championship Monday. This time around, Clarke and Jackson made the most of the moment in the 15s Elite Championship match, coming from behind to beat Southern California Volleyball Club in three sets (23-25, 25-23, 16-14) Monday afternoon inside the Kansas City Convention Center. “It feels great to win because last year I got hurt on the second day and five of us got fourth last year, so we really wanted to improve that finish,” said Clarke, a 6-foot outside hitter for Skyline. “Coming in we really wanted to win it,” said Jackson, a 5-foot-11 defensive specialist/outside hitter. “(SCVC) was really good; we just had to keep pushing through every single difficulty we had.” Those difficulties included a first set loss that saw Skyline playing from behind for a majority of the time. “We just had to play our game,” Clarke said of any adjustments they made after set No. 1. “We usually play the best when we start strong, so we just had to do that and set well and get the kill.” Skyline started mighty strong in the second set, opening the with a 10-1 advantage on SCVC, with two kills and a pair of blocks from Clarke. But SCVC countered with an 11-3 stretch to cut the deficit to 13-11. Skyline, however, kept the slight advantage and help off to force a third and decisive set. The final set was more of what one expects out of an NIT championship match — a back and forth from both sides — including strong play from SCVC outside hitters Audrey Flanagan, Sammy Destler and middle Taylor Boice, among others. Skyline owned the largest meaningful advantage at 11-8 before SCVC gained a 13-12 lead, courtesy of a Flanagan kill. Clarke then registered back-to-back kills before Flanagan earned a loud solo block of Clarke to make it 14-all. After a double hit call was enforced on SCVC, Skyline outside hitter Layla Austin hammered home a match winner. “We’ve pushed through so many third sets and we’ve pushed through so many tight games,” Jackson said. “We needed to take a deep breath to be able to finish strong, and that’s what we did.” SCVC, led by coach Jessica Doerner, finished the tournament 6-3. Flanagan led the Southern California squad with 10 kills, while Destler had 10 and Boice had six. Clarke led Skyline’s attack with a match-high 12 kills. Middle/outside hitter Levariya Pinder supported with eight kills of her own. Skyline coach Sangyong Yun said he was confident in his team’s ability to win the title match. “I’m very happy for the girls,” he said after Skyline accepted the first-place trophy. “They worked very hard to get to this point and they deserve this. They worked hard at practice, and they never complain, so I’m very happy for them. … I believed in my team and trusted them and they trusted in me, too.” By Kyle Koso
KANSAS CITY, Mo – There’s a lot of talk about balance and shared responsibility on volleyball teams. And when the Texas Advantage 14’s are speaking on the topic, all you can do is nod in agreement as they file away another outstanding tournament finish. Monday at the Triple Crown NIT, the TAV 14’s forced the issue by being forces of nature, rolling past fellow Texas club Drive Nation in the 14 Elite title match in straight sets, 25-12, 25-21. Starting with that dominant effort in Set 1 and extending into a second set that required a few moments of refocus and reflection, TAV had all the answers, putting this championship next to the one earned at the recent Tour of Texas to suggest this is a year for something special. “We’re very disciplined in our defense, very focused, and our blocking is there. We did those things very well today,” said Brynn Stephens, who credited her multi-sport background for being so fluid at 6-foot-1 and had several overpowering kills, doing great work from the service line as well. “Our match earlier against OTVA (a three-set win in the quarterfinals) was a real eye-opener, and they really challenged us. We were consistent serving, and we knew if we did that tough it would be a big help.” “Everybody on the team does their role, everyone is talented. That balances things out, and it keep the other team honest,” said Sophee Peterson, who had the final two kills of Set 1 and with Stephens handled the tasks at setter with essentially flawless results. “This match was amazing; I love playing with the girls and we always have each other’s backs. This team has always been good, we won nationals at 12’s and I’m just excited to see what we can do this year.” Drive Nation got within 19-17 in Set 2 on an ace from Kaelee Berkley, but kills from Gentry Barker and Mariah Akinsola were well-timed and enough to stabilize the moment for TAV. Two kills from Barker pushed it to 23-20. “This is a special group. Any number of kids can lead in kills for a match, and from a scouting standpoint, you can’t focus on one kid,” said TAV coach Josh McKinney. “We’ve told them, at this level, the best teams have to hold serve and get the sideouts when you get the opportunity. We did that in the first set, especially. “We had to elevate this entire tournament. Arizona Storm was incredible, OTVA was incredible, and we were able to rely on the experience of playing those good teams when it was the final. We took a deep breath, and figured out how to move forward. We’ve got room to grow, but at this point of the season we couldn’t be any happier.” By Kyle Koso
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In most high-level volleyball match, something inevitably will go wrong. But it’s much better to think of those episodes as “momentum changes” or “periods of adjustment” to fend off too many negative thoughts. With the right mindset and a roster full of talented athletes eager to show their abilities, the NKYVC (Mason, OH) 17 Tsunami squad shook off the blues and shook up the battle for the 17 Elite title at the Triple Crown NIT on Monday by bounding past Orlando-Tampa Aaron in straight sets, 27-25, 25-20. The victory at the Kansas City Convention Center was a satisfying bit of closure for NKYVC, which took second place at 16’s at this event in 2022. After earning impressive wins over Premier Nebraska and A5-Jing along the way, NKYVC took an early 18-12 lead over OTVA in Set 1 of the final, on an ace from the right arm of Julia Hunt (a commit to play for the Univ. of Washington). But OTVA responded with a furious effort on defense, keeping balls in the air and allowing its own fearsome group of hitters (led by Olivia Hart) to get loose – soon, OTVA had a 22-20 lead. All the early hard work looked about ready to be pitched in the dumpster, but NKYVC reasserted its vision and polished off the set, with two aces from Sydney Barrett (Univ. of Denver) playing a huge role. “We always try to keep our heads up, even if it’s not going our way. We’re not the biggest team out there, but when we are strong mentally we can do amazing things,” Hunt said. “When it’s going good for us, it’s going good for everybody. Everybody can set. Elizabeth (Tabeling, libero, off to Ball State) dug the ball every single play. We’ve got people who can get a kill on every single play. It felt amazing being with my team. Not everything is going to be perfect, so you have to be ready to adjust.” “We all trust each other a lot and know how to stay relaxed in those situations. They started off a little slow and came back, which we expected,” said Barrett, who was the match’s dominant offensive force. “We had to be ready. All three positions in the front row can put the ball down for us, and the back row is great, too. We have a lot of pride in our club and for the name on the jersey. It means a lot to prove ourselves at this level.” A kill from Lilly Gillespie (DePaul) put NKYVC up 3-2 in Set 2, and they would lead the rest of the way. Alivia Skidmore (Western Kentucky) did some impressive work on offense when NKYVC needed a boost or two, but there wasn’t much drama on the way to the finish line. A huge block from Lillian Hamburg made it 21-16, and NKYVC would not be slowed from their goals at that point. “OTVA made a little run, we fell apart a bit in our ball control, and we talked about composure and making sure our responsibilities are in order. We’ve been doing that all weekend,” said NKYVC coach Mike Bryant. “What I’ve learned, they are very resilient in those moments. They’ve been playing together a while and their chemistry is just off the charts. “They were really hungry to come back. The best part of the training we’ve done so far is what we’ve been emphasizing is showing up in the competitive opportunities. They’ve been on it, the quality touches, the efficiency, and they can see what our opponents want to do and are on top of that as well.” By Adam Burns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There were three messages. The Coast Volleyball Club 16s shouted the first one during a pregame cheer. The second was a gentle reminder from coach Luis Cuatok prior to the action. And the third, also coming from Cuatok, came with their backs against the wall. Coast players cheered “Don’t give up!” after warmups, just like they do prior to all matches. Little did they know how important it’d be for them to embrace that message during Sunday’s Elite Division Championship Bracket play at the Triple Crown Sports WNIT inside the Kansas City Convention Center. Coming off an impressive straight set win over Alamo, Cuatok delivered the second message inside the pregame huddle. “At the start of the match I reminded them that they knocked us out last year during JO’s,” he said. “It’s time to get them back.” The “them” was Texas Advantage Volleyball and they came to play, claiming the first set 25-19. After a back-and-forth affair for much of the second set, TAV used a 6-0 run to take a 22-16 lead. That’s when Cuatok preached the third message—this one a calm one during a timeout. The coach didn’t scream or call out mistakes. To Cuatok, this was the time to remind his players why they play in the WNIT. “I know you’re frustrated,” Cuatok said he told his players. “This is good for us. We’re learning and we’re going to grow from moments like these.” The message was well received. Coast countered TAV’s run with an 8-1 swing to earn a 27-25 set win, forcing a third and final set in which Coast captured a 15-11 victory to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the Elite Division Championship Bracket. “It feels great,” Coast outside hitter Ava Poinsett said. “Winning today gives us a lot of momentum going into tomorrow and more confidence. This was huge.” Poinsett, a 6-foot outside hitter, acknowledged that this version of the Coast 16s is a “newer” team, but also noted how many of them have played in big tournaments with tough competition before, including the WNIT. “A lot of us are used to the pressure and not worried about who might be watching us,” she said. “We’re confident and that helps at lot. Today was a really hard day, but we’ll use this experience and build on it, and, hopefully, all the way to the championship.” Coast will take on Houston Skyline at 7:30 a.m. on Championship Monday in the quarterfinal round. by Kyle Koso
The TC NIT Heart of Sport Award is presented by Triple Crown Sports in honor of coaches and program directors who go the extra mile in developing players, building character and supporting the priorities of hard work and compassion while demonstrating the highest level of integrity to the sport, the players, the families and competitors. In 2023, it's our honor to salute Ron Kordes, club director at KIVA and head coach at Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky. His life’s work has been dedicated to the positive mental and physical growth of all players; we are grateful for Ron’s determination to give back time, energy, money and expertise to create the best possible atmosphere for each student-athlete. When Ron Kordes began his volleyball coaching career, it’s not like he was ushered to the top spot with a bunch of handshakes and high-fives. No one else appeared to be interested in the job, and Kordes didn’t like the thought of his female middle-school students losing an option to experience what sports can do for a person. Best intentions didn’t mean he had the best strategies right away; building skills in those neophyte athletes took primary concern over building a sparkling won-loss record. But over time, Kordes would prove to have the unique ability to elevate his programs while escalating the personal growth of his players. Through his nearly 35 years of coaching at Assumption High School in Louisville, KY., and four decades of work honing the culture of excellence found in the Kentucky/Indiana Volleyball Academy (KIVA), Kordes has long been understood as one of the sport’s titans and today’s pockets yet another honor, earning the 2023 TC NIT Heart of Sport Award. “I really just stumbled into volleyball and coaching; I had been playing adult rec volleyball, back when you played with eight people on the court,” said Kordes, who has won 22 state championships at Assumption to go with 17 national titles from his club squads. “A position opened up, they had no one, and since I’d enjoyed the sport, I said I’d try. I started out with what had been taught to me. There was a travel adult league, and several of those guys were pretty knowledgeable. Call it a crash course. Coaching 7th and 8th grade girls at that time, 40 years ago, we were just cavemen. “I was one who was always looking to learn. Seeking out those who’d done it and were successful, going to clinics. When I got involved in club, you’re looking at the teams that are beating you … how are they doing that? How are they training for it? You have to have that thirst, and when you stop seeking out that knowledge, you come to a standstill and others pass you up. It’s true in any profession. You have to be willing to change things; it’s easy after you’ve has some success to think, this is the way to do it.” Kordes showed the way with his empathetic but competitive process in coaching athletics, all in a very interesting time for female athletics. The first NCAA volleyball championship wasn’t even a topic until 1981, and coaches such as Kordes were on the front row of those who saw the untapped capacities of women in sport. It was a considerable challenge when the dominant forces in culture had a hard time seeing women in that light. “I was asked frequently by my friends, how can you be coaching girls? How can you like that? It was a question asked too many times to count,” Kordes said. “My answer was, I’ve always enjoyed it. One thing I learned, girls are very honest with you. Coaching young boys, you have to get around the macho (instinct), but with girls, you know where they stand. If they know you care about them, they are willing to do whatever you ask them. “Their effort was no different than the guys. Girls going for the ball, crashing into a wall or through the fence, it’s very similar. To watch these girls, they got bigger and stronger. When I started, a 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 girl, you’d be lucky if she could walk and not trip. Now, you see 6-7 girls playing six rotations. The athleticism has been there, just a process of tapping it, and they train much harder now. The desire, the mentality, has always been there. For my first three years of coaching, I worked with both, and when the time came to make a decision, it was very easy to go with the girls.” All these decades later, volleyball is so wildly popular that some athletes turn away from the high-school experience because they want the persistent challenge and training that is assumed with club sports. Kordes, who has an imposing list of achievements in both club and prep settings, would prefer both doors stay open. “Girls playing club, they are doing it for one primary reason, which is to make their high school team. That’s why you see so many 15’s and 16’s club teams, they’re fighting to make their varsity team in high school,” Kordes said. “I consider the club season to be a development season. In high school, you have the prize of a state championship to go for, something you compete for … yeah, you have it club. It comes down to one’s opinion. We are starting to see kids leave high school early, start college early, and I hate to see that happening. Seniors are missing out by not going through it, but I guess it’s a movement I have no control over, but I’m seeing it. Club is necessary for the recruiting; I’ve just enjoyed the blend, going back and forth.” Kordes has at times expressed his concern for players who have to confront the pressure cooker of their volleyball settings, knowing just how intense the competition for playing time can be, and for the challenge of living up to previous KIVA and Assumption teams that have gone all the way. In the end, there are ripple effects that come from suiting up that he has come to embrace, and it’s got pretty much nothing to do with who ends up holding trophies and banners. “The one thing we’ve always talked about at KIVA and Assumption, is the ability to learn how to compete for what you want. When you quit playing volleyball, the life you’re heading into is very competitive,” he added. “Someone will want the same job as you; to be able to go after what you want without doubt and second thoughts, you just go and try. You won’t be successful all the time, but to not be afraid to go for what you want and to compete for it, is just a great trait you can take through life.” RON KORDES ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL Head Coach – 34 years State Championships – 22 National Championships – 6 AVCA National High School Coach of the Year - 2012 Prep Volleyball National Coach of the Year - 2005 Max Preps National Coach of the Year - 2018 Durango Fall Classic Championships - 6 Nike / Asics Challenge Tournament Championships - 14 Overall Won / Loss Record: 1,185-123 KENTUCKY INDIANA VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY (KIVA) Club Coach - 40 years Club Director – 23 years AVCA Club Director of the Year - 2016 Kordes coached teams: USAV National Championships - 4 AAU National Championships - 11 JVA National Championships - 2 USA VOLLEYBALL Commissioner - Pioneer Region - 26 years USAV CAP ll Certification USOC Development Coach of the Year - 2005 JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION (JVA) Original Board Member/Past President HONORS National High School Hall of Fame - 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame - 2020 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame - 2007 Dawhare's KHSAA High School Hall of Fame - 2018 Assumption High School Hall of Fame - 2004/2014 Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame - 2013 Metro Athletic Directors Hall of Fame - 2002 WISH Foundation - Leader in Womens Sports - 2016 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the Skyline (Dallas) Royal 14’s, Sunday’s last task at the Triple Crown NIT was a tall order, in every aspect of the phrase.
Taking on a long, rangy and intimidating lineup from Austin Performance was the mission, with the reward being a spot in the 14 Elite semifinals of this event, arguably the most strenuous tournament on the club calendar. To Skyline’s credit, they moved their attacks around cagily and swung with a lot of purpose when it was their moment to shine, and it led to a stressful but satisfying 23-25, 25-15, 15-10 victory at the Kansas City Convention Center. Skyline will take on Drive Nation in Monday’s semifinals at 8 a.m. With Camille Presley and Allie Hudgins covering the net with springy enthusiasm, the Austin Performance unit went ahead as much as 22-15 in Set 1 and held off a late run by Skyline to take control. But Skyline asserted itself in Set 2, bolting forward from a tight 16-13 lead to score five straight points, a stretch that showed Ryan Spencer to be the cold-hearted closer every volleyball squad loves to deploy. She has a sequence of three swings on the same point that ended up falling right for Skyline; Spencer added a tip and then one more kill to even the match. “She’s a coach’s kid and has been in the gym since she was little, so she’s got an eye for the game,” said Skyline coach Mark Flores. “She’s taken all the little things to heart and knows what it takes to close it out. “That first set, we were playing into the big kids, and we had to start making sure where they were. After a couple blocks, we realized (Hudgins) was going to block anything around her, and we did a good job of staying away. The girls were resilient – they were kind of phased after the first set, but they came back and made a match of it.” Set 3 was tied at 7-all when Skyline took charge. Parker Horton drilled a kill, and then Spencer went off, including an ace to make it 12-8. Setter Abigale Cotton found Spencer in the back row for a resounding kill to make it 13-10 – Kate Cuppett rang up a kill to make it 14-10, and a final shot from Austin landed wide to seal the match. “You just have to jump higher and have the mindset you can hit over them. If you know where to go, you can get the kills,” Cuppett said. “After the first set, coach said you can’t be afraid to make a mistake. It made me so excited and so happy to get that last kill; it really gave us the energy we needed for the final point.” Spencer, who clearly was asked to be the primary offensive threat, didn’t let the responsibility distract her from executing, start to finish. “I don’t really think about it – I really want to make sure my teammates have trust in me,” Spencer said. “When I do succeed, that makes me feel really good. That was a big team, but you’ve to stay strong with defense and serve receive. If you pass and serve receive, it makes a huge difference. We’ve just wanted to play good volleyball, win or lose, and fight for the wins.” By Adam Burns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Alan Davis puts it, height doesn’t exactly equal a dynamic offensive attack. That must be earned. And Davis’ Adidas KIVA 18s squad is proving its offensive unit is indeed a force to be reckoned with at this weekend’s Triple Crown Sports WNIT at the Kansas City Convention Center. Just four hours into the three-day WNIT on Saturday, the Louisville, Kentucky-based KIVA was sitting pretty at 3-0 and enjoying the view from atop the PowerC pool standings. “We have not always been an explosive team during this team’s time together,” Davis said after KIVA’s three-set thrilling victory (25-19, 26-28, 15-8) over Mizuno Long Beach. “This team has always had height, but that does not always mean a fast offensive team or mobile or quick. We have spent a ton of time diversifying our offense and making us better and having players in multiple positions makes us that much better. “They all need to play different roles,” he added. “We want our players to be good at everything. The best way to get better is to come in and practice the things that we need to improve.” Even Texas commit Nya Bunton has contributed to diversifying the offense, shifting over from the outside to play as the team’s middle hitter. Bunton was thrilled with the team’s Day 1 efforts, which culminated with the win over Long Beach, which was 0-2 headed into the final match of pool play. “You just never really know here,” Bunton said. “That’s why you always have to stay intense and be prepared. I’m glad we were able to execute and do our jobs. … We talked about how we were going to stay disciplined and intense all day. We executed our plan today and it was a really good start for us.” Davis echoed Bunton’s sentiment. “I’m really proud of them. We’ve been working really hard at getting better,” he said. “We’ve been working on improving confidence and their all-around game and it has taken some time. I’ve told them that no progress and no success ever comes without struggle. Every tournament we have gotten progressively better.” Bunton is complemented by attacking counterparts Olivia Fish, a 6-2 outside hitter committed to Wake Forest, Gabrielle Dean, a 6-4 middle hitter bound four Illinois, and Gabrielle Gerry, a 6-5 middle hitter headed to South Carolina. “It’s great to be able to spread out the offense and give everyone a chance to take a breather and make an impact,” Bunton said. “It’s good that we have multiple weapons and that we use them effectively.” KIVA earned straight set victories to open the tourney, notching wins over Houston Skyline (25-23, 25-18) and Northern Lights (25-19, 25-20). Bunton and the core of the KIVA 18s have their eyes on a championship run and improving their best WNIT showing — fourth place — from a few years back. “It’d mean everything to get to the championship match,” Bunton said. “That’s the goal.” By Adam Burns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jordyn Harvey and Club V have certainly been here before. But Harvey and this year’s 18-year-old Club V squad received their first dose of the Triple Crown Sports WNIT on Saturday inside the Kansas City Convention Center. “I love Triple Crown,” said Harvey, who’s committed to Stanford. “All my friends are here and I get to play with them and against them, and I love how the power pools are set up as you get to play and see great competition all weekend.” Club V coach Reed Carlson agreed with his 6-foot-1 outside hitter. “I love the format of the pool play; it’s fantastic,” Carlson said. “We get to play the toughest teams on Day 1. What other place does that? Today we get to see three different styles of volleyball, which is great. It’s been really close and competitive.” In Harvey’s third and final WNIT experience — but first in power pool play — Club V dropped its first match in a three-set heartbreaker to Drive Nation before knocking off A5 Volleyball Club (Marc) in three sets (23-25, 25-18, 15-10) in R1 PowerA action. Club V dropped its final pool match in straight sets to MAVS KC. “For us, it comes down to consistency,” Carlson said. “We came here to have a day like today where we play (the tough competition) at Triple Crown. We’ll build as we get more of these types of matches. The talent is obviously there and we do a good job of wanting to compete against those teams.” In the win against A5, Club V, of course coming off the tough loss in its tourney opener, relied on the powerful attacking offense, fueled by Harvey, outside hitters Olivia Ruy — an Arkansas commit — and Taliah Lee — a Long Beach State commit — setter Sophie Wendt (Colorado Mesa) and liberos Kambree Rodriguez (Utah State) and Kaieva Johnson (Utah). But it took a comeback effort to notch its first power pool win. After dropping the first set 25-23, Club V found its rhythm and turned the intensity up a notch—including an 8-1 start to the third set. “They are the more athletic team,” Harvey said of A5. “But I think our ball control, our hustle on defense and we have that grit that other teams don’t have. That’s what we push hard no matter what.” “We work hard at having options and finding different ways to score points,” Carlson said. “If we’re not in system, we still want to run fast and create chaos. They’ve done a good job of doing that so when we come here, we’re not lost in the speed. “For us, it comes down to consistency,” the coach added. “We came here to have a day like today where we play (the tough competition) at Triple Crown. We’ll build as we get more of these types of matches. The talent is obviously there and we do a good job of wanting to compete against those teams.” by Kyle Koso
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Electric in every moment, composed in the big picture, and confident about how to maintain that tricky balance – it’s proving to be a potent mix for the TStreet 14 Carson volleyball squad. The California-based program is brewing up as a hefty challenger for the title as the 2023 Triple Crown NIT plays out at the Kansas City Convention Center, with TStreet going 3-0 on Saturday in power-pool play. They wrapped up their early run with a resounding 25-11, 25-14 victory over Legacy (Mich.) and are one of five teams to get through Day 1 unscathed (joining Arizona Storm, Austin Performance, Skyline Royal and Texas Advantage. “We’ll take this great start and just hope to keep rolling. One of our biggest strengths is staying calm when things get weird – the leaders of the team start that vibe,” said TStreet head coach Carson Tanner. Indeed, when TStreet faced the occasional moments of tension, there was almost no wobble at all, with setter Gabriella Souza constantly directing the ball to the best-positioned player to make things right. For most points, those kills shots came from the differing angles of 6-foot-2 middle Megan Hodges and 5-8 outside hitter Ella Olson. “Souza is an amazing setter and will take any type of ball and make a play out of it,” Tanner added. “All the hitters know to be ready for the set.” That road map helped TStreet settle in at the finish after watching a 16-6 lead tighten up to 16-13. “Our team has a really good connection; I’ve been with them since we were 12, and we have a huge bond together,” said Hodges, who made some clever tips but really did damage in the middle, attacking crisply off Souza’s sets. “A point is important, but we don’t let an error on our part make everything feel wrong. We try to use it to get better. “It’s great (controlling the middle). It’s such an amazing feeling to get that perfect block, the perfect time, and the ball goes straight down.” TStreet took a 16-6 lead as well in Set 1 and never flinched, sweeping up the set on some Legacy miscues. In Set 2, Hodges had a block and a kill to reset the score to 18-14; an ace from Alexis Link made it 23-14, and a noisy kill from Olson brought it match point with TStreet wrapping it up on an opponent’s error. “We know we can get out of (trouble), we’ll get it back – we’ve built that trust in each other. This shows our hard work is paying off and our ‘A’ game is pretty much the best in the country,” Olson said. “This was a good warm-up day and we’re only going to get better.” Olson is one of those unique volleyball athletes, showing up on the outside giving up several inches to most players. But her vertical jump is eye-catching, and coupled with a very violent arm swing, it’s a lot to deal with for defenses. “My brother is going to Pepperdine; I watched him grow by getting in the gym. He’s about 6-foot tall, as an (opposite hitter), I saw his vertical go up like crazy,” she said. “That got me going to the gym, waking up before school, going before practice, and I think that helped me a lot.” KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As college coaches from up and down the NCAA’s range of divisions looked on, the athletes looked ready for the occasion at the Unsigned Player Workout held Friday ahead of the Triple Crown NIT event.
With workouts administered by the coaching staffs from the Munciana and Houston Juniors club programs, all the position groups spent the 90 minutes of each session flexing their fundamentals and, ideally, elevating their game in one of the early periods where coaches can scout for their future rosters. “I just thought of it as providing an opportunity for myself by working my hardest, so I can get some people watching me (Saturday). It’s all about making myself better,” said Zoe McDonald, 17, who plays for the 17-1 KC Power program and attends Shawnee Mission High School. “For me, it’s wide open, I’m looking for whatever I can get. I would love to go D-I and the East Coast would be fun.” McDonald pounded away at the ball during her swings and targeted her shots accurately, all the while showing the hustle and coachability that will required at the next level. “It was hard work here, but still really fun. I was sweating so much. It’s so cool to see all these great players together,” she added, noting that her focus also includes a terrific finish for KC Power in the tournament. “We’re hoping to go undefeated – we are definitely trying to win it all.” From a coaching standpoint, the Workout made it easy to deepen the list of prospective options, with zero wasted time in between drills. “This was a very high-level workout. The coaches running it did a wonderful job, and the level of play was some of the highest I’ve seen in the country,” said Ashley Capone, assistant coach at Hamilton College, a Division III program in New York. “We are looking into the class of 2024 and 2025, so this was very helpful. “Following up over the weekend, I’ll start watching the kids who have written us and who have reached out, and then I’ll wander a bit and look for kids who could fit in our program. We’ve got a lot of interest from players here before, so we’d love to keep that going.” “I thought this first session with the middles and the setters was extremely well run. We are looking at setters and they did a great job to optimize their contacts,” said Chuck Voss, head coach at Cleveland State for 23 years and six-time Horizon League coach of the year. “There are definitely some girls we are going to look at (Saturday) in live play and explore further. “Recruiting, since this is really the first day we’re allowed to get out and do stuff, most coaches feel so far behind, in scramble mode. We are trying to fill that 2024 class, and schools that have done that will have a leg up and get to watch the ‘25’s tomorrow.” KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the Triple Crown Volleyball NIT, the energy and dedication of the athletes first shows up on College Camp Friday, where players add to their to-do list with a session of skill building piloted by college coaches.
In 2023, the plan required some tweaks as the NCAA altered the rules about college program presence, but the TC NIT was lucky to dig into previous relationships with coaches outside the Division I ranks and assembled a rollicking roster of camps that met the requirements of the moment. “I worked these camps before the rule change, so I knew what was going on. You’ve got some of the best teams in the country coming to this, and it’s great to work with that kind of talent,” said Chuck Waddington, head coach at Angelo State (Texas). “The kids were into it, every position group, working hard and trying to get better. Even with the huge tournament coming up, they were looking to get better. And there are some kids in (the camp), you say I’m definitely going to track her, she was really coachable and impressive. A lot of kids are not from Texas, a lot haven’t had any exposure to us, so this works out great.” “We have a really strong tradition of working with camps, high academic camps, and this is an opportunity to meet players and spend quality time with them,” said Leah Saunders, assistant coach at Emory University (Georgia). “It’s great one-on-one time, you can get immediate feedback and learn about their playing styles. We hold these moments dear to our program. “They love playing here; playing in this tournament is such an honor, and they want to rise to the occasion and take it seriously. It’s a fun group to work with; everyone is internally motivated.” Camps were held in two sessions at the Kansas City Convention Center, each one ending with high-fives, smiles and more than a few extra conversations between coaches and players who found a connection. One athlete who moved with a purpose in and out of every drill was Finley Lemay, 14, who plays for the Mavs club program, conveniently based in Kansas City. Showing excellent touch as well as a strong right arm during hitting drills, Lemay looked way beyond her years when it came to court skills, but even so, getting better never strays too far from her thoughts. “I came out here to get some work in and get better. And I was glad to get some feedback from the coaches, hearing things I had not heard before,” Lemay said. “There’s obviously stuff I need to work on; I’d say I’m good, but still not good enough. The girls were fun, very welcoming, smiled a lot, so that was all fun.” FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A coast-to-coast roster of the nation’s most accomplished volleyball programs will fill the halls again at the Kansas City Convention Center, as Triple Crown Sports prepares to unleash the 2023 TC NIT event over President’s Day Weekend.
Featuring action in age groups ranging from 12u through 18u, the TC NIT welcomes 568 teams, with balls first going in the air on College Camp Friday, Feb. 17. That full day of college-coach driven instruction and clinics is followed with three days of high-tempo tournament play, concluding with championship day on Monday, Feb. 20. The event is scheduled so the highest-ranked teams play each other right away, with Power Pool teams still guaranteed a berth in the Elite championship bracket. Other teams can earn their way into the final chase for the trophy – the 13u through 15u championship matches will be broadcast on YouTube, with the 16u through 18u title matches broadcast on ESPN-3. With 71 courts covering the grounds in Bartle Hall, the TC NIT will field 76 of the top 100 clubs (as positioned in TC’s US Club Rankings), with 147 clubs overall in attendance ranging from Hawaii to New York, and Florida to Oregon. College Camp Friday will be populated with 750-plus athletes absorbing tactics to improve their games – more than 500 college coaches will spend time at the event in full recruiting mode, and conservative estimates see about 22,000 visitors coming to Kansas City, creating a $15 million economic impact moment. “This event is a 12-month investment of work and planning, but it all begins with the tireless support of the clubs, coaches, players and fans who have stood behind the TC NIT with total enthusiasm,” said Jared Rudiger, director of volleyball at Triple Crown Sports. “I can’t be any happier with the consideration and detail-driven efforts of Kansas City as a whole. We look forward to watching these passionate and committed young women go to work on the courts and encourage others to check out the event and be inspired by the level of competition.” The TC NIT began in 2014 and moved to Kansas City in 2019. The event has evolved numerous special touches embraced by the volleyball world, including shuttle arrangements for teams to get to and from the airport, a dynamic vendor row, free seminars on helping athletes prepare for demands at the next level and a parent hospitality room, with drinks and snacks available for fans needing a break from the whistles. About Triple Crown Sports Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing youth, high school and college events for 40 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s DI Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering “WNIT” concept events in D-I softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. Triple Crown’s PV College Challenge features more than 10 of the top DI college softball teams in the country each year in Puerto Vallarta, MX. Anchored by the 1,100-team Colorado 4th of July event, TC fastpitch tournaments draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. TCS produces one of the largest youth baseball events in the world with the Omaha SlumpBuster during the College World Series. The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT has become the top-recruited club volleyball event in the country each February when 550-plus teams compete in Kansas City, MO Watch the best volleyball clubs in the country compete for a championship at the 2023 Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City, MO. The 13's through 18's Elite Division championship games will be streamed live on YouTube and ESPN3. FORT COLLINS, CO – In advance of February’s 2023 TC NIT volleyball event in Kansas City, Triple Crown Volleyball is excited to announce a partnership with The Protector Whistle, which will be the “Official Whistle” of the tournament. The Protector Whistle is the first and only hygienic whistle available and reduces consumable, expelled airborne particles by more than 98 percent.
Each team attending the event at the Kansas City Convention Center (Feb. 18-20) will receive one hygienic whistle, and every referee working the matches will be given one as well, with more than 700 whistles ultimately distributed. The idea for The Protector Whistle came in response to the COVID pandemic and discovery and understanding of the unnecessary risk introduced via standard whistles, designed and patented to cut down on airborne particles via a reduction from up and toward to down and away from players. Protector Whistles reduce droplet concentration by more than 98 percent and allow for germ reduction without sacrificing performance. “As a volleyball parent, the Triple Crown NIT is the ultimate volleyball event. When we figured out how many times a whistle blows over the NIT weekend, the choice to introduce The Protector Whistle to the volleyball community at the NIT was obvious,” said Julie Canaday, Director of Outreach at The Protector Whistle. “We are going to stop a lot of spit from flying out of whistles and take unnecessary risk off the table.” “The Triple Crown NIT is a very people-intensive setting, with thousands of players, fans and coaches in motion at the KC Convention Center. We are pleased to offer our customers the extra protection that comes with the use of The Protector Whistle,” said Jared Rudiger, director of volleyball at Triple Crown. “These whistles are an effective solution in cutting down on a concern we all have, post-COVID, and teams and referees will be impressed with The Protector Whistle performance.” About The Protector Whistle Based in Pittsburgh, PA., The Protector Whistle is the first-of-its-kind hygienic whistle. The patented design redirects air down and away and reduces aerosol droplet concentration by 98 percent. The Protector Whistle is the obvious choice for school, officials and coaches. About Triple Crown Sports Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing youth, high school and college events for 40 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s DI Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering “WNIT” concept events in D-I softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. Triple Crown’s PV College Challenge features more than 10 of the top DI college softball teams in the country each year in Puerto Vallarta, MX. Anchored by the 1,100-team Colorado 4th of July event, TC fastpitch tournaments draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. TCS produces one of the largest youth baseball events in the world with the Omaha SlumpBuster during the College World Series. The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT has become the top-recruited club volleyball event in the country each February when 550 teams compete in Kansas City, MO. Here’s your chance to stay in step with the 2023 TC NIT – download the official event App for FREE and connect with all the important information for the event. It’s your roadmAPP for news, schedules, court maps, event partners, NIT photo filters, special deals in Kansas City, important updates and much more! Coaches, players, parents, fans – Click to download >> “The NIT is a highlight moment on the Triple Crown calendar, and we are thrilled to be back in Kansas City with all eyes on this amazing field of teams,” said TC volleyball director Jared Rudiger. “Our event App will help all those on hand get maximum value from their time in KC. It’s an action-packed weekend, and we urge all our customers to let the App help them stay on top of what’s going on.”
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