Big City Luau Recap | 15/16 Gold Division

<p>The host club captured the 15/16 Gold championship at the 2018 Big City Luau. Kokoro 16-1 completed a perfect 8-0 tournament record dropping only two sets in two days. In Round 1 pool play action Kokoro opened up the event with a matchup that would repeat itself in the championship finals. A 25-18, 25-18 victory Milwaukee Sting 16 White set the tone for day one as Kokoro also defeated Crossfire 15-2 and Pentagon 16 Orange in 2-0 fashion. Round 2 pool play included a Kokoro vs M1 showcase as Kokoro 16-1 advanced along with Kokoro 15-1 and M1’s 151 and 162 teams to face one another for seeding into final bracket competition Sunday afternoon. Kokoro 16-1 defeated their 15-1 counterpart in a close 25-23, 25-22 match. The day got even more intense as both matches against M1 went the distance with Kokoro 16-1 winning 15-12 against 162 and 15-11 versus 152 in the third set respectively. With the Round 2 sweep, Kokoro 16-1 advanced to the semifinals of the Championship bracket along with the other pool winners KEVC 16-1 and two Milwaukee Sting teams in 15 Black and 16 White. Kokoro 16-1 advanced to the finals with a straight set 25-17, 25-14 win over KEVC 16-1. Milwaukee Sting 16 White advanced to the finals with a 25-20, 25-13 over Sting 15 Black. The rematch between Kokoro 16-1 and Milwaukee Sting 16 White was more competitive at the end of the day but the result remained the same as Kokoro’s victory was earned in straights sets with scores of 27-25, 25-21.</p> <p>Some key performers for Kokoro 16-1 included outside hitters <strong>Alex Kyle</strong> (Tartan HS | 2020) and <strong>Halle Olson</strong> (River Falls HS, WI | 2020), setter <strong>Lauren Stenman</strong> (North HS | 2020), and middle blocker <strong>Maddie Whittington</strong> (Stillwater Area HS | 2020).</p> <p>A total of 33 teams competed in the 15/16 Gold division. The final standings among the top 10 teams were as follows:</p> <p>1^st – Kokoro 16-1 (8-0 record)</p> <p>2^nd – Milwaukee Sting 16 White (6-3 record)</p> <p>3^rd (tie) – Milwaukee Sting 15 Black (6-1 record)</p> <p>3^rd (tie) – KEVC 16-1 (5-2 record)</p> <p>5^th – MN Select 16-2 (7-1 record; Silver bracket winner)</p> <p>6^th – M1 151 (6-2 record)</p> <p>7^th (tie) – MN Select 16-3 (4-3 record)</p> <p>7^th (tie) – Summit 15-Elite (5-2 record)</p> <p>9^th – Vital 16-1 Gold (7-1 record; Bronze bracket winner)</p> <p>10^th – M1 162 (5-4 record)</p> <p>Other U15 &amp; U16 Results</p> <p><strong>15 Silver</strong></p> <p>M1 15Blue completed a perfect weekend finishing 8-0 with a championship match victory over Kokoro 15-2 by scores of 22-25, 25-11, 17-15. The top five finishers in 15 Silver were:</p> <p>1^st – M1 15Blue (8-0 record)</p> <p>2^nd – Kokoro 15-2 (7-1 record)</p> <p>3^rd (tie) – STMA 15-1 Blue (5-2 record)</p> <p>3^rd (tie) – Rage 15-1 (6-1 record)</p> <p>5^th – MN Select 15-2 (7-1 record; Silver bracket winner)</p> <p><strong>16 Silver</strong></p> <p>ClubRed 16 Red defeated M1 16White by scores of 10-25, 25-22, 15-10 to claim the 16 Silver tournament title. ClubRed completed the weekend with an 8-0 record and only two sets lost. The top five finishers in 16 Silver were:</p> <p>1^st – ClubRed 16 Red (8-0 record)</p> <p>2^nd – M1 16White (5-2 record)</p> <p>3^rd – MN Select 16 Black (4-2 record)</p> <p>4^th – MN Select 15-2 (7-1 record; Silver bracket winner)</p> <p>5^th – Kokoro 16-2 (5-2 record)</p>