FC Elite 15 Navy Takes 5th In Detroit

The final leg of National Championships season took place in Detroit, MI. While there were 16’s teams competing in Orlando, Detroit hosted 33 Wisconsin teams ranging from 12’s-17’s from June 25th-July 4th. Here is a recap of how our teams ended up, as well as a special look at FC Elite 15 Navy, with a highly skilled group that took 5th out of 48 teams in the Classic Division in Orlando. FC Elite 15 Navy – 15 National Division – 5th place out of 48 teams FC Elite was not as experienced on the national stage as most of the teams they faced, but they had tenacity. FC Elite came in as the fourth seed in their pool, and after losing their first match to ECVC Hurricanes 15-1 (21-25, 19-25), they turned some heads, winning 4 straight matches against AZ Sky 15G (25-16, 25-17), C1VB 15 National (25-18, 25-19), TIV 15 Mizuno La (26-24, 14-25, 15-13, and CIS 15M (32-30, 25-19). FC Elite dropped the first match of their round 2 pool play to AVC Clef Rod 15N Mike (25-15, 16-25, 10-15) and then bounced back with a win over JJVA TEAM ROX 15N John (25-19, 19-25, 15-11). They won a tough battle in their challenge match against Six Pack 15 (25-22, 18-25, 16-14) to make it into the Gold Bracket. Myka Roenthal (2022 – 5’9” – Outside Hitter – Howards Grove) passed perfectly in key moments, [player_tooltip player_id="56461" first="Avery" last="Torrey"] (2021 – 6’2” – Middle Blocker/Right Side - Kaukauna) presented a huge block at the net and Kirsten Kraus (2021 – 6’0” – Setter/Right Side - Neenah) made great decisions and big plays at key moments.[player_tooltip player_id="80713" first="Cora" last="Behnke"] (2021 – 6’1” – Outside Hitter - Oconto) had 3 match-ending kills, and [player_tooltip player_id="33767" first="Alyssa" last="Koska"] (2021 – 5’8” – Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist – Bay Port) had made huge serves in big moments! FC Elite had to fight in the quarterfinals but fell just short against Premier Nebraska 15 Gold (23-25, 25-14, 13-15). Coach Brett Damrow attributed his team’s success to their belief system. “They not only learned to completely believe in themselves and fear no one but also believe in the process laid out before them and never focus on the end result. They have turned into some of the most confident athletes in the gym every time they competed!” FC Elite’s defense and solid first contact allowed their setters to efficiently run the offense and establish their middle attack early. [player_tooltip player_id="82282" first="Saige" last="Damrow"] (2023 – 5’5” – Libero – Howards Grove) plays up 2 age groups and was named to All-Tournament team and really controlled their first touch. She takes on half the court in serve receive and keeps them in system a lot. Saige has a lot of positive energy and keeps her teammates engaged. [player_tooltip player_id="22384" first="Karissa" last="Kaminski"] (2022 – 5’8” – Setter/Outside Hitter – Howards Grove) peaked at the right time! She plays up 1 age group and was one of FC Elite’s setters most of the year until the last 2 months when she was moved to the outside. She’s a spark plug that sees the court well while playing all 6 rotations. Karissa never came out the entire tournament and scored big points in big moments. [player_tooltip player_id="80728" first="Linnea" last="Willer"] (2021 – 5’11” – Pin Hitter – Freedom) was huge on the right side and at the serving line. She attacked over .500 hitting percentage and brought a lot of power to the lineup. Linnea just got better as the tournament went on and played her best in big moments. [player_tooltip player_id="80727" first="Emma" last="Mans"] (2021 – 6’2” – Middle Blocker – Fort Atkinson) and [player_tooltip player_id="80732" first="Brianna" last="Geurts"] (2021 - 6’0” – Middle Blocker – DePere) really controlled the net offensively and defensively out of the middle. [player_tooltip player_id="80719" first="Brooke" last="Bolwerk"] (2021 – 5’8” – Setter – Appleton North) ran a 5-1 at times and was one of the most consistent setters on the court. She kept a calm demeanor and steady hands in big moments. I AM VBC 14 – 14 Patriot Division – 17th place out of 65 teams Round 1 Pool Play: Won vs Ohana 14U National (25-16, 25-21) Won vs Ignite 14 Select (25-22, 26-24) Lost vs Orange County 14 Blue (7-25, 24-26) Round 2 Pool Play: Won vs Knights 14 Adidas Black (25-19, 25-23) Lost vs Downstate 14 Black (20-25, 20-25) Lost vs MVVC G 14 Red (22-25, 22-25) Round 3 Pool Play: Won vs SG Elite 14 Thunder (25-15, 25-21) Won vs LAVA North 14 Adidas (25-15, 25-9) Flight 1 Bracket: Won vs Rancho Valley 14Premier (25-13, 25-21) Won vs WAVE 14 Jessica (25-23, 24-26, 15-10) Wisconsin Premier 14 Teal – 14 American Division – 19th place out of 64 teams Round 1 Pool Play: Lost vs Cape Coast 14 ELITE (20-25, 25-20, 10-15) Lost vs Pacific Jos 14-Ren (25-22, 16-25, 9-15) Won vs Imagine 14-1 (27-25, 25-16) Won vs Uno Girls 14 Elite (25-16, 25-13) Won vs HOU STELLAR 14 ELITE (25-17, 17-25, 15-5) Lost vs Elite VBTC 14 Black (14-25, 22-25) Won vs MAC Juniors 14-1 Black (29-27, 25-16) Challenge Bracket: Lost vs Cobb Atlanta 14 Kevin (22-25, 14-25) Bronze Bracket: Won vs NorCal Black 14-1 (25-18, 25-18) Lost vs Pacific Jrs 14-Ren (20-25, 21-25) Southport G16 Blue – 16 Patriot Division – 21st place out of 61 teams FC Elite 17 Navy – 17 National Division – 21st place out of 48 teams SWVBC G14 BLUE – 14 Patriot Division – 35th place out of 65 teams Fusao 16 Azul – 16 Patriot Division – 35th place out of 61 teams FC Elite 14 Navy – 14 Patriot Division – 41st place out of 65 teams Fusao 17 Azul – 17 Patriot Division – 30th place out of 47 teams WVA Lake Effect 15-Yellow – 15 Patriot Division – 39th place out of 61 teams Midwest Penguins 15-Black – 15 National Division – 33rd place out of 48 teams River City 14 Blue – 14 Patriot Division – 45th place out of 65 teams SWVBC G16 BLUE – 16 Patriot Division – 45th place out of 61 teams RVA G15 Navy – 15 Patriot Division – 45th place out of 61 teams I AM VBC 12 – 12 American Division – 37th place out of 48 teams Epic 16 - West – 16 American Division – 50th place out of 64 teams SWVBC G15 – Blue – 15 Patriot Division – 49th place out of 61 teams Wisconsin Premier 15 Teal – 15 American Division – 50th place out of 64 teams Midwest Penguins 14 – Red – 14 Patriot Division – 51st place out of 65 teams Fusao 14 Azul – 14 Patriot Division – 53rd place out of 65 teams Muskegon Stars 14 Blue – 14 Patriot Division – 53rd place out of 65 teams Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple – 15 American Division – 55th place out of 64 teams RVA G16 Navy – 16 American Division – 55th place out of 64 teams Southport G15 – Blue – 15 Patriot Division – 54th place out of 61 teams Wisconsin Select 17 – 17 National Division – 43rd place out of 48 teams Midwest Penguins 14 – Black – 14 National Division – 43rd place out of 48 teams Power Green Bay 14 Green – 14 Patriot Division – 59th place out of 65 teams Midwest Penguins 13 – Black – 13 American Division – 58th place out of 64 teams Power Green Bay 16 Green – 16 Patriot Division – 57th place out of 61 teams FC Elite 16 Navy – 16 National Division – 45th place out of 48 teams 360 VA 12-1 – 12 American Division – 45th place out of 48 teams Wisconsin Premier 14White – 14 American Division – 61st place out of 64 teams Wisconsin Premier 13 Teal – 13 American Division – 62nd place out of 64 teams