What is the Triple Crown?In 2013, Triple Crown Sports met with 25 elite club directors for discussions on the world of Elite volleyball. Following this gathering, the 2014 Triple Crown Volleyball Championships unfolded in Salt Lake City, UT, featuring a…
What is the Triple Crown? In 2013, Triple Crown Sports met with 25 elite club directors for discussions on the world of Elite volleyball. Following this gathering, the 2014 Triple Crown Volleyball Championships unfolded in Salt Lake City, UT, featuring a total of 38 teams, among them Coast and Tstreet.
Since then, the Triple Crown has become one of the nation’s premier club volleyball tournaments, drawing top-tier teams and boasting an impressive turnout of over 500 college coaches. It serves as a platform for the crème de la crème to compete against one another, showcasing their talent and competing at the highest level.
This year, the 2024 TC NIT is scheduled for President’s Day Weekend, February 17-19, 2024, just around the corner.
In anticipation of our powerhouse California teams venturing to Kansas City, I connected with some of our top prospects to delve into their preparations for this monumental event. Their insightful responses have culminated in six articles, which I’ll be sharing over the upcoming week. May their dedication and preparations serve as inspiration for your own athletic endeavors and pursuit of achieving your goals whether they be in Kansas City or at your next local tournament.
Let’s press play on the final track and hear directly from the athletes…
“It was an amazing experience last year winning Triple Crown. We competed in the Northern Lights Qualifier this weekend to help us prepare for Kansas City and will be reviewing film from the tournament to help us see what we need to work on. We continue to grow together as a team and we are really excited for the season ahead!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
“Triple Crown is such a fun and competitive tournament to play at! One of my favorite parts about Triple Crown is that you get to see so many amazing teams from all around the country and it’s really one of the first times you can play people from outside of your region. I love that every team you play is high level, so it pushes you to become an even better player! Also, a highlight for me was winning Triple Crown last year, and I am excited to compete for the title again! As a team, we have been focused on maintaining a competitive mentality. Everyone has been so supportive of each other and it’s been so fun getting to know one another. We want to carry our positive mentality into Triple Crown. Personally, in preparation for the tournament I have been by been focusing on strength training and nutrition. it’s super important to me to do everything I can to make sure to stay healthy so that I can play my best at Triple Crown!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
“In preparation for Triple Crown my team and I are going to rely on our previous training and great coaching from our coaches Melissa, Fiapo, and Chloe. Our coaches have been pushing us to be our best on and off the court from weight lifting and journaling to making sure we do all of the little things in practice. At this point, especially in 18s, it is crucial which team is the most committed to each other and their goals, and those teams will land on top. Before triple crown we are going to Salt Lake City to try and qualify for 18 Open, which will give us an opportunity to play teams other than SoCal and be at a travel tournament before Kansas City. For us, after winning the 17 Open National Championship last season, we will have a target on our back, so it will important for us to focus on our goals this year and start with blank slate. While doing all of this we will always make sure to have fun and enjoy playing because in the end that’s what it’s all about!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
”This Triple Crown season in Kansas City, I’ve dedicated myself to rigorous training, focusing on my vertical, serve receive, and overall strength. Prioritizing mental nutrition, I maintain a healthy diet and stay well hydrated. Wellness is crucial; I stay mentally focused and carry a positive attitude on and off the court during practices. Our team bonding involves shared dinners and sunset watching, fostering a strong and positive connection. Preparation for recruiting includes crafting letters and sharing highlight clips with colleges of interest. Participating in Triple Crown has been an awe-inspiring experience, competing against the top national players and relishing the incredible competitive moments on the court.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
”The triple crown is a tournament where I think that every level team can learn and grow from. The practices before the tournament are the most important and I believe that the team as a whole can grow a lot and learn from each other. Mentally i think that it takes a lot of confidence in your self and the team to be able to go and play in front of college coaches and other people that are watching the game. Triple crown is one of the most important tournaments of the season and all of the teams participating look forward to it each year.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
“Triple Crown is one of my favorite tournaments because the competition is unmatched and each game is played at an extremely high level. One of my favorite things about big tournaments like Triple Crown is the volleyball community itself. I love meeting new people and reuniting with teams with which we have a close bond. My team and I are eagerly anticipating playing in Triple Crown! And we’re hoping for a little snow again this year since we don’t see much of it here in San Diego!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
”This will be my third time attending Triple Crown and it has become my favorite tournament. My team loves it because it is like a season opener and can be more competitive than qualifiers. In the past, it has been very fun because everyone there is super excited to compete and see college coaches, while not having the stress of a bid on the line. That allows teams like mine to focus on ourselves, and figure out what we need to improve on before the qualifier season.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
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Highlights
If you haven’t caught up on earlier tracks, please make sure to visit PrepDig.com to hear all of the athletes’ voices.