Triple Crown Prep: Athlete’s Voices – Track 1
In this article:
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 Track 1 and hear directly from the athletes...
Layli Ostovar
“In the week leading up to Triple Crown, I will start mentally preparing by reading mentality books. It’s something I started doing before CIF and State championship games and I feel it helps me stay focused on my goal, be confident, and be mentally tough during stressful situations on the court. Triple Crown is my favorite tourney of the year! I spend a lot of time off-season improving my athleticism and skills and I can’t wait to perform in front of college coaches!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
Highlights
Memphis Burnett
“I’m really excited about Triple Crown. A lot of practice and preparation has gone into my team, of course, but for me, personally, I wanted to really take this time before tournament season to focus on my mental preparation. We all know that tournament weekends can go by quickly, games and sets become a blur and run into each other sometimes. I am focusing on being in the moment with my incredible teammates playing the game that I love so much. I have been lucky enough to play this game for a long time, and I have some of very best memories at these tournaments. Some of my closest friends and I really get to travel to these fun places- and I love Kansas City, and play volleyball all weekend! What could be better than that? I want to honor that more than anything else. We put in the work, so I want to be ready to enjoy it.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
rnTwo of my teammates, Sophia Saad (Setter Class of 2025) and Macey Smith (Libero Class of 2025 and SUU Commit).
Highlights
Finley Krystkowiak
“From trying to be who people expected you to be, to being true to myself. The experiences that made triple crown unbelievable was when we were all playing like it was our last game, every game. Looking around seeing all the college coaches and talking about our future and how amazing it is that we made it this far.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
Highlights
Audrey Flanagan
“Our team has been focused on our return to the Triple Crown tournament since the start of the season. This year I am emphasizing my mental preparation. We spend hours of practice on technique and strategy but the mental aspect of a match can mean the difference between a win or loss. Since this is our first out of state tournament, and we have the pressure of recruiting season, I want to be sure my teammates and I can manage the pressure and maintain the right headspace. To accomplish this we have developed great team chemistry. Our team is extremely close and we put a lot of trust into each other, which takes a lot of pressure off of each of us. Last year we finished second in Triple Crown and it was such an incredible experience and we are so excited to compete this year!!!” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
Highlights
Ellie Burr
“I’ve been focusing on going after every ball and improving my serve receive as well as maintaining good energy.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
Highlights
Soraya Dennis
“As we gear up for the upcoming Triple Crown, my focus is on strength training, proper nutrition, ensuring enough sleep, and developing intimate connections with my teammates. Being part of Wave Volleyball Club , I feel fortunate to benefit from the amazing training provided by our coaches. It’s about building physical resilience, fueling our bodies wisely, fostering a strong bond within the team, and watching game videos to enhance our strategy. This tournament is more than just a showcase; with numerous college coaches attending, it’s our chance to shine as a team on the national stage.” Quote provided to Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig
