NLVA 15-Girouard and No Coast 15 Wave Shine in Open

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 15 Open division showcased thrilling competition and remarkable talent, with teams battling fiercely for top honors. NLVA 15-Girouard made a strong impression by securing 2nd place in a tough field, while No Coast 15 Wave demonstrated their potential in their debut at the President's Day tournament. Both teams exhibited skill, determination, and teamwork, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. Here's a closer look at their performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NLVA 15-Girouard Makes a Strong Statement with 2nd Place Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NLVA 15-Girouard showcased their remarkable talent by finishing in 2nd place with an impressive 8-1 record and a stellar 16-4 in sets, narrowly falling to Circle City 15 Purple in the championship match, 20-25, 18-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tournament began on Day 1 with a thrilling three-set victory over Milwaukee Jr's 15-1 (21-25, 25-15, 15-6), allowing NLVA to finish the day with a perfect 3-0 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 2 kicked off with another intense three-set win against the formidable MJVA 15 Elite Black team, where NLVA clinched the final set with a tight 15-13 victory. From that point on, they didn't lose another set until the title match. This final was a rematch against Circle City 15 Purple, which NLVA had previously defeated with scores of 25-23 and 25-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NLVA's success was fueled by standout performances from hitters [player_tooltip player_id='785187' first='Layla' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='895344' first='Elowyn' last='Couch'], [player_tooltip player_id='909877' first='Aubrey' last='Kane'], and [player_tooltip player_id='786448' first='Addison' last='Lehman']. [player_tooltip player_id='897285' first='Adelaide' last='Rice'] and Maya Davis anchored the middle, providing strong support. Versatile hitter [player_tooltip player_id='783482' first='Delilah' last='Mazur'] proved effective both on the pins and in the middle, showcasing her adaptability along the net. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='897424' first='Mackenzie' last='Pancer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='909860' first='Julie' last='Jenkerson'] were tough as nails, ensuring solid coverage. The team benefited from the skilled play of setters Alexis Haefer and [player_tooltip player_id='785182' first='Avery' last='Finney'], who are both capable of running the offense solo or switching to a 6-2 rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regardless of how you look at it, this team is on a mission and has demonstrated its prowess at both the Gateway League and the President's Day Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No Coast 15 Wave Excels in Debut President's Day Classic </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No Coast 15 Wave delivered an impressive performance, tying for 5th place in their debut tournament. The team finished with a solid 6-2 record and an outstanding 13-4 in sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Day 1, they faced MJVA 15 Elite Black, narrowly losing in a thrilling match that ended 27-25, 23-25, 13-15. Despite this setback, they concluded the day with a respectable 2-1 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 2 proved to be a turning point, as No Coast swept all three opponents, finishing 3-0 and advancing to the gold bracket. Their gold bracket play began with a close victory over Memphis VBAcademy 15 Red, 28-26, 25-22. However, they encountered a formidable NLVA 15-Girouard team in the following match, ultimately losing 21-25, 15-25. Despite this defeat, No Coast secured a commendable 5th place in the 15 Open division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No Coast boasts a standout outside hitter in <strong>Maddy Haynes</strong>, who can deliver powerful plays from anywhere on the court. Middle hitters <strong>Isabella Zeik</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='915738' first='Autumn' last='Stith'] have been solid contributors, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='900194' first='Kinslie' last='Leonard']</strong> and <strong>Madeline Hume</strong> provide versatility on the pins. <strong>Taylor Matthews</strong> adds depth to the lineup, and defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='775378' first='Avy' last='Sanders'], [player_tooltip player_id='932142' first='Maha' last='Devrapally'], and libero [player_tooltip player_id='778394' first='Abigail' last='Koelling'] create a strong foundation. This team is on the verge of something special in their first year together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->