18s Nationals Champions – Vegas United 18 Black

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Vegas United 18s put together a dominant championship run at the 2026 USAV GJNC in Reno, Nevada, held May 1–3. The squad powered through the 18-Patriot division and finished on top, bringing home the gold championship trophy. Their run was a complete display of hard work, toughness, and determination proving that commitment to the grind can lead all the way to the top.

Championship Roster 

Vegas United 18s finished the weekend with an impressive 8-2 record on their way to capturing the 18-Patriot gold championship at the 2026 USAV GJNC. Their path to the title was not perfect, but that is what made the run even more impressive. The group faced adversity early, responded every time, and showed the resilience needed to finish on top.

VU opened the tournament with a tough two-set loss to BAVC 18 National Jo, but the early setback never shook the team's confidence. Instead, they responded with four straight wins to quickly put themselves back in contention.

One of the biggest moments of the weekend came against Reno's own NNJ 18 Kuna in what felt like a true Nevada rivalry matchup. With the hometown crowd behind NNJ, the atmosphere brought plenty of intensity, but Vegas United stayed composed and battled their way to a huge three-set victory, winning 25-22, 24-26, 15-12.

From that point on, Vegas United never looked back. The squad closed the tournament with four more consecutive wins, including a dominant finish in the championship match to secure the gold trophy.

We caught up with a few Vegas United players to hear about their journey to the championship, what this run meant to them, and the lessons they've learned along the way. They also shared advice for younger players — and even a few things they would tell their younger selves. Hear from a few of the champs below.

How did you prepare for Nationals?

My dad would help me prepare for what could possibly happen in the game, doing drills in the backyard and showing me diagrams on where I should be when a specific thing happens!!

How did it feel on day 3, winning game after game? How did you mentally prepare for the next round?

That we were slowly going to our goal of winning the championship, and that if we kept going the reward would be worth everything we have worked towards 

Describe the feeling after winning the championship?

Accomplished!! Every practice and extreme drill were worth it, we were prepared for the long game of back to back points! Even when we were past 25 and the game kept getting longer and closer, we still had the momentum to keep going 

What would you say to younger players hoping to reach this goal? 

Never give up!! Don't let anyone doubt you, keep going with your goals and continue pushing forward!!

How did you prepare for Nationals?

I prepared for nationals by staying disciplined in the practices leading up to then. Putting in work on and off the court. Focusing on having a positive mindset. Knowing that no matter what happens, win or lose I work hard regardless.

How did it feel on day 3, winning game after game? How did you mentally prepare for the next round?

On day 3 I felt so happy to know that all the work that me and my team put in was paying off. I mentally prepared by constantly reminding myself to refuel and rehydrate to keep my body going.

Describe the feeling after winning the championship?

The feeling of winning felt great considering all that went into getting there. I felt relieved to know that all that hard work wasn't for nothing

What would you say to younger players hoping to reach this goal? 

To all the younger players out there, don't give up. If you want to accomplish something you can do it. But you need to work hard at it and keep trying.

How did you prepare for Nationals?

Leading up to nationals we had a good month and a half to just practice and work. So we really made use of that time working on different skills that we may or may not have needed, and at one point or another it all came in handy during the tournament. We expanded our limits and added tools to our toolboxes, and it really helped us adapt to any team we came across.

How did it feel on day 3, winning game after game? How did you mentally prepare for the next round?

The funny thing on day 3 was that I was sick and had no voice and Vai Unga also had no voice, so each point, and each set, us as a team were trying to figure out new ways to communicate with each other. Game after game though, it was hard. But we all wanted to so badly. It started fo get more and more real each set we won. Between games we as a team were really focused on resting, refueling, and reconnecting. We made sure to stay in the presence of each other to continue our momentum and connection into the next game.

Describe the feeling after winning the championship?

After winning the championship, it just felt so surreal. This was a moment that I had always dreamed of but never thought could be real. But being able to win this with my girls all around me was the best feeling. We as a core group have been together for 4+ years, so all of the blood sweat, and tears finally payed off and felt so worth it. 

What would you say to younger to your younger self? 

I would tell my younger self that it is possible. Every rep counts. The hard reps. The easy reps. The fast reps. And the slow reps. Every touch is a step towards a medal. Don't give up on the sport. Don't give up on ur coaches. Don't give up on ur teammates. And most especially don't give up on urself because the people around you are the ones that are going to make this possible. Especially your parents and loved ones. Lastly, cherish every moment. And thank God for every moment because it goes by fast

What a resilient group of athletes. It has been an honor covering many of these players throughout their journeys, and we are excited to see what's next for each of them. Wishing this talented group nothing but success as they take the next steps in their volleyball careers.

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