Premier Nebraska 15 Gold Wins Thriller for 3-0 Start at TC NIT

The 15s age group is notoriously unpredictable—especially in Triple Crown NIT power pools.

It's a fact that Premier Nebraska 15 Gold likely doesn't take for granted, even after the team enjoyed plenty of high-profile success in 2025. This year's Kansas City trip marked 15 Gold's first major national test of the season. The Great Plains crew undoubtedly earned a passing grade on opening day.

Saturday evening's journey with a gritty straight-set win over TAV 15 Black Jason. 15 Gold capitalized on two deuce victories to seize the early win. This “clutch factor” was the prelude to what was to come later that night.

Premier Nebraska improved to 2-0 with an emphatic sweep over Tri-State Elite. This set up one more Day 1 duel to cap off perfection.

Another Texas team stood in the way. Houston Juniors 15 Elite stepped into the Saturday finale with confidence after pushing past 1st Alliance for its first victory. This final showdown would be a reminder that anything can happen in 15U power pools.

Despite Premier Nebraska's early success, HJV delivered the opening punch with a 25-22 Set 1 win. Onlookers could immediately draw parallels between the two squads, both of which wielded dynamic two-setter offenses with a quick pace to the pins.

15 Gold was suddenly forced to rebound from its first set loss of the day against a team that effectively mirrored what Premier Nebraska did best. It's a daunting proposition, but 15 Gold channeled a bit more of its top-tier experience.

The team's setter duo played a critical role in stabilizing the operation. Andie Blomenkamp Andie Blomenkamp 5'11" | S/RS Millard North | 2029 NE and Maci Falcone Maci Falcone 6'1" | S/RS Gretna East | 2029 NE present many of the same traits on both ends of the dial. Their physicality allows them to remain aggressive at the net, and they connect well with whoever is in the frontcourt. Having Sami Curnyn Sami Curnyn 5'8" | S Marian | 2029 NE in the rotation gives 15 Gold an additional layer of ball-control prowess at the setter spot.

This two-setter system is also aided by a wicked opposite duo that can play across the back row, too. Kenli Donner Kenli Donner 6'0" | OH/RS Gretna | 2029 NE and Fallyn O’Connell Fallyn O’Connell 5'10" | OH Marian | 2029 NE asserted themselves early in Saturday's action, and they keynoted the Set 2 comeback bid against HJV. 15 Gold claimed an early 8-4 lead in the second stanza, forcing a Houston Juniors timeout. 

Premier Nebraska's scoring onslaught continued as Marianna Zephier-Murphy Marianna Zephier-Murphy 6'1" | MB/RS Millard North | 2029 NE and Lucy Labedz Lucy Labedz 6'0" | RS Millard North | 2029 NE caught fire in the middle. 15 Gold can also wield Berkley Gerdes Berkley Gerdes 5'10" | MB/RS Papillion-La Vista South | 2029 NE in this spot, presenting even more matchup conundrums for opposing teams.

15 Gold never relinquished its Set 2 win and rolled to a 25-18 victory. Left-side hitter Jayla Green Jayla Green 5'8" | OH/DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2029 NE and Elayne Graver Elayne Graver 5'9" | OH/RS Gretna East | 2029 NE put away several clutch out-of-system swings. These scramble plays also demonstrated the steadying presence of Whitney Mertens Whitney Mertens 5'6" | DS/L Lincoln Pius X | 2029 NE in the libero jersey.

We had a race to 15 to take us deep into the night. But, it was decreed that we'd go beyond 15.

HJV was on the cusp of an upset after building a 10-7 lead in the tiebreaker. Premier Nebraska Head Coach Shannon Smolinski quickly rallied her troops, and Blomenkamp dialed up a huge service run and a 5-0 scoring surge.

Still, Houston Juniors had the first opportunity at match point with a 14-13 lead. 15 Gold responded and had several of its own chances. Finally, Green put down the 19-17 clincher to finish 3-0.

How's that for unpredictable? Premier Nebraska polished off a 3-0 Saturday start, but it was not without its share of struggles.

Consider it a way of sharpening skills heading into Sunday.