The girls of 14 Elite went on a roll in rock city, finishing with an 8-3 overall record to take home a bronze medal in the Patriot Division at Junior Nationals.  And it started with an epic 4-0 run to start the tournament.

“We really came out firing the first day of the tournament and I think that energy definitely carried us in the tournament. That kind of start let us know we could win it all, even in such a competitive division,” said head coach Stephanie Eskander.

The girls used precise serving and disciplined defense throughout the tournament to give them an edge over the strong competition.

“Most of our success came from the service line. That’s true a lot. Once we started hitting our serves to target and with pace, we started being able to be more strategic on defense. It really made all the difference in the world,” praised Eskander.

After dropping a couple matches mid-tournament, the girls stormed back, adding two more victories (one against A4) and a date with Club H in the semi-finals.

“The losses in the middle of the tournament were actually really big for us. We adapted, responded. We got better. That’s when our offense really took over as well, and I thought we were playing our best volleyball headed into the semi’s,” noted Eskander.  “Unfortunately, we came up just short. But I’m proud of those girls. They battled all year through many ups and downs—and in the end, through the struggle, they finished on the podium. That’s the best part about volleyball. It’s not just about wins. It’s about life. And those girls learned a lot about what they’re capable of if they just continue to battle and never give up. I’m so proud of them,” finished Eskander.

Congratulations on the bronze medal 14 Elite! The way you battled through the adversity was nothing short of inspiring.