What a difference 4 years can make. That’s the underlying theme for Empowered Volleyball Academy’s 18 Elite Red players, who finished their club career together as national runners-up.
The club volleyball team based out of Fort Wayne finished second in the 18 division at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships on April 27 and 28 in Dallas.
Empowered 18 Elite Red faced fierce competition, losing to eventual national champion Laguna Beach 18MS in both pool play and in the national championship match.
The journey to 2nd in the nation has been a long one for Empowered 18 Elite Red. The core group of players formed a team as 14 years old. Coaches say they struggling to play together at at first; but over time, found their stride.
Empowered 18 Elite Red qualified for this year’s national tournament after placing 2nd at the Bluegrass in Louisville in March. The team racked up championships at the MLK Challenge and President’s Day Smackfest this past winter, before setting their sights on nationals.
The high tides of Empowered 18 Elite Red’s success have raised all the boats of the players, as well. College volleyball is on the horizons for all 9 girls who have played on the team. Six of the girls have signed with college volleyball teams, two have verbally committed to schools and one is being heavily recruited by several college programs, too.
While this team’s time on the court together has come to an end, Robbins hopes the legacy the the 18 Elite Red team has left inspires the hundreds of other young girls at Empowered Volleyball Academy.
Empowered Sports Club and Empowered Volleyball Academy partners with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, sports performance, nutrition, athletic rehabilitation and orthopedic services for club athletes. Learn more at ParkviewSportsMedicine.com.