Middletown volleyball team faces nationally-ranked competition during three-day tourney
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LONG BEACH >> The Middletown HEAT under-14 club volleyball team went 2-5 in the club division while competing in a Memorial Day weekend tournament at Long Beach.
After going 1-2 in match play each of the first two days of the tournament, the HEAT fell 25-22, 25-18 to SoCal Legends 14-Gold to open day three, finishing fourth in the silver bracket and 19th out of 48 teams overall.
“This was a great experience this weekend for our club,” HEAT head coach Erica Galvan said. “We are very small, and competed with some very large clubs, and clubs that compete nationally. We were seeded 26th going into the weekend and played some of the top-five teams in this tournament.”
Added Galvan, “It was a learning experience for them to see higher-level play and to be right there with some of the best teams. Beating two national-level teams was a great feeling for the girls.”
Galvan said the team opened the tournament with a 6-2 rotation but transitioned back to a 5-1 on the second day to help with continuity.
“We also had our libero move to a middle/utility/all-around player after the first day,” Galvan said. “Those two adjustments helped us be more competitive to find out play. These girls played hard and never gave up.”
Gabby Keyes led the team in serving with 51 points and 11 aces. Outside hitter Emma Davis added 24 points and 13 aces to go along with team highs in kills (46) and digs (177).
Other team leaders were setter Trinity Galvan with 65 assists, 24 service points and five aces, opposite hitter Kaia Bohan with 21 service points, 18 kills and nine aces, Grace Williams with 29 ills, 18 service points, five blocks and three aces, and Olivia Arredondo with 22 service points and three aces.
Other team members are Carlee Williams, Hannah Clark and Camila Galvan.
