Club volleyball team closes out year strong with 5-3 record at West Coast Cup
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LONG BEACH >> The Never Say Die 16s club volleyball team closed out its season by placing second in the silver flight during the three-day-long West Coast Cup in Long Beach.
The 16s posted a 5-3 record in their eight matches, going 1-2 on Saturday but bouncing back with a 3-0 Sunday to reach the silver flight. They won their first match Monday before falling in the silver championship to Marin 16 Green, which prevailed 25-22, 17-25, 15-11.
“I entered us into the highest division since it was our last tourney and I wanted us to compete at a higher level,” NSD 16s head coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We started off slow and only won one (match), so on Sunday we came back hard but the teams weren’t as hard as day one, so we kind of just rolled through it, which I wasn’t a fan of because I knew Monday would be tougher and wanted a little more competition.”
During Saturday’s action, Marin 15 beat NSD 25-20, 25-20, CCVA 16 Kubo defeated NSD 25-22, 25-11, and NSD beat Starlings S-N-P 16U Coach Jessica 25-11, 27-25.
On Sunday, NSD swept the competition, beating AZ Wild 16s National 25-8, 25-13, Starlings S-N-P 16U Coach Yasmeen 25-9, 25-6, and Morgan Hill 16U 25-21, 25-9.
“We made it to the silver bracket on Monday and beat a very good Absolute team (NorCal),” Psalmonds said of NSD’s 18-25, 25-19, 15-10 victory. “Both teams competed well and were digging up and knocking down balls the whole match.”
In the silver bracket championship against Marin 16 Green, a team that had beaten a Canadian club to reach the silver finals, both teams engaged in a hard-fought match, according to Psalmonds.
“We lost but they played their hearts out and left everything on the court,” Psalmonds said of her players. “They played together the whole time and played the best defense they have all season. They had 172 digs in just the two matches they played today (Monday). They ended the tourney with 486 digs.”
NSD also racked up 74 aces on the service line.
“They were hitting their spots and kept their opponents on their heels,” Psalmonds said. “Everyone did their part. That’s what makes this team successful. Every player knows their role, embraces it, and trusts their teammates to do the same. When everyone works together like that, great things happen. I am so proud of the players they have become.”
Moana Chamberlin and Liv Bushey led NSD with 55 and 49 kills, respectively.
“They did a great job hitting line, cross court, and tipped at the right time,” Psalmonds said. They are both very smart players.”
Other team leaders were NSD setters Brooklyn Young (78 assists) and Olivia Arredondo (54 assists).
“They did well mixing up their sets to keep the blockers guessing,” Psalmonds said.
Middle hitters Madi Byrne and Jordyn Wurm anchored the team inside.
“Madi and Jo both had a great tourney for us in the middle,” Psalmonds said. “They both had 10 blocks and had a lot of touches to help out the defense. They also led on the service line.”
Wurm finished a team-best 18 aces while Byrne had 16.
Grace Peterson excelled at libero, according to Psalmonds, with 85 digs.
“She had a great weekend digging up and adjusting to all the different hard hitters that we saw,” Psalmonds said.
NSD opposite hitter Gemma Tanti also played well, according to Psalmonds.
“She had to adjust and change her position a little in the last two matches to help out the team,” Psalmonds said. “She came up with some great digs to save us a few times.”
