18 Black wins Open Championship; 18 Blue finishes second in Premier
Triangle 18 Black secured Triangle’s first-ever national championship by winning the 18 Open division at the Under Armour 18s National Championship presented by the JVA and Top Court Events. Triangle 18 Blue finished in second place after an impressive run in the 18 Premier division.
Triangle 18 Black went into the event ranked* 8th nationally and finished with an overall record of 9-0 (18-3) to capture the 18 Open crown. As they fought through the first two days of pool play, they defeated nationally ranked* (4th) 1st Alliance 18 Gold (Chicago) in straight sets. On Saturday in Gold medal bracket play 18 Black would first face perennial powerhouse A5 18-Marc (Atlanta) in a tight three-set thriller (25-22, 19-25, 16-14). Next up was nationally ranked* Milwaukee Sting – 18 Gold who fell to 18 Black in two sets (25-22, 25-12). In the finals, Triangle 18 Black would face Munciana 18 Samurai, the 10th ranked* team in the nation. In a tight match, 18 Black secured the championship in two sets defeating Munciana 25-23, 25-22.
Triangle 18 Blue, playing in the 18 Premier division, finished with an overall record of 8-2 (17-7). After two solid days in pool play, 18 Blue entered a four-team Gold challenge bracket. In the first round they battled to avoid elimination, defeating VC United 182 Elite 20-25, 25-11, 15-13. They punched their ticket to the Gold semi-final with a two-set win over TPV 18-Paragon. In the Gold semi-finals, 18 Blue won in two against Revolution 18-1 Avengers to earn a berth in the Gold Championship match. Triangle 18 Blue came up short against MOD Elite G18 Blue to secure a second place finish.
Both teams have earned qualifying bids to the USA Volleyball Girls’ 18s National Championship in Baltimore, Maryland later this month.
*PrepVolleyball.com April 2024 national rankings list
TRIANGLE 18 BLACK
Mia Hazelett (Apex – Apex HS)
Ryan Hunter (Charlotte – Cox Mill HS)
Mallory Jenkins (Wilson – Fike HS)
Madi Mirra (Greenville – J.H. Rose HS)
Ashlyn Philpot (Winterville – D.H. Conley)
Avery Scoggins (Raleigh – Middle Creek HS)
Coley Shiflet (Randleman – Southwestern Randolph HS)
Taylor Shumate (Durham – Charles E Jordan HS)
Laynie Smith (Durham – Chapel Hill HS)
Asia Thigpen (Cary – Green Level HS)
Coaches: Logan Barber and Tonya Holmes
TRIANGLE 18 BLUE
Dakota Bagaasen (Cary – Panther Creek HS)
Corinne Bossert (Cary – Panther Creek HS)
Brielle Ellis (Cary – Green Hope HS)
Hailey Evans (Raleigh – Clayton HS)
Sophie Hrehor (Cary – Cardinal Gibbons HS)
Sage LaTour (Browns Summit – Homeschool)
Macy Leyda (Apex – Cardinal Gibbons HS)
Bella Lineberger (Raleigh – Apex HS)
Jacey Olsen (Aberdeen – Pinecrest HS)
Caroline Raymer (Cary – Apex HS)
Coaches: Steven Abbott, Brian Bacchi, and Katy May