Over two weekends, twenty-two Triangle teams traveled to Atlanta to compete in the Big South National Qualifier—one of the largest events in the country. Hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center and featuring more than 220 courts, the tournament brought together top clubs from across the nation for an intense and highly competitive weekend where teams battled for coveted bids to the USAV Junior National Championships.
Triangle delivered an impressive performance, with three teams earning bids to the USAV Nationals this summer in Indianapolis. Triangle 17 Black qualified in the Open division, while 17 Blue and 16 Blue secured bids in the USA divisions. This brings Triangle’s bid total to 6 with 15 Black qualifying in 15 Open at NEQ and 18 Black and 18 Blue earning 18 National and 18 American bids respectively. In total at Big South, eleven Triangle teams finished in the top ten of their respective divisions, highlighted by a second-place finish from 17 White and an unprecedented third-place finish from 11 Black.
Earning a bid at a national qualifier is a significant achievement and a primary goal for club teams nationwide. With limited bids awarded only to teams finishing at the top, the path to qualification demands sustained excellence, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure. Teams who qualify can expect to compete in up to eleven matches over three days, battling through physically and mentally demanding conditions.
Triangle 17 Black – The first bid of the weekend for Triangle came from 17 Black in the Open division—the highest level of competition at any national qualifier. After narrowly missing qualification with a fifth-place finish at the Northeast Qualifier in Philadelphia, the team entered Atlanta determined to finish the job.
Triangle 17 Black opened the tournament with a dominant Day 1 performance, going 3-0 without dropping a set. They carried that momentum into Day 2, going undefeated in a challenging three-team pool against regional rivals NC Academy and EC Power.
Day 3 brought the highest stakes: a three-team gold pool where only the winner would automatically secure a bid. Triangle’s first match against Lexington United was a battle, going to three sets before Triangle prevailed, 25-15, 23-25, 15-8.
The decisive match came against another North Carolina powerhouse, CUVC. Having previously defeated CUVC in straight sets at the Northeast Qualifier, Triangle faced a much tougher test in Atlanta. CUVC took control early, winning the first set 25-17. Triangle responded with composure, taking the second set 25-19 to force a deciding third.
In the final set, Triangle found itself trailing 7-12 before mounting a remarkable comeback. With relentless offense and poised execution, they evened the score at 12-12 and closed out the match 15-13—securing the bid and a spot in the four-team Gold bracket.
Triangle’s run concluded against already-qualified VC Nebraska, where they fell in a hard-fought match, 23-25, 21-25. Despite the loss, the team’s resilience and determination throughout the weekend earned them a well-deserved place among the top teams in the country.
Triangle 17 Blue continued the club’s strong showing with a resilient and determined run in the 17 USA division. The team opened the weekend undefeated on Day 1, dropping just one set and establishing early momentum. On Day 2, they went 2-1, with their only loss coming in a tightly contested match against Prostyle VBC of Florida—who would go on to finish second overall.
Their second-place pool finish positioned 17 Blue in the 20-team Gold bracket, where the path to a bid required a semifinal appearance. Rising to the challenge, Triangle opened bracket play with a straight-set win in their play-in match to advance to the round of 16.
There, they faced another formidable Florida opponent in Ocala Power. After dropping the first set 22-25, Triangle responded with composure and grit, taking the next two sets 25-19 and 15-13 in an exciting three-set battle. Carrying that momentum into the quarterfinals, 17 Blue delivered a decisive straight-set victory to secure their place in the semifinals—and with it, a hard-earned 17 USA bid to Junior Nationals.
In a rematch against Prostyle VBC, Triangle fought hard but ultimately fell, finishing an impressive fourth overall in a deep and highly competitive field.
Triangle 16 Blue delivered one of the most dominant performances of the weekend in the 16 USA division. The team opened with a flawless Day 1, going 3-0 without dropping a set. They continued their strong play into Day 2, remaining undefeated while conceding just one set to Gainesville Juniors.
Earning a bye into the round of 16 in the 20-team Gold bracket, 16 Blue began bracket play against A5 16 Danielle. In control from the start, Triangle secured a decisive straight-set victory to advance to the quarterfinals—where a win would clinch a bid.
Facing ASHOK 16-1, 16 Blue rose to the moment. They captured the first set 25-17 and showcased their resilience in a tightly contested second set, closing it out 27-25 to secure the 16 USA bid.
With qualification secured, Triangle advanced to the semifinals against Tsunami N161E. After dropping the first set, 16 Blue battled relentlessly in the second, pushing it to an intense 28-30 finish. Following a third-place playoff match, Triangle 16 Blue concluded their outstanding weekend with a fourth-place finish overall.
Also notable were the following top 10 finishes at Big South:
- 11 Black – 3rd (11 National)
- 12 Black – 9th (12 National)
- 13 Black – 9th (13 Open)
- 14 White – 9th (14 American)
- 14 Black – 5th (14 Open, Silver bracket winner)
- 15 Black – 8th (15 Open)
- 16 White – 5th (16 American)
- 17 White – 2nd (17 American)