News

June 13, 2021: In a continuation of what has already been a remarkable season, Triangle brings home three championships at two different pre-national events.

In Louisville at the JVA World Challenge both 15 Black and 17 Black saw tremendous success. 15 Black, went undefeated and only dropped one set over the three-day event to capture the championship. In the final, Triangle 15 Black handed Team Pineapple their only loss in the event with a solid performance and two-set win. 17 Black finished T13/36 with a record of 4-4 on the weekend with tight losses to teams nationally ranked in the top 15.

Meanwhile in Virginia at MAPL Hampton, twelve Triangle teams competed in one of three mixed age level divisions over the two-day weekend. Both Triangle 14 Blue and Triangle 15 Blue secured the Red (13-14s) and Blue (14-16s) division championships respectively. Both teams were undefeated with 14 Blue dropping only 2 sets and 15 Blue only 1 throughout the event. Other notable finishes by Triangle at MAPL Hampton include: BLACK division: 16 Black T5/36 and 17 Blue T7/36; BLUE division: 14 Black 3rd/36; 15 White T13/36 and 16 White T13/36; RED division: 13 Black 7th/21 and 14 White 10/21.

All Triangle national teams will compete in National Championships, AAU (Orlando) or USAV (Vegas), later this month.

Triangle is thrilled to announce that this summer we are hosting an exciting three-day training camp led by college coaches from NCAA Division I programs.

DETAILS:

• Who: athletes who are rising 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders*
• What: elite level training in a multi-day camp with the opportunity to work with Division I collegiate coaches 
• When: Tuesday, July 27 through Thursday, July 29th (3 days)
  • HS Camp #1 [rising 9th through 12th grades]: 9:30am-12:30pm **
  • HS Camp #2 [rising 9th through 12th grades]: 1:30-4:30pm (1/2 gym)**
  • MS Camp #1 [rising 7th through 8th grades]: 1:30-4:30pm (1/2 gym)
• Where: Triangle Volleyball Club @ the Wake Competition Center
• Cost: $225 per athlete* (9-hours training).
• Registration: through Oasys Sports as space allows. First-come, first-served.*

*To be NCAA compliant the following is in effect for this camp:

• There are no exceptions to the grade levels listed.
• Camp is open to all athletes regardless of club or middle/high school affiliation.

** Since we anticipate this camp selling out, HS athletes are strongly encouraged to check now with HS coaches about plans for high school open gyms during the camp days. Last minute requests to switch camps due to a conflict may not be possible to grant.

We are excited to have coaching staff from these colleges and universities in our gym and sharing their knowledge and hope to see you there!

<REGISTER HERE>

The American Volleyball Coaches Assoication [AVCA] established the Thirty Under 30 awards to honor thirty of the up-and-coming volleyball coaches 30 years old or younger in the sport at all levels of the game.

CJ Hunter, a long-time coach, volleyball devotee, Director of Volleyball Operations [Duke University] and Triangle club administrator, was nominated for the award and is receiving postumous recognition following his unexpected death on February 8, 2021.

<VIEW FULL AVCA RELEASE> <CJ Hunter AVCA RELEASE>

CJ Hunter | Age: 29

Career Accomplishments: Hunter was the 2016 recipient of Triangle's Sam Casey Caram Excellence in Coaching Award, which is presented to the coach who best demonstrates exemplary dedication and commitment to the mission and goals of Triangle Volleyball Club.

SIGNIFICANT COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Hunter led 2020 Triangle 15 Blue to two [2] regional event first place finishes and two [2] top 10 finishes at national events, including a T5 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 15 Open.
• Guided 2019 17 White to a top 10 finish [T9 out of 87 teams] in the Gold Bracket at the Northeast Qualifier, and mentored six future NCAA athletes on the squad.
• Coached 2018 14 Blue to the championship match at both MAPL Hampton and MAPL Raleigh, winning the Gold Medal at MAPL Raleigh in the Red Division [13s-14s].
• Led 2016 Triangle 16 Silver to a T3 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 16 Club
• Worked four seasons on staff as the DOVO with Duke Volleyball, which included one trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2018.

Coaching roles:

• Triangle Volleyball Club, Coach beginning in 2013, became an administrator in 2018
• Duke University Volleyball, Undergraduate Team Manager 2009 - 2013
• UNC Director of Sports Information Women’s Volleyball. 2014 - 2015
• Duke University, Director of Volleyball Operations. 2015 - 2018
• Surry Storm Volleyball Club, 2009 - 2013

Education: BS Duke University MS UNC Sports Administration

CJ with 14 Blue.jpg

CJ Hunter passed away February 8, 2021, and is being honored posthumously in recognition of his passion for coaching. Club Director Sherry Fadool shared the following reflection with AVCA staff when forwarding his nomination: “We have nearly 100 incredible coaches, but CJ stood out from all with his contagious optimism, positivity, caring nature, and kindness. He truly loved everyone and it was impossible not to love him back. He was a total volley nerd and student of the game. He knew it all so well yet was happy to coach a beginner as he was a collegiate athlete. He loved the game! It was his soulmate. He was a brilliant administrator and was admired as a compassionate and engaged leader in our club. He knew every athlete in our club (350) including which team they were on and every single staff member. He greeted everyone each day and he knew what was going on in their lives. To be honest I have never met a kinder, more humble human being in my life. CJ could not attend AAUs in 2019 as he was having serious and life-threatening cardiac issues caused by a congenital heart defect. He made it his personal goal to improve his health and lost 150 lbs and was in the best shape in his life. While working out prior to his team practice on February 8, 2021 he suffered a cardiac event and died at our gym. We have been doing memorial tributes all week. When I spoke to his mother, I told her that when someone passes people say a lot of really nice things about them. But for CJ, they said those things about him every day while he was living. He was an extraordinary coach and an incredible person.“ #livelikecj #ceejtheday

2.14.21 - With the postponement of the Triple Crown Sports NIT in Kansas City, Triangle hosted elite teams from Pennsyvania to North Carolina in a two-day event. Each team had six (6) competitive matches in just under 24 hours. Exciting volleyball, condensed and safe format, and preparatory.

Kudos to both Metro 17 Travel and Triangle 15 Black for compiling undefeated records! Metro 17 Travel walks away with the prize (Starbucks gift certificates for all) by not dropping a single set.

Thank you to teams from CHAVC, CJV, Metro, Revolution and Virginia Juniors for making the trip.

"Thank you Triangle for hosting this scrimmage! Metro 14s-18s enjoyed getting in some good competition." - Silvia Johnston, Metro Club Director, Head Coach 18 Travel

"Thank you for putting together an awesome scrimmage weekend. Our teams learned a lot and the coaches were thrilled to get something in before MAPL" - Liz Bottorf, VA Jrs.

"I loved everything about this weekend. Great competition, coaches and the wonderful hospitality of Triangle Volleyball Club." - Zoe Bell, CJV 17 Zoe