If you are a sports fan, you are especially in luck for this week’s issue of the North Shore Journal. With quite a few stories about the local kids demonstrating their commitment and dedication to their sport, it’s been an uplifting week at the old typewriter for me. Though I learned quickly in my role covering sports around here that there are many talented student-athletes in the area, they seem to continue to outdo themselves at every turn.
The 15U Minnesota North Club Volleyball Navy-1 team is no exception. Not only did they outdo themselves, but they also outdid every team they played at the four-day Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Girls’ Junior National Volleyball Championship that ran from June 17-20.
Tricia Hurd, mother of player Alicia Hurd, posted on Facebook, “On Monday, 164 teams of 15-year-old girls walked into the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Today, one 15-year-old team walked out with the AAU Volleyball National Trophy.”
The team played 14 games during the tournament. They started in the afternoon wave that Monday and won all three games they played, just as they did the three on Tuesday, and four on Wednesday. On Thursday, they played four more in the gold bracket and took home the national championship. They did so with a much smaller team than many of their competitors. With only eight players on the team compared to others who may have twelve to sixteen girls, the triumph is even more incredible.
“Orlando is a very large competition. There are teams from all over the country, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico,” said Amber Viney, player Evelyn Viney’s mother. “It is a four-day tournament which is extremely grueling, especially at the end when everybody is pretty tired, but they definitely pulled together and worked through.”
This success tracks with the team’s record this season. “They’ve been playing since January and they played very well,” said Brook Rodberg, who serves on the chair of the Minnesota North Volleyball Club. Brook’s daughter Reagan was new to the team this year, as was Alicia, though they had previously played on another team within the club.
Reagan goes to Proctor High School. Her teammates Harlow Hartwick, Ella Tormondsen, and Chelsea Zentz attend Duluth East. Ava Maslowski is a student athlete in Cloquet and Keely Alleman is from Willow River.
Alicia is a Two Harbors student and Evelyn attends William Kelley in Silver Bay. “They are your hometown girls,” said Tricia.
The Minnesota North Volleyball Club has teams from ages 12 to 18. “We get them all over the area, but mainly from up North coming down to Duluth to play in an elite volleyball league,” said Brook.
This team proved to be elite throughout their season. They played six local tournaments held by the club, and took first place in every single one. They went to Omaha to play in the 3-day President’s Day Classic and took 1st there, as well. They won a tournament in South Dakota, too!
“It was unbelievable. They’ve done well all year long,” said Brook. “They’re a talented group of girls. They’re scrappy and they play well together.”
Amber echoed that sentiment. “They are definitely something magical,” she stated. “They’re all very athletic and very talented. They definitely put in the work. They have the passion of a professional volleyball team. All of them get along so well and it really does show on the court.”
Their dedication to the game and to each other is evident off the court, as well. According to Amber, “They are so close they’re like sisters. They’ve been playing together, and they love to spend extra time together outside of volleyball. They also do fundraisers and things for extra travel expenses. They love to spend every waking second together as much as they can.”
Those travel expenses have been adding up and the fundraising will be helpful as these girls are on their way to Las Vegas to play for yet another 1st place trophy at the four-day USAV Girls Junior National Championship.
“The girls did work hard to get the fundraising up and going. They had tons of weekends they had to work,” said Brook. “I think we as parents thought this was well-deserved because this team was amazing.”
The Navy-1 team secured a qualifying bid back in February during the Northern Lights Qualifier Tournament in Minneapolis, at which they placed 3rd. Only 64 teams qualified for the American Division.
The close-knit girls are like a family and their parents have become one, as well. “We definitely got to know each other over the season with lots of tournaments and lots of travel. We get along really well, too,” said Tricia. “We’re all there cheering the kids on and yelling and screaming just as much for your own child as you do for everybody else’s kid out there. This is a great group of kids, a great group of parents, and a great group of coaches. I can’t say enough about their coaches.”
Amber also wanted to ensure coaches Holly Rurup, Nikki Growth, and Scot Zentz got the recognition they deserved for all the support and guidance throughout the season.
“I’d like to give a shout out to our amazing coaches Holly, Nikki, and Scot for organizing such a great team effort and for pushing the girls to do their best,” she said.
With dedicated coaches, family, and fans, these girls also do a lot to lift each other up.
“It’s so nice. They support each other, they’re happy for one another, they are a close group of girls that works hard and has fun both on and off the court,” said Tricia. “I think that’s part of their success. They don’t really give up and they know everybody has their backs.”
Tricia encourages everyone to, “Keep us in your thoughts in July and hopefully we can bring something home then, too!”
Congratulations to the Minnesota North Volleyball Club Navy-1 Team for a beyond amazing season, for winning the gold, and good luck in Vegas!
