NC Challengers 18 National Places Third in Regional Championships Greensboro, NC – NC Challengers 18 National Team scored a 3rd place finish in the Carolina Region Platinum Championships at Greensboro College on Saturday April 5th (out of 58 teams in the 18s division). The squad was a perfect 5-0 in pool play before falling in the semi-finals. Leading the way for team were seniors Sydney Edwards, Brittany Hicks, Shaday King and Lauren Dickens. Louisburg High senior middle blocker, Brittany Hicks was named to the All-Tournament Team. Head Coach, George Tsai recognized the team on its progress this year and noted that the team “had improved 1,000% since the beginning of the season”, Assistant Coaches, Kate Palles and Jenny Shull said it was a complement to the players’ spirit and determination, and their ability to respond to difficult situations in a positive manner. Other team members, Alex Mensing, Chellie Redinbo and Keonna Austin also contributed to the performance. Coach Palles also complimented Shaday King, a Ravenscroft High senior, who was pressed into setting duty for the first time this season and, along with regular setter, Alex Mensing, delivered an outstanding performance. Shaday completes her 5th season with NC Challengers, the longest tenure of any player since the club was formed 8 years ago. Sophie Palles attends USA High Performance Holiday Camp Sophie Palles, the 6’0” sophomore hitter from Sanderson High School and a member of the NC Challengers 16 Open team accepted an invitation to attend USA Volleyball’s High Performance Holiday Camp at Cal-Poly Pomona. The 3 ½ day camp is designed to bring together 50 of the best athletes in the country with top USA National High Performance coaches. The Holiday Camp also provides athletes an opportunity to showcase their abilities. The High Performance Program at USA Volleyball is the "pipeline for young volleyball athletes who aspire to reach the elite level of their sport”. HP provides team and camp opportunities for volleyball athletes in designated age groups. These age groups are determined by an athlete's year of birth and begin approximately when they are 13 or 14 years old. Tryouts for the USA High Performance Program will be held, among other venues, at the Big South Classic and the NorthEast Qualifier. See this link for more HP details. NC Challengers 15s team, PrepChallengers CAPS 15 took second place in the 15 Club Division in the Monument City Classic in Richmond, Virginia. The CAPS 15 team is led by a talented group of NC Challengers veterans, Nicole Brustofski, Logan Hand, Gina Guzzo, Jessica Brustofski and Valerie Guzzo, Kira Rider,Katie Lee Jones, Liz Bailey, Meg Crenshaw and Coaches, Nicole Meserth and Time Meserth. In other action, the NC Challengers 14 National team took sixth place out of eighteen teams in the 14 Open Division from a 4-state area. The three-day tournament took place over the MLK Day weekend. Greensboro College freshman outside/middle hitter, Michelle “Gabby” Gabson was named Rookie of the Year by the USA South Athletic Conference. Gabby also led the Pride with in kills, averaging 3.68 kills-per-game, and won conference Rookie of the Week honors 5 times. Gabson, a volleyball and basketball player from Apex High School, played her club ball with NC Challengers teams. Congratulations to the NC Challengers 14 National team!
Best wishes to all of our Seniors and good luck with the bright future ahead of you.
Quest for Excellence Gold Bracket Champions!
Alison Winters
Andrea Dean
Elizabeth Campbell
Elizabeth Margagliotti
Erica Nunn
Jessi Johnson
Jessica Clayburn
Lauren Christian
Riley Dixon
Tiffany Flood
Coaches: John Dillinger and Jessica Chew
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