Sports Performance Volleyball Club’s 15 Elite and 15 C-Fed teams celebrate their national titles Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.
Never say they don’t play “big-girl” volleyball in small-town Illinois.
Twin sisters Brooklyn and Breelyn Borum from Sterling, Illinois, were named MVPs of their respective divisions while leading SPVB 15 Elite and SPVB 15 C-Fed to national titles Wednesday at the 45th AAU Girls’ and Boys’ Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida.
Brooklyn Borum, a 6-foot outside hitter, was named the Most Valuable Player in the 15 Open division while leading SPVB 15 Elite to an 11-1 record including a 25-17, 25-21 victory over Nebraska Elite 15 Revolution (Omaha, Nebraska) in the championship match.
Breelyn Borum, a 5-11 setter, was named the Most Valuable Player in the 15 Premier division after guiding SPVB 15 C-Fed to a 13-1 mark including a 25-19, 25-23 victory over FaROut 15 Black (Grand Rapids, Michigan) in the championship match.
“Both teams played great volleyball today,” Sports Performance master coach Erik Vogt said. “Brooklyn and (all-tournament selection) Emily Wilson (a 6-1 outside hitter from Joliet Catholic) hit 70 percent of the balls for 15 Elite.
“Usually, your best players hit about 55 percent of the balls for a good volleyball team,” Vogt added. “(Borum and Wilson) hit 70 percent of the balls.”
SPVB 15 Elite advanced to the championship of the 15 Open division by rallying to beat Northern Lights 15-1 24-26, 25-17, 19-17 in the semifinals.
“That match was big-girl volleyball,” Vogt said. “The people were lined up 20 deep. It was point-for-point.”
Joining Borum and Wilson on the 15 Open all-tournament team was SPVB 15 Elite’s 5-5 libero Alexis Rodriguez, another Sterling, Illinois, product.
SPVB 15 Elite’s only loss of the tournament was a 25-22, 26-24 decision to Wildcats Jrs. 15 Black – which placed 35th out of 44 teams – in both teams’ opener of the four-day championship.
“I think that loss really helped (SPVB 15 Elite) keep its focus the rest of the tournament,” Vogt said.
Other team members include 6-1 setter Zayna Meyer (Wheaton Warrenville South), 5-11 middle hitter Dominique Browder (Plainfield East), 6-foot middle hitter Ariel Amaya (Plainfield North), 5-8 outside hitter Alea Rivetna (Naperville North), 5-10 outside hitter Jillian Elsouso (Marist) and 5-6 defensive specialist Rory Haddock (Rosary).
Meanwhile, Breelyn Borum led SPVB 15 C-Fed to a 13-1 record in the tournament. SPVB 15 C-Fed’s only loss was an 18-25, 25-23, 15-13 setback against Temecula Viper 15 Kevin (Temecula, California) in Round 2 of Gold pool play.
Joining Borum on the 15 Premier division all-tournament team were 5-10 libero Caroline Barnes (Benet Academy) and 5-10 outside hitter Giorgia Cavalleri (Naperville Central).
Other team members are 6-foot outside hitter Candra Kerrigan (Plainfield Central), 5-11 middle hitter Emily Day (Metea Valley), 6-foot middle hitter Ellie Hall (Naperville North), 6-foot setter Jessica Molina (Waubonsie Valley), 5-2 libero Katlyn Sipers (St. Francis) and 5-5 defensive specialist Sara Zack (Plainfield East).
Michio Chicago 15 National went 9-3 and finished third in the 15 Premier division, losing to SPVB 15 C-Fed 25-23, 25-20 in the semifinals.
Michio Chicago 15 National team members are Briana Brown (Marian Catholic), Emma Best (Lake Central, Indiana, High School), Lourdes Torres (Munster, Indiana, High School), Amanda Rice (Lemont) and Ella O’Neill (Mother McAuley).
Also, Molly McDermott (Mother McAuley), Margaret Hynes (St. Ignatius), Elizabeth Kurpeikis (Marist), Concetta LeBel (Mother McAuley) and Nicole Jones (Marist).
McDermott and Best were named to the 15 Premier division all-tournament team.