17 Mizuno - 2008 National Champions!
Austin Juniors 17 Mizuno Wins Girls’ Junior Volleyball National Championship
by Tim Taliaferro
In a fitting end to a nearly perfect season, Austin Juniors 17 Mizuno won the National Championship July 1 at the Junior Olympics in Dallas. The team went 9-0 in the tournament and beat Dallas Skyline in the first all-Texas national championship final in 17 and under junior volleyball history.
Westlake setter Elly Barrett was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Right side Emily Danks and middle blocker Jessica O’Shoney made the All-Tournament Team. 17 Mizuno finished with an overall season record of 67-6, including tournament wins at the Northeast Qualifier in Baltimore, the Lone Star Classic in Houston, the Las Vegas Invitational, the Southwest National Championships in San Antonio, and the Tour of Texas.
Based on their phenomenal record, the team earned the top seed in the 17 and under Open division. In the first three days of competition they dropped only one game, winning in each of their first five matches in straight sets and winning the sixth in four. On the fourth and final day, the team twice faced elimination but managed to pull out victories in grueling fifth-game finales.
Last year, as 16-year-olds, the team lost in the quarterfinals by two points in the final game of the match. This year the tables turned, and it was Austin who beat Epic Volleyball Club of San Diego 18-16 in the deciding fifth game of the quarterfinals.
Barrett, a highly touted setter committed to play at the University of California Berkeley, ran a fast attacking offense. Outside hitter Sara Shaw, who in May committed to the University of Southern California, led the team in kills. Danks, committed to Ohio State, led the team in aces and kill percentage. O’Shoney, committed to the University of Virginia, registered the team’s most blocks.
In the championship match, 17 Mizuno won the first game against Skyline, then lost the second. Austin trailed 20-24 in the third game before Shaw served six straight points to complete the comeback and swing the momentum strongly in Austin’s favor. “I told them to focus on one point at a time,” says Coach Glen Lietzke. “Once they got to 23-24, they were pretty driven to finish the job.”
The team jumped out to an early lead in the fourth game before Skyline went on its own late run, clawing back from 18-24 to pull within two points at 22-24. A service error by Skyline then gave the game, the match, and the National Championship to Austin. It was Austin Juniors’ first-ever national championship in the Open division for any age group and only the second by any Texas team ever.
“I was happy for the kids most of all,” says Lietzke. “It was an exceptional accomplishment. It’s even harder for a team to win when ranked No. 1.”
The win capped an astonishing run that began shortly after their loss in the quarterfinals in last year’s Junior Olympics. Last July the girls traveled to Pula, Croatia, to compete in the Global Challenge Tour featuring 16 of the best teams from across Europe and the United States.
They overcame the departure of their head coach, Ted Wade, in March, who took an assistant coaching job at the University of Virginia. Then in late March, assistant coach Sara Kidd also left to become director of operations for the University of Southern California women’s volleyball team.
“It was such a sense of accomplishment,” says Michael Garcia, upon seeing that final serve sail out. Garcia replaced Kidd as assistant coach in March. “The kids did what they intended to do, and we did what we intended to do. It was a great feeling.”
Also on the team were Michelle Miller, Becky Swann, Hannah Tucci, Sarabeth Bratton, Abby Howden, and Amber Tatsch. The University of San Diego offered Tatsch a scholarship after the final, and she committed the next day.
Emily Danks (Round Rock HS) and Jessica O'Shoney (Hutto HS) were named to the 2008 All-Tournament Team. Elly Barrett (Westlake HS) was named the MVP of the 17 Open division. Congratulations ladies!
Elly Barrett delivers an assist (left)
Sara Shaw and Jessica O'Shoney block Sarah Bullock (Who incidentally played for Austin Juniors as a 12 year old before moving to Dallas). (right)
Danks on the attack. (left)
O'Shoney on the attack. (right)
17 Mizuno receiving their gold medals!!