After an amazing weekend at the Big South Tournament Qualifier event in Atlanta DME Academy’s Volleyball 15 Elite Black team Coach Alvaro was recently interviewed by John Tawa from VolleyballMag.com.
Q: What were your expectations going into the weekend?
A: After going in with expectations at MEQ and being let down, my only expectation was for our team to fight as hard as we could, to prove we learned our lesson of taking opportunities for granted; the team sure proved they learned that lesson.
Q: How did you match or exceed those expectations?
A: Our performance wavered a few times, but their resilience did not. I would say we emptied the tank every game. Our setter went down in the semifinal. They could’ve chosen to pout, but these girls kept fighting.
Q: What was the key moment that sparked your qualification?
A: Hard to pick a moment, but one in particular that stands out could be a transition kill in the third set. Our blockers made a poor read, thought the middle was being set and their setter shot the ball to the outside and no block was up. Their outside blasted a ball down the line, and Gaby Conway was ready on defense and dug a great ball that Alyssa Kornegay got to Emma Van Deusen on the outside and she put it away seam 1/6.
Q: Which players stepped up to help you reach your goal?
A: Everyone starred in their role, it was a true team effort or we couldn’t have won. Literally, everyone played at some point on Sunday. Alyssa Kornegay ran a great offense with 245 assists on the weekend, Ivy Westfall led us with 111 digs and passed a 2.23, and Emma Van Deusen paced us with 110 points on the weekend, hitting a career-high .333 for the tournament. Ella Pringle also stabilized our serve-receive passing a 2.23 and scored 83 points.
DME Academy’s 15 Elite Black team is headed to the Girls Junior National Championship at the Las Vegas Convention Center June 26-July 5th. This will be DME’s 4th team to make an appearance at Nationals. Be sure to check back here for additional information as it becomes available.