The Island Mixx (IM) 14U Elite finished with a 3-7 overall record at the 2024 AAU National Volleyball National Championships. On the surface, this doesn’t seem like much of an accomplishment, but when you take into account that this team played up two levels from the one they competed in 2023 and one of the starting players from that roster was missing because she made the Island Mixx 16U team it all makes sense.
Starting this year, AAU only allowed players to be on one roster during this event. This was a notable improvement.
IM 14U Elite got off to a rough start, losing all three of their matches on the opening day. They jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the first set against BBVA 14U Elite out of Florida before the wheels fell off and they lost the set 25-16 and subsequently the second set 25-17. This seemed to set the tone for the rest of the day, losing their final two matches 25-10, 25-7 to MVA – Rise Academy out of Michigan and 25-8, 25-6 against a good XP 14 Allegiance team out of Georgia.
On day two, the girls settled down and got a taste of victory in their match versus Metro VBC White, a team hailing from Washington, DC. IM 14U lost the match 25-16, 24-26, 15-9 but managed to win the second set. Team Kiwi 14 from Florida was up next. IM 14U won the first set 25-22. However, the girls could not complete the deal and lost the remaining two sets, 25-13, 15-9. In the third match of day two, IM 14U lost the first set 13-25 against DIVC 14U White, based in Illinois. They then came out focused and dominated the second set, winning 25-9. In the rubber set of the match, IM 14U was on the verge of victory when play was stopped by the head official to have a disgruntled fan removed from the premises. The long pause did not phase Lindsey Allen, and she served out the match, giving the Virgin Islands team its first victory in the tournament: 13-25, 25-9, 15-12.
Day three was the best day of the tournament for IM 14U Elite, who won a match and liked it, so they proceeded to win their first two matches 25-17, 22-25, 15-8 against Dunes 14 White from Indiana and a New England team, 603 United 14 Open 25-17; 25-22. The final match of the day was very competitive. Hot Shotz 14 Black from New York won the first set 25-19. But Island Mixx came back and claimed the second 25-18. However, the team from New York proved to be too much as they took the final set of the day 15-11. Despite the loss, IM 14U still won the pool, setting the stage for the single elimination tournament on the final day of their tournament.
Island Mixx 14U Elite went into the win and advance phase of competition in high spirits after having their best showing of the championships the day before. However, Allegro 14 Awesome of New Jersey took control of this match early and cruised to a 25-15; 25-9 victory. IM 14U Elite finished the tournament, winning nine sets in their 10 matches, placing them 125th out of 141 teams in the 14U Aspire Division.
Island Mixx 18U Elite is the second of five Island Mixx Teams participating in this event. Their first match is scheduled for Monday, at 9:00 a.m., in Concourse South, Court 113, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
