2 0 1 5 U S A V O L L E Y B A L L O P E N N AT I O N A L C H AMP I O N S H I P S Motor City magic
Photos: TEXAS STAR
all annually help make USA Volleyball’s Open National Championships the melting pot of the sport. The 2015 version held in Detroit May 23-
Nation’s top clubs converge on Detroit for Open Nationals H
igh-fl yers, the gravity-challenged, twen- ty-somethings and seventy-somethings
27 attracted everything from teams humbling calling themselves the Bad Knees Bears to an array of Olympians competing for $10,000 in prize money. In total, more than 5,000 players in 25 divisions revved up their games for several days of competition in Detroit. Lloy Ball, the legendary setter who played in four Olympic Games for the United States Olympic Men’s Volleyball Team, led Team Pineapple from the Hoosier Region to the 2015 Men’s PVL title at USA Volleyball’s Open Nationals May 26 held in Detroit. Ball, 43, distributed sets to a group of
former IPFW players who rallied to down the Great Lakes Lightning in fi ve close sets. The win was worth $10,000 to be split among the victorious team. Pineapple had to come from behind to
make it into the fi nals, going fi ve sets with eventual bronze medalists Penn Blast from the Keystone Region.
WINNING WAYS: North Texas players were all smiles after winning the Professional Volleyball League women’s title at USA Volleyball’s Open Nationals in Detroit on May 26.
Earlier in the day, North Texas defeated
defending champion, Western Empire, 25- 20, 21-25, 25-9, 23-25, 17-15, to capture the women’s title and $10,000 in prize money. North Texas was led by Micha Hancock,
the 2014 AVCA Division I National Player of the Year for Penn State. The match seemed
68 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
well in hand following an imposing 25-9 third set, but Western Empire proved they belonged back in the fi nals by gutting out and winning the fourth set. “I think these girls fought really hard and
didn’t give up,” said Hancock. “The energy was always steady. We tried not to get down;
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