Playoffs Up Next 🏐

Today was another strong step forward for our group. More importantly than the results, we’re continuing to see our team identity take shape. The boys are buying into the details we’ve been emphasizing in training, and it’s showing on the court.

Running Our Offense One of our biggest points of emphasis has been staying off the net and creating tempo in our offense. Cash and Darren both did an excellent job managing the offense today, making smart decisions and allowing us to play faster and more efficiently. As they continue to get comfortable in the system, our hitters are benefiting from more consistent opportunities.

Libero Play We continue to be fortunate to have two outstanding liberos who complement each other extremely well. Eli came up with several crucial defensive plays, particularly against Israel. His ability to read attackers and keep difficult balls alive gave us momentum during key stretches. Will once again anchored our serve receive, taking a tremendous amount of court and allowing us to stay in system. His passing continues to provide the foundation for everything we want to do offensively.

Opposites Our right-side attack continues to be productive. Daniel Booker has been outstanding. Opponents are beginning to avoid challenging his block, and he’s making a significant impact on both sides of the ball. Leo has been an offensive machine, consistently putting points on the board and giving us another reliable scoring option.

Middles Our middle blockers had an excellent day. Kumar rested during the morning match to manage his knee but returned against Israel and immediately made a major impact. His energy, blocking, and offensive presence gave us a huge lift. Blake Baad stepped up in a big way while Kumar rested, playing an outstanding first match. Later, he came off the bench as a serving substitute and continued to make a difference. Blake has been working hard on closing his block, and that work paid off today. He recorded several stuff blocks—including a few against a talented 6’8” middle blocker from Israel—and his blocking and defensive presence helped change the momentum of several rallies.

Outside Hitters Our outside hitters continue to provide balance in every phase of the game. Logan and Cash have done a great job sharing responsibilities, producing points from the end line, passing consistently, and contributing offensively whenever called upon. Bennett Julian has been a handful for every opponent we’ve faced. His offensive production continues to put pressure on opposing defenses, but what has been equally impressive is his work in serve receive. His ability to pass accurately has helped keep our offense flowing throughout the tournament.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow the playoffs begin.

The boys have put themselves in a great position, and we’re excited to see how they respond as the competition intensifies. Every match becomes more meaningful from here, and we’re looking forward to another opportunity to compete, improve, and represent Champions Unlimited with pride.

Thank you to all of our parents and families following along from home. Your support means the world to these athletes, and we’re excited to keep you updated as our European journey continues.