The NVA Championship Final featured an explosive and entertaining matchup. The Ramblers, the hottest team in the NVA who finished with the best regular-season record, and the Stunners, who started the season at 0-3 and peaked at the right time by defeating two other top teams in the playoffs with better winning records – the Tyrants and Southern Exposure
The Stunners’ game plan to defeat the Ramblers with disciplined blocking technique and defense worked to perfection. “We figured that Rattray was going to get his points. But if we can stop Mather and the other Ramblers’ hitters, getting one or two blocks on Rattray’s 8 or 10 swings, then that’s a good number for us.” Stunners’ Coach Adams said.
Although the Ramblers’ outscored the Stunners 49 to 48 in total points and had a higher hitting percentage at 47% over the Stunners’ 40%, the Stunners’ blocking and defense prevailed in decisively sweeping the Ramblers. Leading the defense were libero Josh Ayzenberg and Matt Hilling, who Coach Adams started at Opposite after being the team’s OH2. The Stunners’ also had a massive block party which Nick Amado led with 4, Hilling 3, Corey Chavers 2, Nick West 2, and Joey Jarvis 1.
The Stunners’ blocking scheme also forced the Ramblers to lose an entire set (25 points) with their hitting errors and blocked swings. Many of them occurred at crucial moments in the match that kept the Ramblers’ offense off-balance and terminated any momentum to launch a comeback. Of the 12 Stunners’ blocks, 7 of them were on Rattray swings, one of which fittingly occurred on match point by the Finals MVP, Corey Chavers.
Despite the Stunners’ lower 40% hitting percentage, their offense scored points in the critical moments of each set. Each time it was either a defensive dig that led to a score in transition or a block that diffused the Ramblers’ chances to win the set. The most significant difference in the Stunners’ win was their ability to limit errors, with a W-L ratio of +24 over the Ramblers’ +6.
Corey Chasers led the Stunners with 16 points, followed by Matt Hilling 10, Nick Amado 10, Nick West 7, and Joey Jarvis 4. For the Ramblers, Brandon Rattray scored 20 points, Kevin Lopez 10, Ryan Mather 9, Antwain Aguillard 4, Sean Dennis 3, and Michael Keegan 3.
NVA Tournament Championship MVP and All-Tournament Team
NVA Finals MVP:
Stunners’ Outside Hitter Corey Chavers.
NVA All-Tournament Team:
Best Setter – Michael Keegan, Ramblers
Best Outside (OH1) – Brandon Rattray, Ramblers
Best Middle (M1) – Nick Amado, Stunners
Best Outside (OH2) – Gianluca Grasso, Tyrants
Best Opposite – Ryan Mather, Ramblers
Best Libero – Josh Ayzenberg, Stunners
Best Middle (M2) – Tim Lourich, Southern Exposure
To find and watch videos of the championship matches and read post-game summaries of each game, visit the NVA website at https://www.nvausa.com/video/live and https://www.nvausa.com/news.
Or check out the league’s YouTube page at NVA USA, https://www.youtube.com/c/NVAUSA.
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Back in April, during the regular season, Southern Exposure defeated the OC Stunners 3-0. The loss was part of the Stunners starting 0-3 record, which fueled their comeback throughout the regular season. Not having a cohesive unit as a team, the Stunners needed to spice up their roster. They added four quality players: setters Nikola Dimitrijevic and Roberto Ramirez, outside hitter Corey Chavers and libero, Josh Ayzenberg.
Of the new additions, Ayzenberg played the most significant role in the Stunners’ semi-final performance. With his National Team counterpart, Kyle Dagostino playing across the net, Josh put on a clinic for what it means to be one of the best Liberos in the country. In one rally, Josh chased down balls up into the stands and then back past the players’ bench, collecting three digs as well, leading to a Stunners’ score.
In the first set, both teams played great volleyball. Southern Exposure came out to take the early lead with a kill and block by #16 Langston Payne, a service ace and kill by #1 Tyler Neil-Hubbard and kill by #14 Jakub Ciesla 5-4 lead. At 11-10, the Stunners tied the score on a kill by #6 Corey Chavers and then by #15 Jair Sanchez-Santiago to put the Stunners in the lead. After a Santiago kill and block, three Southern Exposure errors, a kill and service ace by #9 Nick West, and two kills by #7 Joey Jarvis, the Stunners added to their lead 22-16. Southern Exposure scored the following two points on kills by Hubbard and #2 Eddie Moushikhian to 22-18. For the rest of the set Southern Exposure only scored three points but all from two Stunner’s errors. The Stunners scored the last two points on consecutive kills by Sanchez-Santiago and Chavers to win the set 25-22.
Set number 2 had a similar narrative but the Stunners’ lead from the first point. Although the Stunners never gave up the lead, Southern Exposure managed to tie the score once at 11-11 on a block by #16 Langston Payne. Stunners scored the following two points on back-to-back kills by Chavers and Jarvis. Then a short run that included a kill and service ace by #22 Nick Amado and a block by Jarvis increased the Stunners’ lead to 16-12. After Southern Exposure called a timeout at 20-15, Southern Exposure scored on two kills by Payne only to have the Stunners close out the set on three consecutive kills by Chavers for a 25-21 win.
In set number three, it was all Southern Exposure. The Stunners struggled on their service reception, leading them to commit several hitting errors on challenging sets. The only earned kills by the Stunners came from Chavers and West. Southern Exposure built an early 5-point lead with a kill by Payne, #12 Uchenna Ofoha, and #10 Kyle Dagostino to put them at 10-5. Before the media timeout, Southern Exposure increased their lead to 16-9 on kills by Tyler, Payne, and #13 Chad Mercado. During the rest of the set, the Stunners only scored three more real points, with two kills by Santiago and West. Southern Exposure won the set on a kill from Dagostino 25-20.
The Stunners and Southern Exposure battled back and forth to a 7-7 tie for the beginning of set number four. But after a kill by Amado, the Stunners scored five consecutive points on kills by Jarvis and Chavers and then three kills and a block by Amado and a kill by Santiago for a 14-9 score. Coach Daryl Adams substituted Santiago, next in line to serve, with #18 Matt Hilling for defensive purposes to weather anything Southern Exposure had left in the tank. Although Southern Exposure tried to battle back with kills by Mercado and Ofoha, another Stunners’ run of 6 points kept Southern Exposure at bay. During this run, the Stunners scored on three kills and one block by Chavers, a block by Amado, and a kill by West and Jarvis. In the end, the Stunner’s won the set and match on a blowout finishing, 25-12.
Head on over to Youtube to watch the full match! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI1J4pilgCo
Match Statistics
Stunners:
#6 Corey Chavers – 16 Points (15 Kills, 1 Block)
#7 Joey Jarvis – 13 Points (12 Kills, 1 Block)
#15 Jair Sanchez-Santiago – 10 Points (9 Kills, 1 Block)
#22 Nick Amado – 11 Points (7 Kills, 1 Ace, 3 Blocks)
#9 Nick West – 10 Points (7 Kills, 2 Aces, 1 Block
Southern Exposure:
#1 Tyler Neil-Hubbard – 18 Points (16 Kills, 2 Aces)
#16 Langston Payne – 9 Points (8 Kills, 1 Block)
#12 Ouchenna Ofoha – 8 Points (7 Kills, 1 Block)
#14 Jakub Ciesla – 8 Points (7 Kills, 1 Block)
#13 Chad Mercado – 7 Points (6 Kills, 1 Block)
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Stunners Coach Daryl Adams put Matt Hilling as the starting Opposite, and setter Randy Ramirez didn’t waste time, with Matt scoring on his first six swings. Ramirez also contributed with a service ace during this run giving the Stunners an 8-4 lead. Stunners kept the 4-point lead for most of the set. But Tyrants battled back with kills by #22 Austen Lovett and #16 Daniel Jacobs to cut the lead to 18-16. Stunners countered with two kills by Hilling and #7 Joey Jarvis plus a block by #9 Nick West to close the set at 25-20.
In set #2, Tyrants took the early lead, primarily due to Stunners’ passing and hitting errors. While #6 Corey Chavers and Jarvis struggled, Tyrants’ hitters capitalized by scoring their points in transition. With blistering attacks from Jacobs and Ryan Maune, the Tyrants Increased their lead to 6-points at the media timeout 16-10. Tyrants held on with their defense and coasted to a 25-18 victory after a kill by Jacobs.
In set #3, the Stunners’ hitters improved their play and held on to a 1-point lead for most of the match. But the Tyrants’ tenacious, gritty defensive kept the score close as the teams exchanged the lead several times. At 20-20, the game began to switch to the Tyrant’s favor as the Stunners’ offense began to crumble again. Stunners’ #22 Nick Amado, an anchor for the team, committed a hitting error, giving the Tyrants the lead 22-21. Daniel Jacobs capitalized with a bounce kill on a Stunners’ overpass, pulling away to 23-21. Tyrants held on to a 24-23 lead and won the set on a Stunn’ers’ service error at 25-23.
In set # 4 Stunners took an early lead by getting middles Nick Amado and Nick West running again in their offense. A run of kills by Jarvis and Chavers and blocks by Amado and Hilling gave the Stunners an 11-5 lead. Tyrants sided out well to stay within 6 points. Then before the media timeout, a Chavers block with his hands above the antenna increased their lead to 16-9. Tyrants attempted a rally on a dump kill by #10 Gabriel Quinones and a set of kills by Jacobs and Grasso. But at 20-14, the Stunners scored on two kills by West to 23-15. Tyrants countered with a mini-run with kills by Grasso and a block by Lovett. But it wasn’t enough as the Stunners closed out the set with a service ace by West and a kill by Hilling kill 25-18.
In set #5, Stunners took the early lead at 8-3 on kills by Chavers, Hilling, and Jarvis. Tyrants scored on kills by #1 Anthony Robinson and Daniel Jacobs. After Tyrants sided out, the Stunners struggled to do the same, and the Tyrants scored a run of transition points with three kills by Grasso and a block by Lovett to cut the lead to 10-9. But the Stunners bounced back at 11-10 and scored the following four consecutive points on a kill by Chavers, Ramirez service ace, and then a finishing block and kill by Chavers to win the match 15-10.
Match Statistics
OC Stunners:
#6 Corey Chavers – 30 Points (25 Kills, 4 Blocks, 1 Ace)
#18 Matt Hilling – 16 points (15 Kills, 1 Block)
#7 Joey Jarvis – 13 Points (12 Kills, 1 Block)
#22 Nick Amado – 12 Points (11 Kills, 1 Block)
#9 Nick West – 6 Points (6 Kills)
Texas Tyrants:
#9 Gianluca Grasso – 19 points (18 Kills, 1 Ace)
#16 Daniel Jacobs – 12 Points (12 Kills)
#15 Ryan Maune – 12 Points (10 Kills, 1 Ace, 1 Block)
#1 Anthony Robinson – 10 Points (8 Kills, 2 Blocks)
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Stunners Immobilize Ramblers in 3 Sets
Set #1 – Stunner 25, Ramblers 13
Stunners take an eerily 4-0 lead with a kill, block point, net and another kill. An ace extends the Stunner lead to 6-1. After several side-outs stunners make another run with more kills and add more points to their lead 12-4. Two Stunner blocks made it a 14-5. Ramblers call a time out, then side-out to 14-6. Stunners increase their lead to 16-7. Ramblers earn a point on their serve and deficit is now 7 points, 17-10. But Stunners continue on their tear and 4 consecutive points, the last on a block point for a 21-11 lead. Ramblers call their second time out, side out and score another point on a kill to 21-13. Stunners start another short run to take a 24-13 lead and then close the set with a kill by Nick West.
Stunners – 2 Aces, 12 Kills, 3 Block Points and 8 Opponent Errors; 92% Reception and 71% Hitting.
Ramblers – 1 Ace, 7 Kills, and 5 Opponent Errors; 85% Reception and 33% Hitting.
Set #2 – Stunners 25, Ramblers 17
Stunners started with another run of 3 points that forced the Ramblers to play from behind again. At 5-2 Nick Amado continued his dominance at the net with back to back blocks to extend the lead to 7-2. The Ramblers fought back with two kills and cut the lead to 7-4. But the Stunners rally back with a Rambler hitting error and kill for 9-4. Ramblers counter with a block point to 9-5. A Rambler service error, followed by a monster Stunner kill and ace gives the Stunners a 12-6 lead. Ramblers counter and fight back with some digs, kills and two Stunners hitting errors to 13-10. But the Stunners counter punch with a great dig, a kill and block point for a five point lead to 15-10. Each team sides out to 17-12. Then the Stunners earn two more points on their serves with another block point and net error by the Ramblers to take a commanding 19-12 lead. The 7 point lead continued to 21-14. The Ramblers had a short 2 point run to cut the lead to 21-16. At 23-17 a Stunner kill set up set point. The next Stunner served led to a Rambler hitting error. And the Stunners won 25- 16.
Stunners – 2 Aces, 12 Kills, 3 Block Points and 8 Opponent Errors; 100% Reception and 67% Hitting.
Ramblers – 2 Ace, 7 Kills, and 1 Block Point and 7 Opponent Errors; 85% Reception and 33% Hitting.
Set #3 – Stunners 25, Ramblers 23
Stunners begin the set with a kill off the block. But this time the Ramblers side out with a kill to a 1-1 tie. Stunners score a point on a block point and stretch their lead to 4–2. Both teams continued to side-out until another Stunner run on two kills to an 8-5 lead.Two hitting errors by the Stunners helped the Ramblers cut the lead to 9-7.
A Stunner service error and Rambler block point tied the game for the Ramblers at 10-10. Then a huge block gave the Ramblers their first lead of the set and match to 11-10. A Ramblers’ hitting error tied it at 11-11. A Stunner block and kill gave them a 15-13 lead. Ramblers call a time out. Stunner back to back aces, the last on a net ace, increases the lead to 18-14. A quick set on 2 by the Stunner Libero Francis led to a kill and 21-17 lead. The Ramblers rallied to cut the lead to 24-23 with a combination of kills and hitting error by the Stunner. But their attempt for a tie fell short on a hitting error that gave the Stunners the set and match point.
Stunners – 2 Aces, 14 Kills, 1 Block Points and 8 Opponent Errors; 95% Reception and 41% Hitting.
Ramblers – 9 Kills, 2 Block Points and 11 Opponent Errors; 83% Reception and 38% Hitting.
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