Big South Champs

BRADENTON — It had been six years in the making — the fulfillment of a childhood goal that, up until this season, Lakewood Ranch High senior Ali Milbourn thought might not become a reality.

For the past five years, Milbourn’s aspirations of earning a national championship bid had been met with disappointment.

But, then, her team’s Cinderella story began to unfold.

The injuries that had plagued Milbourn and her Coastline Volleyball 18 Rox teammates began to heal. The team began to work together and gain confidence.

During the Big South National Qualifier April 4 through April 6, in Atlanta, Coastline went undefeated to win the 18 American division, after heading into the tournament seeded 44th out of 88 teams.

“The first two days they played well, but the last day they played was really something to watch,” coach Craig Wolfe says. “They were really disciplined in their assignments. You could just feel something special was happening that day.”

With the win, Coastline earned a bid to the 35th annual USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships June 28 through July 1, in Minneapolis.

However, the true extent of their accomplishment still hasn’t fully sunken in for Milbourn and her teammates.

“I cried,” Milbourn says. “It still doesn’t seem real. It’s been a goal of mine for so long. I’m just so glad we did it, because I never thought I would achieve it.”

Wolfe says: “There are thousands of really good teams every year; and no matter how good they are, they don’t all qualify. It’s a huge deal. They may not understand how significant this is until years later.”

Coastline began preparing for its competitive season following the conclusion of the high school season in November.

The team got off to an uncharacteristically rough start. In the middle of dealing with injuries and team issues, the Coastline 18 Rox team lost to Coastline’s 14s, 15s and 17s teams in practice.

Wolfe had just joined the club, and the players were adjusting to his coaching style.

About two months ago, Wolfe finally began to see his players buy into the system.

Coastline played in an open tournament before traveling to the Colorado Crossroads Junior National Qualifier March 14 through March 16, in Denver, where the team went 2-1 the first day. It finished 24th in the 18 USA division.

Coastline followed up its trip to Denver with a fifth-place finish at the Disney Volleyball Showcase March 28 through March 30.

Heading into the Big South National Qualifier, the girls believed they were playing their best volleyball of the season.

“The first two days we relaxed a little on our play and we didn’t have any nervous energy,” says Kelsea Guest, a Braden River senior. “That gave us a lot of confidence.”

Coastline won three games on the first day and another three games the second day to advance to the gold bracket. The team won its first three matches in the gold bracket to advance to the championship match.

After losing the first set 22-25, Coastline bounced back to win the next two sets 25-22, 15-13.

“I’m so proud of how they came together as a team and trusted the process,” Wolfe says. “After we won, I remember looking up and thinking, ‘Did this really just happen?’ They were just phenomenal.”

Following the Big South National Qualifier, the team began preparing for the 2014 Asics Florida Girls’ Junior Regional Qualifier April 19 and April 20, in Orlando. Coastline went 3-2 in the regional tournament, which featured the top teams from around the area.

“You have to be challenged,” Wolfe says. “I’m so proud of these guys for sticking together through a really tumultuous beginning and to be able to capture something so many strive for and never get the opportunity. They’ve done an amazing job.”

Coastline will spend the next two months practicing twice a week and scrimmaging other local teams in preparation for the Junior National Championships.

Coastline Volleyball 18 Rox Roster
Nicole Grant
Reanna Gregory
Kelsea Guest
Lauren Hochstetler
Madison Jaco
Holly Kabana
Catherine Kleinkopf
Ali Milbourn
McKenzie Smith
Kelly Stewart
Taylor Wallace

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]