Bluegrass Recap: 150+ Courts, 400+ Scouts, and some Big Premier Wins

If you’ve never been to the Under Armour Bluegrass Tournament in Louisville, it’s hard to describe the scale. We’re talking 150+ courts, 400+ college coaches pacing the sidelines, and teams from 30 different states (plus Canada and the Virgin Islands).

It’s a massive stage, it’s loud, and the competition is elite. It’s exactly the kind of environment where we want our teams to compete, and this past weekend, Premier Academy definitely made some noise.

🏆 16-Kinsei: 16 Premier Black Division Champs!

The story of the weekend has to be 16-Kinsei. They finished with a stellar 8–1 record and brought home the 16 Premier Black Division title.

Premier Academy 16-Kinsei | Champions of UA Bluegrass

Winning a division at Bluegrass is no small feat—you have to be poised, consistent, gritty and overall, you have to play with each other and for each other. After dropping an early match in bracket play, the girls didn't blink. They regrouped and went on a tear. Our pins were a huge factor: Devin Koster and Quincy Moetner were consistent on the outside, providing steady scoring and keeping our serve-receive rock solid. On the right side, Sarah Atherton came up with huge, timely kills that kept the defense guessing and opened up the offense.

Seeing this group’s cohesion and "clutch" factor under pressure was a massive highlight for the club.

🥉 Podium Finishes for 15-Trabuco and 16-Nimbus

Two more Premier squads fought their way onto the podium with 3rd-place finishes in their respective divisions.

• 15-Trabuco: This was a total team effort. Their ball control was exceptional all weekend, which allowed them to stay in system and out-work teams in transition. They played clean, smart volleyball and it paid off with a deep run into the brackets.

• 16-Nimbus: This group showed some serious "grind." They relied on disciplined defense and wouldn't let the ball hit the floor without a fight. Their ability to win long rallies and control the tempo against some very experienced teams was impressive to watch.

🏐 18-Onitsuka Takes Top 5

Shoutout to 18-Onitsuka for a gritty 5th-place finish in the 18 Premier Red Division. This was easily one of the toughest divisions in the building. Competing against that level of power and speed requires a ton of composure, and our girls stayed right in the mix until the very end.

The Takeaway

Beyond the trophies and the stats, the best part of Louisville was seeing our teams grow in real-time. Whether it was a championship win or a tough three-set battle, the lessons learned at Bluegrass are going to fuel us for the rest of the season.

We’re back in the gym this week to keep building on that momentum. Great work, Premier!

What's Next?

For this upcoming weekend, Premier Academy Girls Programs will send their two 18s teams, Premier 18-Os and 18-As to San Juan, Puerto Rico to participate in the Caribbean Volleyball Championships, where 18-Antare will look to defend their 2025 title. Premier 15s-10s and all P25 teams, 12 total, will travel to Cleveland to participate in the Nike Shamrock Showdown. 

For the schedule for the Caribbean Volleyball Championships, click here. Follow us on social media - Premier Academy - to follow all the action.

For the schedule of the Nike Shamrock Showdown, click here.