From San Juan to Cleveland: A Huge Weekend for Premier

This past weekend, Premier Academy was everywhere. While some of our squads were soaking up the sun and elite competition at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Puerto Rico, others were battling it out closer to home at the Nike Shamrock Showdown in Cleveland.

From international beach vibes to the high-intensity Nike circuit, our athletes didn't just play—they grew as we approach the halfway point of the club season.

🌴 18-Antare: Runners-Up in Puerto Rico & 18-Onituska Wins Silver Bracket

Both Premier 18-Onituska and 18-Antare took their game to San Juan, and what an experience it was. For 14 of the 21 players we brought down, this was their first time competing in Puerto Rico.

Between matches, the girls got to be tourists—paddle boarding in Laguna del Condado and exploring the colorful streets of Old San Juan. But once they stepped into the gym, it was all business. International volleyball has a different rhythm—it’s fast, creative, and requires a ton of ball control.

18-Antare rose to the challenge. They hung their hats on disciplined defense and huge blocking to grind out some incredibly tight matches. In a "small world" twist, they ended up facing their own local tour guide, Stephen’s team, in the finals. While Antare took the first meeting, the rematch in the Championship went the other way. Taking 2nd place in a field like that is a massive achievement.

"Opportunities like the Caribbean Championships challenge our athletes in ways that go beyond the court,"said Club Director Jodi Schramm. "They’re learning to adapt and compete in totally new environments, and that’s a huge part of their development."

18-Onitsuka finished their weekend on a high note by winning the 18 Open Silver Bracket.

The best part about Onitsuka’s weekend was their trajectory. Every match, they got sharper. By Sunday, their offensive tempo was clicking, and they were capitalizing on every opening their opponents gave them. Watching them capture that Silver title was the perfect way to cap off the trip—they’re hitting their stride at exactly the right time in the season.

18-Onitsuka Wins Silver Bracket in 18-Open

Podium Finishes at the Nike Shamrock Showdown

While the 18s were in the tropics, our younger teams were putting in work in Cleveland. The Nike Shamrock Showdown is always a grind, and two of our teams fought their way onto the podium:

• 🥈 15-Quantum: Tournament Runners-Up. They were incredibly disciplined all weekend, controlling the tempo of every match and playing "clean" volleyball on their way to the finals.

• 🥉 13-Spree: 3rd Place Finish. These girls continue to impress us with how they handle high-pressure moments. Their serving pressure was a huge difference-maker this weekend.

As Lead Coach Brett Garner put it: "When we control the first contact and serve aggressively, everything else opens up. This weekend was a great example of those fundamentals turning into wins."

The Big Picture

Whether it was a championship run in the Caribbean or a podium spot in Cleveland, this weekend was about perspective. Our players learned to adapt to different styles of play and proved they can compete with anyone, anywhere.

We’re heading back to the practice courts with a lot of hardware and even more confidence.

What's Next?

Our teams are off for a few weeks before going on Spring Break and coming back to prepare for April and the the mid-year event, the JVA World Challenge and the 18U National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. As a founding member of the JVA, playing in this event is special for our program. For a full schedule list and to check out the teams in action, click here for 18s, and click here for all other teams.