Premier Academy Claims Championship and Runner-Up Finish at Nike North Coast Cup in Cleveland

Seventeen Premier Academy teams traveled to downtown Cleveland this weekend to compete in the Nike North Coast Cup at the Huntington Convention Center — one of the Midwest’s premier winter volleyball events with 361 teams participating.

By the time Championship Monday concluded, Premier Academy had delivered one of its strongest collective performances of the season:

·       🏆 18-Antare – 18 Club Champions (9–0, 18–1 in sets)

·       🥈 17-Kayano – 17 Premier Runner-Up

·       16-Kinsei & 16-Nimbus – Gold Bracket Finishers

·       Multiple additional teams advancing out of Day 1 pool play

But the story of the weekend began with deliberate preparation — and it showed.

18-Antare Wins 18 Club Championship in Dominant Fashion

Competing in a 17-team 18 Club division, Premier 18-Antare delivered a championship-level performance from start to finish.

Antare went a perfect 9–0 and dropped just one set the entire tournament (18–1 in sets) — their first championship of the season.

From Day 1 pool play to the final point on Monday afternoon, Antare controlled matches with serving pressure, disciplined first contact, and clean transition offense.

Their semifinal and final victories over Gators VBC Premier showcased the maturity of this group. After dropping their only set of the weekend in a tight Day 2 battle (28–30), Antare responded immediately — winning the deciding set 15–10 and carrying that composure into the championship match.

In the final, Antare closed out the tournament with a straight-set victory (25–21, 26–24), showing poise in late-set moments.

The foundation of the weekend was first contact. Anchored in serve-receive by Maddy Bick, Ivy Schrader, Brey Biller, and Lexi Amundsen, Antare stabilized every match from the first touch. Their ability to control serve-receive allowed the offense to operate efficiently and consistently.

Premier Academy 18-Antare | Champions of the Nike North Coast Cup

17-Kayano Advances to Championship Match in 17 Premier

Premier 17-Kayano put together their deepest run of the season in the 17 Premier division (20-team field), finishing 7–2 and advancing to the championship match.

Kayano’s weekend was defined by resilience:

·       Multiple three-set victories

·       Bounce-back performances after tough sets

·       Composed semifinal execution

In the final, Kayano faced RockCity 17 N1, the tournament’s #1 seed. The match was competitive and well played, but RockCity proved to be the stronger team that afternoon.

Still, finishing runner-up in a field of this caliber marks meaningful growth for this group. Championship Monday volleyball is earned, and Kayano demonstrated they belong in those matches.

Premier Academy 17-Kayano | Runner-up of the Nike North Coast Cup

Gold Bracket Representation: 16-Kinsei & 16-Nimbus

Both Premier 16-Kinsei (5th in 16 Premier, 27-team field) and Premier 16-Nimbus (5th in 16 Club, 39-team field) advanced to Championship Monday gold brackets — a significant achievement in divisions of that size.

To make gold in any event, you need to be consistent over several days, have the physical endurance, and stay mentally sharp. Both teams showed those qualities and are on a positive trajectory as the season progresses.

Strong Day 1 Positioning Across the Club

Additional Premier teams positioned themselves well early in the tournament:

·       18-Onitsuka – 6th in 18 Premier

·       15-Trabuco – 11th in 15 Premier

·       14-Tokidoki – 9th in 14 Premier

·       14-Kokoro – 16th in 14 Club

With 17 teams playing in divisions ranging from 12s to 18s, the weekend showcased Premier Academy’s wide range of talent and its capability to compete at all ages.

The Bigger Picture

Championships are not just a lucky break; they come from building good habits and putting in the effort consistently well before the tournament even starts.

As Premier Academy Owner & Director Jodi Schramm shared: “Championship volleyball is built through deliberate preparation. When athletes commit to doing the small things consistently — controlling first contact, serving with purpose, communicating throughout each play, competing, and staying disciplined — the big moments take care of themselves. This weekend was a reflection of that commitment.”

What's Next?

For this upcoming weekend, Premier Academy and P25 Girls Programs will play at home in the Biggy Battle, sponsored by the Northwest Ohio Biggby Co-op. This event will featured teams from the region between the ages of 14s – 18s and will take place Saturday and Sunday at Premier Academy. For more information about this event, check out our website and social media channels.