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Two Runner-Ups, Six Top-5 Finishes, and 10 All-Americans at AAU Nationals in Orlando
- Chad Rutkowski
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
It was a summer of national volleyball unlike anything Premier Academy has ever seen. When the final match of the 2026 AAU Junior National Championships was played in Orlando, Premier Academy had etched its name into the record books — twice. Two national runner-up finishes, six teams in the top five of their respective divisions, and 10 athletes earning All-American honors. This is the story of Premier's success at AAU Nationals.
18-Tiger (Boys): A Historic First for Premier Academy and Northwest Ohio
The biggest story of Premier's 2026 nationals run belongs to the boys’ program. 18-Tiger, competing in the 18 Open Boys division, did something no Premier team had done before: they finished as national runner-up’s. Not just a first for Premier Academy — a first for all Northwest Ohio.
Tiger went 8-3 on the week, navigating one of the most competitive boys divisions at the entire tournament. They battled through pool play, earned their way into Championship Day, and fought all the way to the final match. The run required every bit of the preparation, toughness, and team chemistry that built this group across a full club season.
A 2nd-place finish at AAU Nationals. The first in Premier Academy history. The first for Northwest Ohio. This is the kind of result that defines a program — and the players and coaches who built it should be celebrated accordingly.
16-Nimbus: Girls National Runner-Up
Premier 16-Nimbus earned 2nd place in the 16 Aspire division, posting a 9-4 record in a field of 53 teams. Nimbus won their way through pool play, stayed consistent on Day 2, and after a team had to forfeit all of their matches on day 3, that snuck Nimbus into the Challenge match where they dominated and reached the championship match before falling in a hard-fought final. Their runner-up finish represents exactly what Premier's girls’ program has been building toward — competing at the highest level on the national stage.
Four More Top-5 Finishes on Championship Day
The runner-up headlines alone would have made 2026 an all-time Premier achievement. But the story didn't stop there. Four additional Premier teams reached Championship Day quarterfinal matches, each finishing in 5th place in their divisions:
18-Onitsuka (5th, 18 Club — 52 teams): Onitsuka posted a 9-2 record across pool play before their quarterfinal exit. Finishing in the top 10% of one of the larger 18-year-old divisions is a testament to the depth and consistency this team showed all week.
18-Antare (5th, 18 Classic — 94 teams): After sweeping all nine pool play matches and carrying momentum into Championship Day, 18-Antare fell in their quarterfinal. A 5th-place finish in a 94-team division is an outstanding result, and this group never stopped competing.
16-Kinsei (5th, 16 Select — 110 teams): In one of the most statistically dominant performances of any Premier team at nationals, Kinsei went 10-1 in pool play before losing their quarterfinal match. A 5th-place finish across 110 teams is elite-level performance by any measure.
15-Trabuco (5th, 15 Select — 147 teams): In the largest division at nationals, 15-Trabuco posted a 10-2 record and reached Championship Day, ultimately finishing 5th. Competing against 147 teams and reaching the quarterfinals is a remarkable achievement for this group.
Representing Premier on the National Stage
Three more Premier teams competed at nationals this summer, continuing to build experience and compete against the best clubs from across the country. Every team that made the trip to Orlando contributed to what was collectively Premier Academy's best nationals performance as a program.
10 Premier AAU All-Americans
Capping off the most decorated nationals in Premier Academy history, 10 Premier athletes were named AAU All-Americans — a recognition earned by the top performers across every division:
Mackenna Miller (committed to Robert Morris University)
Tatum Creps (committed to Wheeling Jesuit University)
Devyn Koster
Grace DePalma
Brody Sonnenberg (committed to Endicott College)
Brody Voight (committed to Adrian College)
Ethan Frost
Azihana Allen
Arabella Schoenrock
Vayda Schmidt
Ten All-Americans from one club, across multiple teams and age groups, reflects Premier's coaching staff, the competitive training environment, and the commitment of the athletes who put in the work every day.
A Season to Remember
Premier Academy’s unprecedented achievements at the 2026 AAU Nationals include two national runner-up finishes, six top-5 placements, ten All-Americans, and records set for the boys program and Northwest Ohio volleyball.
This success is attributed to the players’ dedication, coaches’ preparation, and families’ unwavering support. Premier Academy is proud of every team that competed in Orlando this summer and beyond proud of the success found all season long.
The All-American wall and record books will commemorate this group’s hard-earned achievements.
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