CLUB VOLLEYBALL: 208 U14 Elite team wins national title

The 208 Volleyball U14 Elite squad certainly finished its club volleyball season on a roll — and did something rarely, if ever, done by a North Idaho volleyball team. 

The 208 team, with seven of its 10 players from North Idaho, won its final 31 matches of the season, including 13 in a row to capture a national title in the 14U Premier Division at the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship June 17-20 in Orlando, Fla. 

“I think the kids showed a lot of mental toughness,” said 208 coach Debbie Buchanan, the former St. Maries High volleyball star who coached the Idaho Vandals for 22 seasons. “There were times we were down by quite a few points, and we were able to lock in, and really stay focused on what we were trying to do on our side. 

“Just super proud of the girls, they showed a lot of trust in each other. They competed all the way through.” 

The 208 team included: 

• Gretah Angle (setter/opposite Hitter) of Kellogg, a rising freshman at Kellogg High;  

• Peyton Barclift (outside hitter) of Post Falls, who will be an eighth grader at Post Falls Middle School;  

• Jade Laos (setter/libero) of Post Falls, a rising freshman at Post Falls High;  

• Danica Pratt (outside hitter/DS) of Post Falls, a rising freshman at Post Falls High;  

• Everlee Powell (middle blocker) of Rathdrum, a home-schooler and rising freshman who plans to play at Timberlake High;  

• Ellie Garcia (middle blocker) of Pasco, Wash., a rising sophomore at Chiawana High;  

• Rowan Greenfield (outside hitter) of Liberty Lake, a rising freshman at Gonzaga Prep;  

• Sonia-rei Fong (libero/DS) of Coeur d’Alene, a rising freshman at Coeur d’Alene High;  

• Lilly Fletcher (DS) of Coeur d’Alene, a rising freshman at Coeur d’Alene High; and  

• Shayna Singh (opposite hitter) of Colfax, Wash., a rising sophomore at Pullman High. 

“I think we have some really big arms at every position,” Buchanan said. “I feel like we’re well-rounded ... we were able to do things to put us in a position where teams had a hard time stopping us. We had two middles that could run fast, in front and behind the setter. When we could pass and keep things in play in a good spot, we could run that. Teams had to decide if they were going to stick with our middles or go with our outsides ... we had some great ball-control, great defense, did a good job from the service line ... so really, it all came together that last weekend. Super proud of them.”   

Barclift was named Most Valuable Player in the 14 Premier tournament, and Angle and Powell earned All-American (all-tournament) honors.

Buchanan on Barclift: “She had some really big plays for our team this weekend, especially hitting when we were out of system, just going up and taking some big swings, using the high hands, making smart shots. And she also passed and played defense and did some great things from the back row and service line. She’s just a true competitor; she’s going to just keep growing in the game. It was fun to watch.” 

Buchanan on Angle, who set a 5-1 offense most of the time: “She did a great job finding our middles, and running the quick, really isolating. We’re working on isolating and overloading our hitters, giving them a ball that they could hit. She did a really good job when we were out of system, putting up a ball that was hittable. And she did some big things at the net, with dumping and blocking.” 

Buchanan on Powell: “From an offensive standpoint, she’s so good on the slide. She’s a really physical hitter; that’s her bread and butter. She was able to hit the slide a lot but she’s also great offensively in the middle. And her blocking this weekend was really good. When you have a middle that can do all of those things, and can pull the block and leave the outsides one on one is a really big thing.” 

The 14 Premier division was considered the second-highest level of the seven 14U divisions at the AAU nationals, just below the 14 Open division.

An official with the Evergreen Region, which includes teams from North Idaho and Eastern Washington, said she couldn’t be sure but “I don’t believe” a team from the region had ever won a national title before. 

Plus, there are different “national” tournaments.  

The 208 Volleyball U14 Elite team had already committed to AAU nationals, then earned a bid to the upcoming USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals in late June in Dallas, but turned the Dallas bid down because it had already committed to AAU nationals, opting for that one because it would have its whole team together, as well as the cost of going to two national tourneys. 

“Some teams do both,” Buchanan said. “They go to AAU nationals as a warmup ... “ 

The core of the current 208 U14 team has played together for several years, Buchanan said. Two players were added for this season, her first year as coach of the team.  

208 won tournaments in Denver and Salt Lake City, prior to winning nationals in Orlando. The 208 team played three days of pool play, culminating with a crossover match Thursday night. Gold Bracket play was Friday, with 208 beating Pineapple 14 Black from Indiana in the championship match. 

“It’s a great way to end,” Buchanan said. “I think sometimes I have to remember that they are only 14. But they were really great about responding, because I held them accountable.”  

Debbie's oldest son, Austin, coached with her at the national tournament. Austin Buchanan, a setter, began his collegiate volleyball career at Hawaii, and has one more season remaining at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.  

He’s also an assistant coach at a high school in Connecticut, recently helping that team win a state title. This fall, prior to playing his final season at Sacred Heart, he’ll be an assistant with the Yale women’s volleyball team. 

“That was really fun and special for me for him to be my assistant coach, and celebrate this with me,” Debbie said. 

Since retiring as Idaho coach, Debbie Buchanan has continued to conduct volleyball camps, and also does private volleyball lessons. 

“I haven’t coached club in quite a while,” she said. “I was able to have a great high school career, and get a scholarship to college. Had a great coaching career, and now I have this opportunity to be on the club side and help kids in a different way. So for me, it’s been really fulfilling.”