TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - Prostyle Volleyball Academy has a rich tradition, and welcomes some of the best volleyball players in the Big Bend. Titles, they've won them, college scholarships, they've earned them, but there's still one crown that's eluded them, and that is a National Championship.
"We've been qualified for probably four years in a row now," said Aly Freeland. "We work really well together, and practice hard together, and I think we'll just have a chance this time."
"This is one of our best teams here actually, and it might be one of the best teams we've had in Tallahassee ever," added head coach Gokham Yilmaz. "They're very competitive, and they are very good volleyball players, we have a lot of complete players here, that are very competitive, wanting to win."
This group earned their bid back in March, topping over 100 teams out in the Denver Crossroads. That win gave them ample time to build momentum.
"It was a lot of relief too, to know you're already in the door, and now we can really train and get better," said Taylor Roberts, who is committed to play volleyball at Florida State. "We were allowed to play in higher levels, the next tournaments we were in, we got to train against better teams, and now I feel like we are more prepared to play the teams we will be playing."
The group will play in the 17 American Division, and qualified as the number one overall seed out of 72 teams, an honor they take pride in.
"To show that we have proved ourselves, to get the seed, that is awesome and I think that gives us confidence," said Jewel Strawberry. "Going into the tournament, knowing that people think we're good enough to be the one so that we can be number one."
Roberts agreed. "We just work really hard, we play good together, and I really feel like if we take care of business, we can get it done this time."
They are a confident bunch, ready to bring the Big Bend, it's first National title.
