Chalk up another national title for Gainesville.

However, this time it marked a first for the area.

The Gainesville Juniors 14U volleyball team won the USA Volleyball National Championship in Dallas during the last weekend of June.

In the title game, they defeated Alliance of Tennessee, who they lost to on the first day of the tournament, but then reeled off 10 straight wins to finish 10-1.

“At the beginning of the season, our goal was to win both AAU Nationals and USAV Nationals,” said Gainesville Juniors head coach Nicole Stout, the mother of two-time Miss Volleyball winner and Santa Fe (Alachua) standout Jalyn Stout. “Last year, we won AAU but fell just short at USAV, losing in the championship match 15-13 in the third set. The girls never forgot how that felt. It was a tough moment, but also a powerful learning experience—and that’s exactly what they did: they learned, grew, and came back stronger.”

It marked the highest level non-collegiate national championship ever won by a Gainesville area team in volleyball, and maybe any sport.

“I know that for Gainesville Juniors and volleyball in Gainesville, this is the highest level ever achieved,” Stout said. “I can’t speak for every sport, but I know what this means to our volleyball community. Winning this tournament meant everything. These girls worked relentlessly and made countless sacrifices. Watching all of that pay off was one of the most incredible experiences.”

Stout, who has been the head coach since 2011, said all season long they have emphasized “playing with a purpose and always finishing empty.”

“That phrase became a cornerstone of our team culture,” said Stout, who has an overall record of 66-10 (most recent season) and has been coaching at Gainesville Juniors for 14 years total. “Every time they stepped off the court, they did so empty, having given everything they had. The grit, determination, and heart these girls showed is both incredible and rare.”

Gainesville’s Taylor Sembower, who played at The Rock this past season as an eighth grader but will be playing at Buchholz High School this fall, was named the USA Volleyball National Most Valuable Player.

“Taylor is truly an all-around phenomenal volleyball player,” Stout said. “She’s one of those rare athletes who can step into any position and make an impact. Her hitting is very impressive but her serve receive and defense is one of her biggest attributes.”

The rising freshman was ranked the No. 12 player nationally before winning national MVP honors.

“What I’m most proud of is her growth—both mentally and as a teammate,” Stout said. “Her maturity, resilience, and selflessness have stood out just as much as her skill on the court. Her ceiling is incredibly high, and I can’t wait to see where life takes her. The best is yet to come.”

Holdyn Moore of P.K. Yonge made the USAV National All-Tournament Team along with former Blue Wave teammate Ajha Graddy.

“The best word to describe Holdyn is impressive,” Stout said. “At first glance, she might not seem like a major threat. She shows little emotion and, by volleyball standards, she’s undersized, but once the match begins, it doesn’t take long to realize that there’s almost nothing she can’t do.”

Another word for Moore, who is only 13 and will be going into the eighth grade, is “explosive.”

“She jumps out of the gym, brings incredible power, and sees the court like a seasoned veteran,” Stout said. “She makes plays that drop jaws. The number of people who came up to me after games, stunned by what they just saw, is honestly incredible.”

Stout said Graddy was one of their most impactful players.

“She has one of the highest volleyball IQs I’ve seen in a long time,” Stout said. “She just knows what to do at exactly the right moment. When the game is on the line, she’s a player you want with the ball.”

Beyond her skill, Stout said Graddy has the kind of leadership that can shift the momentum of a match.

“Whether it’s by making a clutch play or bringing energy to the court, she has what I like to call ‘that dog in her.’ She gets her teammates fired up and can completely change the trajectory of a game through her presence alone.”

Lalyn Sikes of Branford High School, a 2nd team All Area selection this past year, was the only player outside of Alachua County on the roster, which also included players from Newberry, Santa Fe, Buchholz, P.K. Yonge and The Rock.

“Gainesville Juniors is truly an incredible club to be a part of,” Stout said. “Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours with this organization and built so many meaningful relationships. One of the most rewarding parts is watching these young athletes grow, not just as volleyball players, but as confident young women. Seeing them go on to play at the collegiate level is such a proud moment.”

She’s also witnessed many changes and learned so much from the directors and fellow coaches.

“We truly are a family,” Stout said. “The unwavering support we give one another is a big part of why we continue to succeed.”

Stout wanted to send a huge shoutout to Coach Ashton Marshall, the daughter of Santa Fe coach Eric Marshall, who has been coaching the Gainesville Juniors with Stout for two years.

“Her commitment to the game and the girls is truly unmatched,” said Stout, who also coached Ashton when she was 14. “I’m incredibly grateful to be part of such a passionate and successful organization.

“I would also like to add something else,” she said. “We had the most amazing parent group. They are all in. The support they give their daughters and us coaches is one in a million. They supported each other on and off the court. Our ‘dad crew’ was the most phenomenal thing you have ever witnessed. They literally made up cheers and practiced them.”

Stout, who was an assistant coach for Eric Marshall from 2018-2022, which included back-to-back Class 4A state titles in 2021 and 2022, had faith this year’s Gainesville Juniors 14U team could win it all.

“Coach Ashton and I always believed they could beat anyone if they stayed disciplined,” Stout said. “Our mission was to help them believe that too. Watching them embrace that mindset and play with so much passion and unity has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my coaching career.”

Gainesville Juniors 14U Roster
Ajha Graddy #5 – Santa Fe High School
Carly Myers #13 – Newberry High School
Demmi Strappy #2 – Buchholz High School
Holdyn Moore #15 – P.K. Yonge
Isabel Carter #22 – Buchholz High School
June Poser-Wipke #16 – Santa Fe High School
Kendall Holloway #8 – Oak View Middle School
Kiana Wilburn #11 – Buchholz High School
Lalyn Sikes #7 – Branford High School
Lillian Conley #10 – Santa Fe High School
Taylor Sembower #9 – Buchholz High School
Tinsley Parks # 23 – The Rock School