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Tour Champs. Members of the Texas Tornados 18s can now add the Tour of Texas Championship to their trophy case after fighting off Austin Metro 25-16, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23 Sunday in College Station. Austin Juniors captured the 17s title and Alamo won gold in 16s.

Tornados, Austin Juniors and Alamo claim Tour of Texas titles

March 28– Athleticism won out over size Sunday afternoon as Texas Tornados 18 Nike fought off a gritty effort by Austin Metro 25-16, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23 to capture the Tour of Texas Championship at College Station. The Tornados also took home the overall points championship.

In the end, it was too much Kyna Washington, Erika Castro and Ellen Orchard with a little dash of Karen Morgan thrown in that allowed the Tornados to fight off the taller Austin Metro Tylers.

But it wasn't easy. Behind the inspired play of Caitlin Rainbird with support from Brittany Holzheauser, Julianna Martinez and Nickie Thomas, AMV rallied from their first game loss to take game two and let the Tornados know that it was "match on." The Tornados adjusted to the AMV block and cruised to a 25-17 win in game three, but AMV wasn't ready to call it a day. The Tylers jumped up by six early. The Tornados fought back to tie the score at 19, then AMV ran off three straight and it looked as if the match was heading to game five. But the Tornados fought back and tied the score at 23. Then, when Julie Borman served an ace and a Thomas kill sailed past the end line, it was suddenly over.

"The are so big that the have a great block when they have time to set up. And when they can run their offense, they have some people who can kill it," said Tornados coach Chuck Schneider. "But I was proud of the way we fought all weekend. We have been having trouble finishing and that's what we wanted to work on. I thought we did well against both Austin Juniors (in the semis) and against AMV. We were down a couple of times but were able to come back."

The Tornados advanced to the finals with wins over Dallas Summit and an impressive 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 sweep of Austin Juniors in the semifinals. AMV, which started the weekend in 11th place in the overall point standings and at one point was in Division 3 of the Tour, completed its impressive run to the Gold finals with wins over Hit-Away and Willowbrook.

In the third place match, Austin rallied from an 0-2 deficit to outlast Willowbrook 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-9 behind the play of Michael Faulkner, Shannon Davis, Sarah Weiland and Meghan Kainz. Anna Breyfogle returned to the lineup for the first time since January and although she was still moving a little tentative, having her back in the lineup obviously made a difference.

Haley Ball, who has to be one of the most explosive players in the state, Michelle Moriarty and Lauren Robbins led Team Texas over Centex 25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16 for fifth place. Hit-Away stopped Dallas Summit for seven place.

As expected, Alamo and South Shore met in the finals of the Silver Bracket with Alamo winning in five.

Injury Update

In addition to the return of Breyfogle, this weekend also marked the return of Brittany Randel for Team Texas and Jesi Grisham for Centex. But the news wasn't all good. Randel, coming back from an ankle injury, went down in Saturday's loss to Willowbrook with an knee injury and will have it looked at Monday. Grisham, returning from knee surgery, injured her right wrist in the match with Team Texas and doctors will look at it this week to determine if it is a sprain or a break.

17s and 16s Results

In 17s action Austin Juniors claimed both the Tour championship and the points title with a 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 win over Willowbrook. Austin had advanced to the finals with wins over Texas Juniors DFW and AMV. Willowbrook's path the the championship match included wins over Texas Tornados and Club Texas. AMV knocked off Club Texas 3-2 in the third place match.

The 16s Championship crown and point title went to Alamo, which swept the Tornados 25-14, 25-21 in the finals. Alamo beat AMV in the semifinals while the Tornados advanced to the championship match with a win over Austin Juniors. Houston Juniors took fifth place with a win over Club Texas.

Complete results and updated standings will be posted Monday on the Tour of Texas web site.

18s

Gold Bracket
Championship
Texas Tornados def. AMV 25-16, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23
Third place
Austin Juniors def. Willowbrook 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-9
Fifth place
Team Texas def. Centex 25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16
Seven place
Hit-Away def. Dallas Summit

Semifinals
Tornados def. Austin Juniors
AMV def. Willwbrook
Centex def. Dallas Summit
Team Texas def. Hit-Away

Round one
Tornados def. Dallas Summit
Austin Juniors def. Centex
Willowbrook def. Team Texas
AMV def. Hit-Away

Silver Bracket
Championship
Alamo def. South Shore 3-2
Third Place
North Dallas def. Club Texas
Fifth place
Texas Tornados Dan def. River City
Seventh place
Houston Juniors def. Texas Juniors

Semifinals
South Shore def. Club Texas
Alamo def. North Dallas
River City def. Texas Juniors
Tornados Dan def. Houston Juniors

Round One
Club Texas def. Texas Juniors
South Shore def. River City
Alamo def. Texas Tornados Dan
North Dallas def. Houston Juniors

Unofficial Point Standings
1. Texas Tornados
2. Team Texas
3. Hit-Away
4. Centex
5. Austin Juniors

17s

Gold Bracket
Championship
Austin Juniors def. Willowbrook 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22
Third place
AMV def. Club Texas
Fifth place
Texas Tornados def. AIM
Seventh place
Alamo def. Texas Juniors DFW

Semifinals
Austin Juniors def. AMV
Willowbrook def. Club Texas
AIM def. Texas Juniors DFW
Tornados def. Alamo

Round One
Austin def. Texas Juniors DFW
AMV def. AIM
Willowbrook def. Tornados
Club Texas def. Alamo

Points champion: Austin Juniors

16s

Championship
Alamo def. Texas Tornados 25-14, 25-21
Semifinals
Alamo def. AMV
Texas Tornados def. Austin Juniors
Fifth place
Houston Juniors def. Club Texas
Seventh place
Willowbrook def. AIM

Division 1, Pool 1
1. Alamo
2. Austin Juniors
3. Club Texas
4. AIM Kaepa

Division 1, Pool 2
1. Texas Tornados
2. AMV
3. Houston Juniors
4. Willowbrook Molten

Points champion: Alamo