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Naples Volleyball Club Gulfside Academy Wins Jr. National Championship

VaselineJuly 11, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Naples Volleyball Club Gulfside Academy Wins Jr. National Championship

For Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy 13U Prime team coaches Miguel Dapena and Paola Hatton, the road to the USA Volleyball Jr. National Championship began long before this season.

Dapena and Hatton, born in Puerto Rico, became friends and stayed friends through high school. They went to the same university where they played volleyball together and started dating.

In 2013 they moved to Miami and just 11 years later they coached the Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy 13U prime team from Naples to the USA Volleyball Jr. National Championship on June 24 in Dallas.

“We played volleyball and that’s how we met,” said Hatton, the team’s assistant coach. “But we love the sport and to be able to be there with Dapena and talk about the plays and how we can make it work so we can win those games, that was awesome.

“It was just a dream come true,” said Dapena, Gulfside’s head coach. “This is my second year to make it to nationals, probably in 11 years. Both times with Gulfside Volleyball Academy. It’s surreal to win it all.”

It was surreal for the players too.

The USAV Jr. National Championship is the most prestigious and high-profile event for junior volleyball athletes in the country. Only 64 teams qualify and compete in the tournament each year. In 10 years, Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy has received multiple bids to compete in the USAV Jr. National Championship and has eight Top-3 finishes.

After four days of competition, Gulfside Academy had an 11-1 game record and a 23-3 set record. The team ran onto the court and hugged each other after the final point.

“I think it was really exciting for us,” setter Isabella Collado said. “Because all the hard work we put in paid off.”

Dapena and Hatton, who moved to Naples in 2020, said the biggest challenge was convincing their team they could achieve their goal of winning the championship.

“We had to talk and let them know that you’re going to make mistakes and you just have to shake it off and move on to the next play,” Dapena said. “That’s normal. And every time you get a chance, let them know how good they are. Basically (instilling) that confidence.”

The team said the toughest physical challenge was dealing with injuries. Winger and team captain Sophia Barron was injured during the championships and had to sit out a day of competition.

Barron said she credited her recovery to seeing her teammates in action that day and believing they could win the championship.

“They made me feel like I could play again… it helped lift my spirits,” she said.

During their journey together, Dapena and Hatton learned the most important thing: enjoy every moment.

The coaches hope the memory of the title will stay with their team, but they also want the life lessons they learn from working as a team to stay with them.

During the volleyball game they have learned qualities such as dedication and a sense of responsibility, which they would like to pass on to their group.

“You learn so much from it,” Dapena said. “When you’re in a sport, you benefit from it because that’s going to help you your whole life, whether or not you play in college or later. But what it does for you, the sport as a person and as you grow, that’s what I love most about sports, so it’s a commitment for everyone.”

Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy Selection

Victoria Giraldo
Priscilla class
Sienna Strickland
Chiara Gagliano
Sophia Baron
Mia Besseman
Sophie Fong
Isabella Collado
Maria Gorlatova

VaselineJuly 11, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy Selection

Vaseline

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