ORLANDO, Fla. – On the biggest volleyball stage, the Winter Park Volleyball Club 18U boys’ team wants to cement the legacy as one of the best Florida teams ever.
To do that, they’ll have to win the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship being held at the Orange County Convention Center.
“We’ve earned that reputation, and we have to prove it,” Tristan Guitton said. “Being able to say we’re one of those top teams competing to probably be one of the best teams to come out of Florida, it’s such an unreal thing. You have something to prove.”
This team is comprised of high school state champions and college recruits. Guitton won a second straight volleyball title with Winter Park High School along with teammate Jacob Little-Phillips, who is a Stanford commit. Other players like state champion Lake Howell’s Tyler Windt know history is on the line.
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“We’re carrying the Winter Park legacy on our backs,” Windt said. “And we get to show future generations how it’s done.”
The championships run through July 3 at the convention center. As a whole, over 6,500 girls and boys volleyball teams have played in this year’s national championships, breaking last year’s attendance record. It holds the Guinness Book of World Records spot as the world’s largest volleyball championship.
“We’ve come to this tournament every year since we were like fourteen,” Little-Phillips said. “It’s great to see how much it’s grown. This is insane compared to how it was just years ago. It’s great.”
The Winter Park Volleyball Club 17U girls’ team won its national championship this year. Head Coach Jordan Little has faith his boys squad, led by his younger brother Jacob, can win another for WPVC.
“I think we can do everything,” coach Little said. “I think we have the best setting, the best defense and the best passing. I genuinely think when we all put it together, we just have it all. The greatest strength is camaraderie.”
More information about the championships can be found here.