JVA Mideast Power League (March 20-21)

IVA's top 15s squad, the Venom, continued its hot streak by going 6-0 on the weekend in Louisville, KY and improving its overall season record to 22-11. Competing in the two-day Mideast Power League #3, the Venom played with a lot of heart and improvisation as three of its members were on the Florida beaches enjoying spring break. Playing some current members in abnormal positions and calling on the help of Annie Beasley from the Puma 14s and Ellie Balbach from Curt Candler's 15s team, the Venom just got the job done all weekend. In fact, in the six victories only one set was lost. Along the way the team defeated Team Indiana 15-2s for the third time this season, Cincy Classics, Indy Jrs 15-1s and Indy Jrs 16-1s. In bracket play Venom defeated Munciana 15-2 in a dominating two-set performance. In the finals the Venom met N3 15-1s out of Fort Wayne and turned in an equally impressive performance, winning 25-22, 25-16. After winning 12 of their last 13 matches, and only dropping four sets during that run, the Venom takes a well-deserved month off from competition before competing in their final JVA Mideast Power League in late April. 

Hoosier Invitational (March 13-14)

The Venom, IVA's top 15's team, played its best volleyball to date in the IVA Hoosier Invitational by advancing through pool play with an unblemished 3-0 record on Saturday. Along the way, Venom dominated play in wins over Swish, Prodigy and Wave's top 16s teams. These wins allowed Venom to meet M-Juniors in a very late cross-over match on Saturday night. With Venom's pool finishing a little ahead of schedule and their awaited opponent's pool running over an hour behind, only a long delay and the late hour were major causes for concern. Even though the cross-over started over an hour late, the only struggle the Venom had in serving. A very solid game in all other areas allowed them to play a very good M-Juniors 16s team well and defeat them in two straight. After a very long day the Venom walked out the door a little after 11p with four wins in tow. 

After an officiating assignment at 1p Sunday, the Venom played their semi-final match against another solid M-Juniors 16s team. Playing perhaps their best match of the year, Venom easily advanced to the final. Combining awesome serving and passing to control the match, Venom played pinpoint volleyball and executed at every position from all members of the roster. However, the finals saw a completely different performance. Against the best team in the event, Premiere's top 16s team, IVA's Venom got jumped on early and never found their game. Congratulations to the Premiere team for a dominating performance. Congratulations also go out to the Venom for its most solid event of the year.