By Michael DeLeon
Championship Monday at the prestigious Triple Crown NIT always carries a different energy. After three grueling days of battling the most elite teams in the country, the 13 Open division came down to two undefeated squads: Dynasty 13 Black and Coast 13-1 Tina. Both teams had navigated the Power Pools and Elite bracket without a loss, proving their resilience and depth. Now, with a championship on the line, only one would leave Kansas City wearing the crown.
Coast struck first in set one, building an early 8-5 lead behind composed defensive play from their libero Alexis Stonebanks in left back. Her exceptional footwork and disciplined posture kept rallies alive and allowed Coast to control the tempo. Ball control defined the opening stretch, with both teams mixing in smart off-speed shots to disrupt defensive positioning and force opponents out of system. At the net, Dynasty middle Scarlett Howell began asserting herself. Quick laterally and disciplined in sealing space, she set up directly in attackers’ midlines and took away valuable angles. Coast middle Jaylnn Reed answered with blocks of her own, creating an early battle of the middles that energized both sidelines.
Howell continued to dominate the tape, tying the set at 11-11 and igniting a Dynasty run. Strong serving from Layla Bain pushed Dynasty ahead 13-11, her zone pressure creating hesitation in Coast’s primary passers. Libero Harper Reisch was equally impactful, reading tips and setter dumps flawlessly while locking down left back. Still, Coast’s outside Josie Adamson was nearly unstoppable, scoring from multiple zones and swinging with confidence to give her squad a 16-14 edge. Dynasty, though undersized compared to Coast’s front row, compensated with exceptional timing and textbook blocking technique. A powerful kill from lefty opposite Raquel “Rocky” Mabry tied the score at 16-16, and outside Evie Redmond began heating up with timely swings. Reed’s crafty off-speed tips kept Coast within striking distance, but Dynasty’s offensive system highlighted by Howell’s effectiveness on the “31” set and quick tempo variations created block splits that were difficult to defend. After tough serving from Coast tightened the margin to 24-23, Dynasty closed the set 25-23 on a clutch finish from Taryn Ramlow.
Set two carried the intensity of a true championship bout. Mabry’s high reach and left-handed power continued to pay dividends, while setter Molly Wine orchestrated the offense with soft hands and precise ball placement. Dynasty’s fundamentals shined with clean transitions, disciplined defensive coverage, and relentless pursuit on deflections kept them steady. Their off-side blockers consistently covered tips and recycled plays to extend rallies. Ramlow delivered a big swing to give Dynasty an 8-6 edge, but Coast responded with defensive grit and capitalized on a few Dynasty miscues to take a 15-12 lead, forcing a timeout.
What followed was a showcase of composure beyond their years. Layla Bain’s zone serving once again applied pressure, key blocks swung momentum back, and Dynasty clawed to a 17-17 tie. The front-row trio of Ramlow, middle blocker Kiyah Kennedy, and Korrine Gibbs imposed their will down the stretch, creating problems Coast struggled to solve. With the score knotted at 23-23, Wine delivered a perfectly timed “shoot” set to Kennedy for match point. Moments later, Mabry rose on the right side and hammered home the championship-clinching kill, sealing a straight-set victory and crowning Dynasty 13 Black as Elite champions.
In a division loaded with national talent, both programs proved why they were the last two standing. Coast’s defensive discipline and offensive firepower made them a formidable finalist, while Dynasty’s technical precision, serving pressure, and balanced attack ultimately carried them to the top of the podium. After three days of elite competition, it was Dynasty who finished the journey undefeated and they earned their place as Triple Crown champions.
