VERMILION COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - Dreams are known for coming true in Orlando, Florida, but few players on Stateline Pride's 17U AAU team expected a trip to the "Sunshine State" to end the way it did.
Throughout the season, the team had found themselves on the podium but never on the top step. Hitter Reis McFarland joked after a recent tournament that the team was saving themselves for Nationals.
At the time, she did not expect it to come true.
"I never would have thought we actually would have won," McFarland said.
A matter of weeks ago, Stateline made the trip to Orlando for the AAU National tournament. Among 100 teams in the competition, the pride came out on top.
"I just think it's great," said hitter Maddie Doggett. "I think it was the icing on the cake because we didn't win a single one this whole entire season. The first one we finally won is the biggest tournament of them all."
The summer's highlight event for volleyball proved to players that no matter where they are from, they can accomplish big things.
Since taking home the trophy, their confidence has only grown ahead of the upcoming high school season.
"I am just so happy for each and every one of those girls," said head coach Emily Franklin. "To have 3 All-Americans now on the team, that in itself beyond all of them being national champions, is amazing and just makes me really proud."
Franklin says she began the program in 2018 as a way to help grow local talent. To accomplish the feat in only a few short years she says was a fun experience she'll never forget.
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