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An UCLA incoming freshman recruit not only ended his club career with a national championship but with the top individual award at a national tournament.
Outside attacker and setter J.T. Hatch was named the tournament’s most valuable player as his club team Spiral defeat Ultimate 21-25, 25-22, 17-15 on Tuesday in Houston to win the USA Volleyball Boys’ U-18 Open national title.
Hatch entered the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships as one of four incoming UCLA freshmen to be named to the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 list. In addition, Hatch as a senior earlier this year helped lead his high school team to the Arizona boys volleyball state championship.
Spiral, a club team based on Arizona, went undefeated at the national championships and dropped four games in its 11 matches during the three-day tournament.
Along with Hatch, Cal Baptist incoming freshman Zach Melcher helped guide Spiral to its national championship.
Both Hatch and Melcher were also among the four Spiral players selected to the All-Tournament Team.
The 2014 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships is an annual week-long tournament featuring open and club division tournaments in age groups ranging from 12 year olds to 18 year olds.