Heading into the finals weekend, the Texas Tyrants were favorites to win the championship after a solid performance through the regular season. Finding their footing in the first event, losing hard-fought matches to the Vegas Ramblers and Utah Stingers, the Tyrants went undefeated for the next seven games of the season. In their first year as a team in the league, they passed with flying colors with a winning record of 7-2, matching the Ramblers, who finished first in the regular season.
Their season was made even more memorable by the amount of outpouring support the Tyrants got from their fans. No matter what event, from California to New Jersey, the Tyrants fanatics have rivaled even Team Freedoms fanbase, which has been around since 2012. Even other teams and coaches in the league have been closely watching the Tyrants, as their playstyle has caught the eyes of other professionals.
The Tyrants shared fiery passion and focused intent that allowed them to overwhelm many competitors and routinely bounce back from inevitable defeat. Their shared desire to win at any cost was made even more lethal by the vigorous training they received from their coach Mauro Grasso. When the going got tough, there was never a moment of panic for the Texas squad, trusting their own process to show them the way forward. With everything going for the Tyrants, everyone who had followed them this season believed that they would be competing in the championship match.
Unfortunately, that finals matchup came too soon as the Tyrants took on the OC Stunners in the quarterfinals. The electrifying five-set match was an outstanding display of talent as both teams had to go above and beyond to have any chance of defeating the other. Every minute of the game was a slugfest, with both teams looking as if they were going to take it all until the other stole it right back. The only way the Stunners were able to pull off their victory in the 5th set was thanks to the unfathomable performance by the finals MVP, Corey Chavers, who scored 30 points.
The Tyrants had many memorable performances in their finals performance from Anthony Robinson, Daniel Jacobs, Ryan Maune, and Gianluca Grasso. Grasso even won an award as being the Best Outside Hitter for the 2021 Season. Maune also played his heart out in the match, proving to be a challenge for both the Stunner’s middles Nick West and Nick Amado. Reflecting on the game and his first season with the NVA, Ryan had this to say.
“The match we had against the Stunners is going to motivate our whole team for next year! We struggled to find a rhythm early and always had to fight back in every set. Experience is the best teacher, and I think this loss will only make us better as a team!
I think we’re the youngest team in terms of experience in the NVA, so the future is nothing but up for us. We have a fantastic coach and a great group of passionate guys who work hard every day. This season is nothing to be disappointed about, and we are ready for next year!”
With more experience under their belt, the Tyrants are sure to do even greater things next season! But with the addition of two new teams in Seattle and Colorado, there will be even more competition to cut down before they find themselves back in the finals again. To catch all the excitement of their final match against the Stunners, follow the link below to find full coverage on YouTube. Be sure to follow the Tyrants(@texastyrants) and the NVA(@nvausa) on Instagram to get updates on your favorite teams, as well as find highlight clips from the season.
NVA Quarter Final: Texas Tyrants vs OC Stunners
- NVA Staff Writer
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