The Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association 18 Elite team smiles after winning the AAU National Volleyball Championships on July 3. Mars' Derek Piatek was named tournament MVP, and Seneca Valley's Jordan Hoover was named an All-American. Submitted photo

It’s been mere weeks since Derek Piatek and Jordan Hoover wrapped up their varsity careers and graduated from Mars High School and Seneca Valley High School, respectively.

But the two still had some volleyball to play — for Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association’s 18 Elite boys team.

The duo led PEVA 18 Elite to its first AAU National Volleyball Championships title Thursday, capping a 12-0 tournament record last week. The club beat Austin Juniors 18 team 2-1 (set scores of 34-32, 19-25, 15-13).

Recent Mars graduate Derek Piatek was named the AAU National Volleyball Championships MVP after leading Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association’s 18 Elite team to its first national title. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Piatek was named the tournament MVP, and Hoover earned All-American honors. So did Pine-Richland’s Matteo Rotelli. Hoover, a Roberts Wesleyen commit, was recently named the Butler County Boys Volleyball Player of the Year after tallying 332 killys and 87 blocks this spring, and Piatek, at St. Francis (Pa.) commit, was named to the first team after setting the Planets’ career kills record of nearly 900.