ATLANTA — The Tool City 18 Orange Club volleyball team will have to change its name next year to Tool City 18 Gold.

The reason: TC18 is no longer a contender, the team is the 2009 USA Junior Olympic Boys Volleyball nation champions.

“Twelve years ago, the first (Tool City) team came to nationals,” said TC18 coach Justin Johnson. “To see how far it has come from taking a couple of teams to the seven or eight we take every year ...

“We have great teams in the past, a couple finishing second, but our teams, top to bottom, get better every year. Just helps the volleyball around our area that much more.”

After three solid days of pool play — TC18 went 7-2 in that stretch — the local squad entered the gold bracket for Saturday’s final round. That assured the team of a top-five finish, but they were looking for more.

In the championship round opener, TC18 posted a 25-16, 24-26, 15-9 win over Santa Monica Beach Club 18-Silver. TC18 Orange followed that up with a 25-18, 25-19 win over United 18-Blue (Pittsburgh) in the semifinals. In the final, the locals overcame a 28-30 loss in the opening game to win two straight — 25-19, 15-12 — and capture the title from Molten 18-Black (Ariz.).

The comeback in the final was no surprise to Johnson.

“The atmosphere there is unbelievable, said Johnson. “Center court and the national tournament, I didn’t have to do too much to get them ready. I knew, with the group I had, it wouldn’t take much to get them ready for anything.”

It helped that several members of the TC18 squad placed fifth in the 17 club tournament. Having that experience under their belt made this trip that much easier.

“I think it helped a lot,” said Johnson. “Last year, when they made the gold bracket, I think they thought they were fortunate to be there and came out flat. This year, we all new what it was all about, and came out ready to play.”

Four members of the TC18 orange team were voted to the all-tournament squad. Maplewood setter Nicholas Bancroft, along with hitters Kyle Beatty (Saegertown) and Adam Barba (Meadville). The fourth member was hitter Adam Roche of Cochranton, who didn’t just make the all-tournament team but was voted Tournament MVP.

“He dominated,” said Johnson. “Nick and him worked so well together. He hit it over blocks, around blocks. And his blocking was unbelievable.

“He was unstoppable for four days.”

The other members of the Tool City 18 Orange team are Maplewood’s Jackson Ferringer, Conneaut Valley’s Jeff Conley, McDowell’s Brenton Mineo, and Cochranton’s Ethan Oertly.

The Tool City 16 Orange and Tool City 16 White were also in back in action Saturday.