Stephanie Niemer was on cloud nine on Saturday evening as she hoisted the 2019 PSL Grand Prix championship up in the air.
That moment was four years in the making for the native of Erlanger, Kentucky.
“I’m honored to be the MVP but feel like all of my teammates were the MVP.
“We just work together and everybody stepped up on different times just to get here,” reflected Niemer, who was adjudged as the tournament’s Best Scorer and MVP.
“I’m proud of our team. We pushed through it and stayed together as a team. It just feels really great.”
Back in 2016, a 25-year-old Niemer took the PSL by storm with the Petron Blaze Spikers.
This time around, Niemer led Petron to a 17-game winning streak heading into the Finals. However, F2 Logistics took Game One to put them on the brink of another heartbreak.
It then brought back bad memories to the now-29-year-old.
“When we dropped that first game, I was heartbroken.
“I took it really hard. I just used that anger and put it on the second game,” said Niemer.
Not wanting to experience another heartbreak, the 6-foot-1 spiker took matters into her own hands, dropping 31 points to carry her team to the championship.
And it was the sweetest of victories for Niemer.
“It feels amazing.
“My teammates were relaxed and then they came out like a beast. I’m thankful for this group for helping me win the championship. They’ve been here before but this is my first,” she expressed.
Wanting to experience this feeling once again, Niemer is not closing her doors on a third stint with Petron.
“I’ll never say never but we’ll see what happens. I’m enjoying this.”
