The Nansemond Volleyball Club’s team of 16-year-old girls continued its undefeated run so far this season by winning its division in the massive Monument City Classic, which unfolded at the Greater Richmond Convention Center over the weekend.

“We were by far the smallest in number — because we only have seven girls — and the smallest in stature,” said NVC 16s coach Robyn Ross. “For our little people to hang tough and do what they were supposed to do was great.”

Ross also coaches Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s varsity squad, and four of her NSA players are on the NVC 16s team — Livi Bono, Logan Harrell, Lindsay Knierbein and Nicole Wright.

They are joined by Ashley Petroski of Isle of Wight Academy, with Lexi Ackerman and Clair Williams of Greenbrier Christian Academy.

Ackerman is the newcomer to a group of girls that have played together since they were 14.

The six returners helped the team place 22nd in their division in 2013 and 10th last year at the Monument City Classic.

This year, the event featured 323 teams from all over the United States playing in 16 different divisions and representing ages from 12 to 18.

The Nansemond Volleyball Club 16s team was seeded 10th out of 24 teams in the 16s club division, but went 8-0 from Jan. 17 to 19 to take first.

Accounting for the girls’ improved finish, Ross said, “I think all of them played on their school’s varsity teams,” and she later added that after previously playing on junior varsity squads, “seeing that higher level (of competition) all during their school season made a difference.”

Coaching the 16s team was a new experience for Ross, and she noted she did not initially know what a good 16s team looked like.

She coached them on how to perform, then got a glimpse of what they were capable of in a one-day tournament on Jan. 10 hosted by Richmond Volleyball Club. The 16s squad went undefeated without dropping a set as it won that tourney.

This past weekend, the girls continued to shine. Bono led the team with 72 kills and Petroski added 42, while leading the team in blocks with eight and aces with 14.

Harrell was the leader from the service line with 65 points won on her serve, and she had 13 aces.

Wright facilitated things on offense with 176 assists, and she also contributed 11 aces and three blocks. Ackerman led the defense with 87 digs as libero.

“A lot of times, especially with younger girls, serve-receive is the first thing to break down,” Ross said.

It did not happen, though, as Knierbein, Harrell and Bono took all the serve-receive passes.

“It’s the hardest skill, and they did a great job doing it,” Ross said.

And though the team only had one substitute, fatigue was not a factor.

“They just kept surprising me and I think their parents and themselves with how well they were doing,” Ross said.

Because her team is outmatched physically in size, Harrell, the team’s captain, said, “We just have to be smarter and scrappier.”

The Nansemond Volleyball Club 16s team (13-0) returns to action at the end of January in an invitation-only tournament in Hampton.