KISSIMMEE – The gold-medal matches of the 46^th annual AAU Volleyball Junior National Championships on Monday brought out the best from some of the top players in the country.

Three-set nail-biters and upsets were the order of the day on the fourth and final day of the second session of the annual event, held at the Orange County Convention Center and Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports. Players in 15- and 17-and-under divisions jumped for joy, cried, hugged their parents and even got to pose with Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse on the trophy stage following competition.

The AAU Championships also proved to be a dramatic sendoff for many of the players, who next travel to the USA Volleyball National Championships, which begin this week in Indianapolis. Players who competed in the 15 and 17 Club and Premier divisions at AAU now will play in either American, National or USA at USA Nationals.