A volleyball news hub where girls high school, club, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and sand volleyball game and its female heroes, with breaking news stories of college and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor volleyball videos.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Feb. 3, 2010 – Penn State women’s volleyball seniors Megan Hodge(Durham, N.C.) and Alisha Glass(Leland, Mich.) competed with the U.S. Women’s National Team on Tuesday, Feb. 3 in a training trip to China. The Evergrande Volleyball Club dealt Team USA a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-19) loss in an exhibition match in Guangzhou Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China. Hodge led the U.S. women with 15 points all on kills, as well as nine digs. Glass contributed a kill, block and an ace as the starting setter. Head coach Hugh McCutcheon started Hodge at outside hitter. The Penn State pair competed against former Nittany Lion Christa Harmotto who is one of two members of the U.S. Women’s National Team on the Evergrande roster. Harmotto tallied 10 points in the match. She had seven kills on 13 swings with two errors on .385 hitting and put up three blocks.
Megan Hodge and Alisha Glass featured in
this volleyball video by Access Granted
Glass and Hodge guided the Nittany Lion women’s volleyball teamto an unprecedented third straight NCAA title in 2009, while Harmotto was part of the 2007 and 2008 championship teams. Glass and Hodge finished their Penn State careers with a 142-5 win/loss record at Penn State to be the winningest graduating class in program history. For more information and up to date news on the U.S. National team, fans can visit USAVolleyball.org.
For more information on the Penn State women’s volleyball team, please visitwww.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women’s volleyball 2009 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets at Hershey.
The Huskies have reached the Final Four twice before when hosting Regionals.
SEATTLE – With a reputation as one of college volleyball’s most successful and respected programs – on the court and in the stands – the University of Washington has been a key destination for NCAA postseason play in recent years.
The NCAA has just announced that next season, for the fourth time since 2004, Bank of America at Hec Edmundson Pavilion will serve as one site for the 2010 NCAA Volleyball Regionals. The winner of the four-team regional, scheduled for Dec. 10-11, will advance to the NCAA Final Four at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The three other Regional hosts for 2010 include Penn State, Texas, and Dayton.
“The committee is excited to offer these opportunities to the institutions that bid on the regional championships,” said Terry Gawlik, the chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee. “It’s great to see institutions not only willing and able to host but also providing an avenue to expose and grow the volleyball championship across the country.”
In the six NCAA regional games it has hosted (NCAA first & second round games are not included), the UW has averaged nearly 5,500 fans per session. The Huskies defeated UCLA at home in 2004 to advance to their first-ever NCAA semifinal appearance. Two years later, the UW knocked-off fifth-seeded Penn State to qualify for its third-straight semifinal appearance. That was the last NCAA tournament loss for the Nittany Lions, who have won the last three NCAA titles.
In 2008, Washington swept Utah to reach the Regional final, but lost a five-set heartbreaker to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the next match.
Stay tuned to GoHuskies.com for ticket information.
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It's great once you know you've earned a scholarship to play volleyball in college, but the
key as a volleyball recruit is to remember that volleyball will not last forever. I cannot
believe I just said that. But it's true. I've got too many friends on Facebook who will tell
you the same thing.
But the education you get while attending THAT college should...so when you are being
recruited, even if your goal is to become a professional volleyball player-which is a
career that wont last forever--make sure you look for schools that are going to give you
something in a return.
You want a return on your investment.
Where are you going to get the biggest return on YOUR investment of the time, energy,
blood, sweat and tears spent for four-five years on a college volleyball court.
When you are done what kind of education are you going to walk away with?
“The biggest thing for me was academics,” she said. “It’s my bad for not looking into this before I committed to UCLA, but they just weren’t able to offer me the major I want which is event planning. It just so happened that recently Nebraska has added that major.”
The college volleyball player transfer issue was discussed in an earlier post by guest contributor and ESPN and FOX volleyball analyst Phil Bush. Have a gander at...
“She's a great athlete who is determined to make the most of this opportunity. We didn’t have the chance to see her play in high school, but she caught our eyes when she played here in the Field House last fall with South Dakota. I immediately noticed her athleticism and realized that we had missed a real diamond in the rough from the northern part of Wisconsin.
(coach Pete Waite)
From The Islands To Colorado Springs, girl bring your coat!
The national team tryouts in a few weeks will have some Hawaiian flavor because Kanani Danielson is trying out for the team. Sand or snow. Sand or snow. Sand or snow... I'm thinking. I'm thinking....would I do it again? heck yeah.. Good luck KD!
Sand Volleyball wasn't the only big issue at the NCAA Convention last week.
Some of the biggest legislation passed regarding Division II sports which included moving the start of volleyball season back a week in addition to every measure that was on the table and part of Bylaw 17.
“This is all about the overall picture of balancing the lives of student-athletes,” Kurtz said. “There’s a feeling that over the years there’s been a creeping up of increased games and practices and less time for student-athletes to be regular students.
Time for my two cents and I'm sure a lot of club volleyball coaches who make a living coaching full time won't agree, but some of the best volleyball players have become so because they have had time to dedicate to playing other sports.
Not just cross training, but playing full seasons of other sports or participating in other disciplines like ballet, modern dance, handball, ping pong or martial arts., besides the usual soccer, basketball, swimming or tennis.
Simple reason...different muscles are developed, different reflexes are honed, there's a marked increase in hand-eye coordination enhancement, peripheral vision, speed and mobility issues are addressed, and the undeniable benefit of different coaches and mental conditioning practices are explored and instilled.
(As a kid I had to wear Forrest Gump leg braces for a while so I know about the leg and muscle strengthening benefits from taking years of ballet, but that wasn't the only discipline I benefitted from by far.)
Guess what, all these things contribute to the development of a better athlete who can be trained to become an excellent volleyball player.
You can teach an athlete to be a great volleyball player. It's much harder the other way around and it can take more of a coach's time and energy.
Don't get me started on the increased number of high school girls with overuse injuries before they get to college. Two and three ACL tears by the senior year in high school? Really?
Playing one sport all the time and overusing the same muscles at practice day in and day out may be a huge factor. But playing different sports will give different muscles an opportunity to either get strengthened or to get rested whatever the case may be. I'm just sayin...
Unfortunately, many volleyball parents who don't know any better think MORE volleyball is the answer to creating a better volleyball player, which will get them closer to getting the beloved college scholarship.
I know. What I'm saying is blasphemous. Shame on me.
I've heard it too many times so I know, but for those of you who don't, I'll bet if you asked a volleyball coach to choose between coaching a great young volleyball player and coaching a great young all-around athlete, they would choose a great young athlete. Volleyball parents take heed.
(of course there are exceptions, but that's what they are, exceptions.)
And speaking of training athletes... in College Sand Volleyball news...
The second annual Fiesta on Siesta Key will be held this year on April 17, 2010.
“Last year, the Fiesta was comprised of a number of sand volleyball tournaments in one. We are looking forward to seeing the growth of the event, along with this sport, this April.”
“The Fiesta on Siesta Key is clear evidence of the growth and popularity of the sport,” American Volleyball Coaches Association Executive Director Kathy DeBoer said. “It provides good, competitive opportunities for student-athletes in another part of the country.”
FIESTA ON SIESTA KEY w SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Team Practices: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Individual Team Practices: Times TBD
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Fiesta on Siesta Key
Play begins at 10 a.m.
I like to find and share college volleyball videos where you can learn about the team and what the school brings to the table.
This is Luther College
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Indiana University Hires Kelsey Cronin as Director of Volleyball Operations
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Head Volleyball Coach Sherry Dunbar has added a new member to her staff, naming Kelsey Cronin as the Director of Volleyball Operations. Cronin comes to IU after serving as an assistant coach at Morehead State University the past two seasons.
"We are excited to welcome Kelsey into the Hoosier family," said Dunbar. "We had many qualified candidates for our opening, but during Kelsey's interview it became apparent to all of us that she was the perfect fit for our program."
In Cronin's two seasons as an assistant coach at Morehead State, the Eagles posted a winning percentage of nearly .700 (44-19). Cronin helped guide MSU to a 23-8 mark and Ohio Valley Conference regular season title in 2008 while posting a 21-11 overall record in '09. Both seasons saw the Eagles advance to the finals of the OVC Tournament.
"I am extremely honored to be a part of the IU family," said Cronin. "The athletic community at Indiana proved to be of the highest integrity and were very welcoming throughout the hiring process."
In addition to coaching, Cronin also performed many of the tasks for Morehead State that she will be responsible for with the Hoosiers. She was heavily involved with assisting the student-athletes in their academic endeavors, community service projects, administrative duties, travel arrangements and film exchange.
"She is personable, energetic, motivated, creative and above all else ... excited about being a Hoosier and helping us continue to move our program forward," said Dunbar.
"Words cannot express my excitement for being able to become part of such a prestigious program both on and off the court," said Cronin. "I can't wait to start adding to the success of a team with truly limitless boundaries for greatness."
Cronin's credentials also include success on the court, playing four seasons at Morehead State (2004-07). In her senior season, she racked up 274 kills, 73 digs and 91 total blocks to lead the Eagles to a share of the OVC regular season title. Cronin graduated magna cum laude with a Sociology degree in 2008 before continuing her education while coaching, earning her master's degree in 2009.
Cronin begins her first official day as a Hoosier on Feb. 1, 2010.
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BATON ROUGE – Former LSU middle blocker Brittnee Cooper is one of 18 players selected to train with the United States Women’s National Team Team during its second winter training block. The session begins Monday and ends on April 9th held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity but at the same time I’m nervous,” Cooper said. “I know that with the support of my family, friends, LSU coaching staff, teammates and God that I’ll do just fine.”
Cooper, the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, also became the third player to notch AVCA First-Team All-America honors as LSU won its first SEC championship since 1991. She powered home 1,110 career kills and racked up 504 blocks, one of four players to accomplish that feat in program history. Her .329 career hitting percentage ranks third in the LSU record book. The Houston native has already won a pair of medals as a member of the 2008 & 2009 USA Women’s National A2 Team.
“We’re extremely proud of Brittnee for getting this chance to train and compete with the nation’s best volleyball players,” head coach Fran Flory said. “She was a key part to our program’s success and developed into one of the nation’s elite players during her time at LSU. We wish her nothing but the best of luck as she continues her career.”
USA Volleyball could expand the training group at the end of February following the U.S. National Team Open Tryouts set for Feb. 19-21.
Hooker signs contract to play in Korea Texas’ three-time All-American inks a deal to play for the GS Caltex professional volleyball club in Korea.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas senior All-America outside hitter Destinee Hooker has signed a professional contract to play for GS Caltex professional volleyball club in Seoul, Korea. Hooker has begun play with GS Caltex and in her first match she was named most valuable player.
“We are very excited for Destinee,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “She had a tremendous four years here, learning the game and growing as a player. Now she is able to take the next step in an incredible volleyball community. I know she will continue to improve and I’m excited about the possibility of her competing for a U.S. roster spot for the 2012 Olympics.”
In 2009, the San Antonio, Texas, native was named a Honda Award Finalist, AVCA All-America First Team, AVCA All-Central Region First Team and All-Big 12 First Team honors. She also earned NCAA Championship and NCAA Omaha Regional Most Outstanding Player honors.
Hooker’s 6.09 points per-set ranked No. 1 in the NCAA, while her 5.06 kills per-set ranked fourth nationally. The senior hit .358 on the season, ranking second in the Big 12 and tops among all outside hitters.
Hooker will forgo her final season of track and field eligibility to pursue volleyball. On the track, Hooker claimed four individual national titles, six All-America honors and six individual Big 12 titles. She also set school and NCAA records in the indoor high jump (6-6, 1.98m) and tied the UT outdoor high jump record (6-4.75/1.95m).
Visit the GS web site and check out volleyball photos at:
LEGENDARY UCLA VOLLEYBALL COACH ANDY BANACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Jan. 11, 2010
UCLA women’s volleyball coach Andy Banachowski, the winningest Division I women’s volleyball coach in history, today announced that he will retire on June 30.
“I am grateful to UCLA for allowing me to be the head coach of the women’s volleyball team for all these years,” said Banachowski. “I have always realized that there would come a time for this wonderful journey called coaching to come to an end, and I have decided to retire when my contract expires at the end of this school year.”
“There will never be another Andy Banachowski,” said UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. “He has represented this University with class and dignity for over four decades. When we speak of ‘image and substance,’ Andy epitomizes that slogan. He has been instrumental in the growth of his sport during his tenure at UCLA and has left a legacy that will be hard to match. He will always be a Bruin.”
“It has been my honor to work side-by-side with Andy from an administrative standpoint these past few years,” said Sr. Associate Athletic Director Petrina Long, Banachowski’s sport supervisor. “He is an icon to many coaches in his sport. Just as important, he has been a great ambassador for UCLA. All you need to do is speak with the young women he has coached throughout his career and hear the respect with which they speak of Andy to understand the impact he has had on the sport.”
Banachowski and UCLA women’s volleyball have been synonymous since the program’s inception in 1965. He has directed the Bruins for all but two of those seasons, the 1968-69 and 1969-70 campaigns, which directly followed his graduation.
Last month, Banachowski, the first women’s volleyball coach inducted into the National Volleyball Hall of Fame, concluded his 43rd year as the head coach of the Bruins’ women’s volleyball program. UCLA finished the season with a record of 24-9, its 11th consecutive 20-win season, and placed in a tie for second in the Pacific-10 Conference.
On Oct. 31, Banachowski, the winningest coach in women’s volleyball history, won his 1,100th match in a five-set triumph at Stanford. He holds a career record of 1,106-301 (.786).
In 2006, Banachowski led the Bruins to their first Final Four appearance and 30-win season since 1994. UCLA won its first 20 matches of the year and breezed through the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament with four straight three-game sweeps. Following the 2006 season, Banachowski was honored as the Tachikara/AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year, the second time he has been named Coach of the Year, with the other coming in 1989. He also received Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time and AVCA Pacific Region COY accolades for the fifth time (1989, ‘92, ‘93, ‘98). On five occasions, Banachowski has been named Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year (1988, ‘89, ‘93, ‘94, ‘98).
Banachowski has coached at least one All-American in each of the last six seasons, including three in 2006 with first-teamers Nana Meriwether and Spicer and third-teamer Katie Carter. In 2006, Meriwether became the first player in Division I history to lead the nation in two statistical categories, finishing first in hitting percentage and blocks per game.
UCLA women’s volleyball has earned 42 AVCA All-American honors, to go with 50 Under Armour/Volleyball Magazine All-American awards. Banachowski has also coached players to numerous other awards, including 49 All-Pacific Region honors, 98 All-Conference awards, five Pac-10 Players of the Year and the National Player of the Year in 1992 (Natalie Williams). Eighteen Bruins have earned All-NCAA Tournament accolades, including Williams, who was named Most Outstanding Player in both 1990 and 1991. Williams also won two Honda Awards under Banachowski’s tutelage in 1992 and ‘93, with Liz Masakayan earning the honor in 1985.
The Bruins have won six national championships over Banachowski’s tenure, winning the program’s first title in 1972 while affiliated with the Division of Girls and Women’s Sports (DGWS). In 1974 and 1975, UCLA combined for a record of 60-4, winning back-to-back Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championships. Since 1981 when the NCAA began sponsoring women’s sports, the Bruins have appeared in 11 Final Fours, winning championships in 1984, 1990 and 1991 and earning runner-up finishes in 1981, 1983, 1992 and 1994.
Banachowski has more victories than any other collegiate volleyball coach in history, with the exception of UCLA men’s volleyball coach Al Scates. On Nov. 12, 2005, Banachowski became the first Division I women’s coach to reach 1,000 career victories when the Bruins handed eventual national champion Washington its only loss of the season in a five-game thriller at Pauley Pavilion.
In February 2007, Banachowski was named head coach of USA Volleyball’s Junior National Team. That July, he guided Team USA to a fourth-place finish at the FIVB U-20 Junior World Championships, the best-ever finish for the United States in that tournament.
Banachowski has been involved with the U.S. Olympic Team as a coach many times. He is a former advisor with the U.S. National Team, helping teams during the 1990 Goodwill Games, the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the 1995 Pan-American Games in Argentina and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Additionally, he coached the West Team in the 1986 Olympic Festival. In 1993, Banachowski was the head coach of the U.S. World University Games squad, a group which achieved the highest American finish in WUG history, earning a silver medal in Buffalo. N.Y.
A total of 22 former Bruins have trained with the U.S. National Team following their UCLA careers. The group includes five indoor and eight beach Olympians. The beach team of former Bruins Annett (Buckner) Davis and Jenny (Johnson) Jordan, as well as former Bruin Holly McPeak, comprised three of the four members of the U.S. Beach Volleyball Team for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Additionally, Elisabeth Bachman was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team (indoor) for the Athens Games. On the beach in `04, a team of former Bruins (McPeak and Elaine Youngs) won a bronze medal with Masakayan as their coach. Youngs (with partner Nicole Branagh) returned to the Beijing Games in 2008 with Masakayan as their coach.
Many Bruins have also been involved in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour on the beach, including Davis, Jordan, McPeak, Youngs, Ashley Bowles, Lauren Fendrick and Chrissie Zartman. From 1993-2000, former UCLA players competed in 83 straight professional tournament finals, winning 70 of those events. Bruin former players have won more FIVB International events than players from any other college.
On Oct. 24, 1997, Banachowski became the first women’s volleyball coach in history to be inducted into the National Volleyball Hall of Fame as a coach. He has since become the first volleyball inductee into the Serra High School and San Mateo County Halls of Fame and was inaugurated into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in June 2009.
In May 2000, Banachowski was presented with USA Volleyball’s highest honor, the All-Time Great Coach Award, and was simultaneously honored with the George L. Fisher “Leader in Volleyball” award, recognizing his off-court endeavors on behalf of volleyball.
The Volleyball Festival has recognized Banachowski with its “Distinguished Service to USA Volleyball” award, and he has also been recognized with the Founders Award for his role as a co-founder of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
As a player, Banachowski was a two-time All-American under Scates, winning USVBA National Championships in 1965 and 1967. After his graduation, Banachowski pulled double-duty with the UCLA women’s and men’s volleyball programs, serving as Scates’ chief assistant from 1972-77, a period in which the Bruins won four NCAA titles (1972, ‘74, ‘75, ‘76). On three occasions (1972, ‘74 and ‘75), Banachowski won titles with both the men and women.
Originally from San Mateo, Banachowski now resides in Los Angeles. He has two grown children, Bret, who played volleyball at UC Santa Cruz, and Amy, who was a three-year letterwinner from 1991-93 on the Bruin women’s volleyball team.
Baylor College Volleyball Team Ranked No. 20 in Final Poll
Baylor earns Sweet 16 appearance and All-America awards for the first time in program history
WACO, Texas – Capping a historic season, Baylor’s college volleyball team was ranked No. 20 in the final poll released on Tuesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
The Bears (24-10, 11-9 Big 12), who reached as high as 17th during a school-record nine-week stretch of earning a top 25 ranking, finish the season ranked for just the second time in program history. Baylor’s NCAA Tournament run to finish the year included a sweep of Georgia Tech and an upset of eighth-seeded UCLA in Los Angeles, before coming to a halt against ninth-seeded California.
BU began the season with a school-record 11-match win streak, going on to win 17 of its first 18 matches. The stretch included a 3-0 sweep over Iowa State, who finished the season ranked sixth in the nation. At the time, ISU was ranked 11th, which stood as the highest-ranked win ever for BU, until the Bears pulled off the upset of ninth-ranked UCLA. The Bears defeated four Top 25 opponents during the season, also including No. 24 Purdue and at No. 23 Texas A&M.
Individually, senior setter Taylor Barnes and senior middle blocker Anna Breyfogle became the first All-Americans in program history when they were named to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Both earned all-Big 12 and all-region honors, while Breyfogle was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman middle blocker Torri Campbell was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
"What you would hope would happen is that there's a whole bunch of young kids around the country watching volleyball that see two charismatic players going out there and playing hard and playing with passion, and that it sparks more young kids playing volleyball around the country," Rose said.
“We’re extremely excited to represent the University of Texas in the championship match,” Elliott said. “We want to play whichever team is better, and we’re just focused on winning the championship.”
"If the No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team wants to win a third straight national championship, the way to do so is quite clear -- stop Destinee Hooker.
"Penn State senior and Durham, NC native, Megan Hodge was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Player of the Year for 2009."
AP Photo- Penn State's Megan Hodge, left, blocks against Hawaii's Dani Mafua, right, and Stephanie Brandt (10) during the NCAA college volleyball national semifinal
"...This is the second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honor of Hodge's career."
Glass, Hodge finalists for Honda Sports Award from Penn State Live
"Penn State women's volleyball senior setter Alisha Glass(Leland, Mich.) and senior outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) have been named two of four finalists for the 2009-10 Honda Sports Award to determine the top woman collegiate athlete in that sport. Cal's Hana Cutura and Texas' Destinee Hooker join Glass and Hodge as finalists."
Mid-to-late November marks the early signing period in which college volleyball coaches first sign recruits that have made "THE commitment" and who've agreed to attend their school on a volleyball scholarship.
For many different reasons, not every volleyball player chooses the right "fit" the first time around and they often decide to transfer to another school or college.
In November, Volleyball Monthly focused on this issue and published a story entitled "Switching Sides" which refers to the "increasing number of student-athlete transfers' in NCAA volleyball and contains suggestions by a few Division I college coaches on possible rule changes and options that would limit what a student-athlete can do and where she can go once she has accepted a scholarship and made her commitment to play volleyball for a particular college or university.
Of course, the very opinionated (I'm just letting you know in advance) TV analyst and long time college volleyball color commentator and former club volleyball director Phil Bush had a few of his own opinions to share regarding "the commitment", the transfer rule and of course "Switching Sides."
Remember he expressed his opinion, you are welcome to express yours. Enjoy...
It's interesting to me that when Coaches request a “Commitment” from a Recruit- while we all know it is not legally binding and nothing gets “Signed,” that Tom and Beth are both for a rule that restricts the student-athlete’s right to leave a school and go elsewhere. I find it hypocritical. However, from their perspective, I understand that it would make their lives easier. However…..
Having been a Club Director with a very structured Recruiting Program, we told our players a few “truisms” about college volleyball, that may or may not always come out:
You only have four (4) years to play...volleyball is a means to an end...getting your degree and having a future (a few can play pro, and a few can go further, but 98+% are done at the end of four (4) years- if they even make it that far)
College volleyball is a job. Essentially you have two (2) jobs...being a student and being an athlete. Be sure that you want two full-time jobs!
Select a school based on these things, in this order:
Academics
The Environment – where you will go to school
Volleyball – because it is TRULY the least important
Perhaps three out of 10 high school athletes have a great experience as a college volleyball player – so, at the end of four (4) years, while you may appreciate it, you will have learned valuable lessons in being part of a unit. You may not have much in the way of an experience to speak of, but you will have a Degree, and you will have a future, and THAT’s what matters. Most of them come out not having enjoyed the experience because of the relationship with their Coach or the huge workload it put on them.
Any school that offers you a scholarship under the following circumstances should be treated with a great degree of skeptiscm:
A “Time Limit” offer – “I need your decision by X date or I am moving on,” says the College Coach.
The “Competition.” “I’m offering a scholarship to you and Player X. First one who says "Yes" gets the scholarship.”
The “Preferred Walk-on.” No such animal. Its either a scholarship or a walk-on- nothing in between.
Pressure to commit during a visit. We told all of our players to NEVER commit during a visit. Whenever this happened, it was ALWAYS a disaster for the student and the school. It’s a pure and raw emotional commitment, with little logic behind it.
We also warned student athletes if we knew of situations where schools essentially held a player’s scholarship over their head year after year. As far as we were concerned, unless the player did something against School Rules, Program Rules or the Law, they were there for four (4) years. If a School didn’t like how their player “turned out,” that was on them. The school recruited the player and now they had to stick with their commitment. We were aware of multiple schools that threatened our players and said things like “We’re not going to take your scholarship away--YET.” The Coach would claim this was some perverse means of motivation. I believe it to be despicable behavior and an adult bullying a younger person.
Most players that had the best experience were:
The ones who went to the “non-brand name” schools
The ones who went where they were truly wanted, and not where they “had” to go – because they “loved the school” for all the wrong reasons
The ones who played Division III or Division II volleyball where Student Athletics were focused on "Student First."
I used to end this conversation with high school freshmen/sophomores and their parents with an old John Thompson (former basketball coach) from Georgetown trick. I dropped a deflated volleyball on the ground and said that our concern was what happened AFTER the air was out of the ball.
I’m no longer part of a Club environment but I challenge anyone to tell me I am wrong. If I was a club director, I would be telling student athletes to treat the schools the same way football players do...make a soft Commitment and keep looking...all the way to when you have to sign a Letter of Intent.
To John Cook’s point: If a 14 year old walked in and said they wanted to come to Nebraska, I would say: “Take three or four visits and then come visit Nebraska so you can be sure that this is where you want to go.” Will John do that?
The term "Commitment" and the term "Offer" should not be made until the summer prior to the Senior year. If those two words or anything that resembles them cannot be made, then all of a sudden we are talking about 17 year olds making Commitments. If as 15 or 16 year olds they wanted to go on unofficial visits, that’s fine, but they should not feel pressure when they are 15 or 16 to “Commit” for fear of losing out on an opportunity.
I also find Burt Fuller's and Beth Launiere’s commentary interesting.
Regarding the transfer from Burt: “There was some guidance or coaching going on when the players wanted to transfer.”
Perhaps there was. I have no idea what happened- but at some point in time, I want a Coach to take some responsibility for a player transferring as well. It’s a two-way street: communication breakdowns, expectations not having been met, somewhere in there things happened BOTH WAYS.
I find the most successful coaches are the ones that focus on the relationship with their players and their player’s lives long term. Volleyball is just a game and for the players that are there for four years, while important, it is NOT the most important thing in their lives. I hope there was some soul searching done by Beth and Burt regarding player relationships and how they interact with 18-22 year old young ladies- to understand them a little more.
In summary, if we are going to be offering 15 and 16 year olds the chance to commit, then we have to offer them a chance to leave as well, because a LOT happens in a young person’s life from age 15 to 18.
I think Mike Hebert’s commentary reflects mine "the Transfer rule foremost should accommodate the student-athlete."
The entire 64-team bracket for the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship will be announced at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNews.
There were a lot of upsets in conference championships this past week as regular season leaders lost against lower seeded and lower ranked teams in their respective finals.
Six days from today the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament Playoff Committee will announce the seeded teams participating in the 2009 NCAA Women's Volleyball Playoffs Tournament.
Every year there's debate over which teams should have received better matchups, which shouldn't have to travel and those teams that just plain out got disrespected despite their year-end conference standings or team records. So, this year I decided to ask someone who's been sitting on the sidelines with a ringside seat of many of these college volleyball in-season and playoff season volleyball games to share his take on the seeding process.
I asked TV color analyst and veteran volleyball broadcaster Phil Bush permission to reprint and share with Volleyball Voices readers his article, originally published in the May edition of Volleyball Magazine entitled "Horribly Flawed".
Phil is No shrinking violet when it comes to expressing his opinion on modifications he thinks the NCAA should make to the women's playoff tournament.
After reading Phil's views if you have some of your own, please share them. Leave a comment below.
Horribly Flawed
The NCAA Division I women’s tournament needs some modifications made to it.
By Phil Bush
The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament should be a big showcase for the sport in the U.S., but the tournament is marred with problems.
I see two themes here.
First, teams 1-16 are seeded. Seeds 17-64 are an afterthought. Secondly, regionalization is an option.
See if I’m off-base here.
Kentucky and Michigan played in the first round this past season. These teams had regional seeds of five and 12. I’ll let you figure out which was which. Both deserved a better first round match-up. But Michigan is near Kentucky travel-wise, right? And the winner got St. Louis in the second round?
Alabama-Birmingham and Missouri State played in the first round and were seeded eight and nine. In the second round, the winner played Nebraska—the top seed in this part of the bracket.
How does Missouri State, which only got in by winning its conference tournament, end up with an eight or nine seed? Or does the committee say, “You are both going to lose to Nebraska, so who cares?”
UAB travels to Nebraska. Is Birmingham close to Nebraska? Missouri State’s power ranking was low. If you rewarded them, other teams like Michigan and Kentucky have to think, “Why are we fighting to get out of the first round against a higher RPI team and two lower RPI teams played each other?”
LSU played UCLA in the first round. LSU once again must have annoyed someone.
They got sent to the west again. Why not send them to Texas?
Louisville and Purdue also squared off in the first round. Louisville was a 14 seed. Putting Louisville in a worse spot than teams like American (11 seed), Missouri State (9 seed) and Florida International (12 seed) is wrong. How is it fair to Louisville?
Colorado State and Florida matched up in the second round. Maybe the seeding made sense, but why send CSU cross country? Why not to Cal, Nebraska, UCLA or even Texas?
The fact these teams played each other earlier in the year also seems unfair to CSU, which won the first time and had to play the Gators in Gainesville in a rematch.
The committee plays the regional card when it is convenient. Exceptions this year included Duke, LSU, Albany, Belmont, Oregon, Siena and Colorado State.
And not officially seeding past 16 is just ridiculous. Anyone reviewing RPIs can figure out the seedings to a pretty good degree. When will the NCAA committee learn that seeding all 64 teams would be a good thing?
It would promote controversy, conversation and debate—which this event needs.
The tourney hardly warrants a line in the national media.
A big reason March Madness is so great is because of the conversation it provokes. Volleyball has none of that outside of hardcore fans. Controversy creates attention and attention creates media coverage.
Media coverage increases interest and that is what is lacking today.
To not seed all teams is a disservice primarily to the student-athletes who have worked hard to be in a position to compete for a national championship. This should not be a tournament where the top 16 teams are what matters and the others do not.
It should be about getting to that next match, getting to the round of 16 and maybe being that year’s Cinderella.
Rice Volleyball Will Not Compete This Weekend at UTSA
Sept. 17, 2009 Houston -- The Rice Owls volleyball team will not be in action this weekend at the UTSA Classic in San Antonio. Due to an influenza outbreak on the team, Rice, with an 8-3 record, has chosen to remain home to ensure the health and safety of its student-athletes as well as that of the opponents.
The Owls are to begin Conference USA play next weekend at Memphis (Sept. 25) and at UAB (Sept. 27).
BATON ROUGE – LSU is partnering with the 11 other SEC institutions for the third annual Together We CAN Food Drive from September 18-27. The Tigers will collect food and financial donations at different athletic events to benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
The SEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised more than 150,000 pounds of food as well as donations that benefited local food banks and shelters during the 2008 event.
LSU softball will be at the Maravich Center to collect items prior to the Friday and Sunday volleyball matches. There will be five barrels inside the arena between the Lower Southeast and Southwest entrances.
Another prime opportunity to donate is all day Saturday leading into the football game against Louisiana-Lafayette at the L-Club Tailgate located on the lower level of the Maravich Center.
Fans also can bring items to next weekend’s soccer matches against Georgia and Tennessee.
For those fans wanting to donate but not able to make it to one of the above athletic events, barrels will be at the front entrance of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes in addition to the Athletic Training Room during the entire 10 day period.
Opportunity to Donate
Date Event Location Time
Friday, September 18 Gymnastics Banquet French House 6:30 p.m.
Friday, September 18 Volleyball Maravich Center 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 L-Club Tailgate Maravich Center All Day
Sunday, September 20 Volleyball Maravich Center 2 p.m.
Friday, September 25 Swimming & Diving LSU Natatorium 3:30 p.m.
Friday, September 25 Soccer LSU Soccer Complex 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 26 Cross Country Highland Road Park 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, September 27 Soccer LSU Soccer Complex 1 p.m.
Okay I'm a Lady Vol so you know I have to tell you guys about this!
Its back!!! NCAA Volleyball on TV is back for 2009.
ESPNU and FSN are slated to increase their focus on Southeastern Conference Women's Volleyball competition by featuring a lot of SEC volleyball games this Fall.
Television Color Analyst at FSN, ESPNU and Director of the A5 Volleyball Club in Atlanta, Georgia, Phil Bush will be color commentating this season. Check out the volleyball game schedule listed below.
All times are Eastern Standard Times.
Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar.
Before the Game...Check out what's the latest SEC news, volleyball rankings and players honored this week here on Volleyball Voices like:
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke volleyball will re-launch its "Pennies for Points" campaign at the home opener against Colorado State this Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Cameron Indoor Stadium in an effort to raise money for multiple sclerosis research.
The program will raise funds through donations by fans, who can pledge one cent or more per point scored by the Blue Devils during their 20-match ACC season. Fans can also contribute a flat donation of any amount. All proceeds will be contributed directly to the MS Society.
This will be the third year that Duke has held its Pennies for Points campaign, which raised over $3,000 in 2007.
More information about the "Pennies for Points" initiative can be found at the Duke promotions table at Blue Devil home matches or on the volleyball homepage atwww.GoDuke.com.
Donations can be mailed to the Duke promotions office at the following address:
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –TCU middle blocker Kourtney Edwards has earned Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week honors for the second time in her career.
Edwards, a 6-2 senior from Haltom City, Texas, led the Horned Frogs to a 3-1 record on the week, including a 3-0 mark and tournament title at the UConn Toyota Classic, where she tallied double-digit kills in all three tournament matches on her way to being named Tournament MVP. She started the week by hitting .444 (9-1-18) in a five-set loss to Baylor. Edwards also had three total blocks vs. the Bears. In the first match of the Toyota Classic, she collected 15 kills and six total blocks, while hitting at a .500 clip in TCU’s four-set win over New Hampshire. Against Long Island, Edwards tallied 12 kills, four total blocks and two digs with a .409 hitting efficiency in the Horned Frogs’ 3-0 win. In the championship match vs. tournament host Connecticut, Edwards narrowly missed a triple-double with 16 kills, nine total blocks, nine assists and three digs in TCU’s 3-2 win.
For the week, Edwards averaged 3.10 kills, 1.29 block and 3.90 points per set, while hitting .389 (52-11-100).
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