Clubs key to high school volleyball success

Aug. 29, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - According to the schedule, the road to the girls 4A high school state volleyball title began last week when Colony faced Eagle River.

But there are many coaches and players who would argue they began their championship quest months or even years ago.

Year-round club play has become a fact of life in high school volleyball.

Top local prep teams tend to be loaded with club players. As a result, an elite handful of athletes tends to dominate every year.

&#8220Having club players is a must,” Colony coach Amy Carter said. &#8220There are a lot of banners hanging in our gym, and they're all from sports that kids play year-round.”

Carter's squad, a perennial contender, looks strong again this season. Throw in tournament regulars Palmer and Wasilla, and apparently little has changed in the Northern Lights Conference.

Often called &#8220Valley Ball” by local enthusiasts, the sport earned the nickname thanks to the club programs that keep players sharp throughout the year.

&#8220The more a player can touch the ball the better they'll be,” Wasilla coach Marge Johnson said. &#8220Players fine-tune their skills during club play, and that translates to success during the high school season.”

Colony features six players who participate in club volleyball during the summer months. Palmer also has a handful. But Wasilla is the team that will benefit the most from the club pipeline. Nine players were active in a club, and six played on a summer travel team together.

&#8220Having the girls playing together all on the travel team is wonderful for us,” Johnson said. &#8220In a way, it is like having a summer team, and adding in some new faces during the high school season.”

Players from the Valley have two clubs to chose from - the Valley-based Northern Lights Volleyball Association and Midnight Sun Volleyball in Anchorage.

The girl's volleyball club season runs from December through April and offers teams for girls ages 10 to 18. Clubs typically hold minimal-cut tryouts. Coaches determine the skill level of each player for tentative team placement.

Top players from the clubs are placed on traveling teams according to their age group. These teams compete in tournaments both in state and Outside. During the last club season, the Northern Lights club traveled to Reno for a regional tournament, taking three teams.

&#8220Playing volleyball on the clubs is important,” Carter said. &#8220But I am just as happy to have several of my players involved with basketball during the same time period. While the movements are not the same, both sports teach footwork and teamwork, and that is important in developing a strong volleyball team.”

The training and instruction offered at the club level has become a valuable pipeline for the local high school teams.

&#8220Club play makes high school volleyball better at every level,” Johnson said. &#8220I've got girls on the JV team who play in the clubs. It's not just for varsity players. It's a great place for players to learn the game.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.

breese@frontiersman.com.