ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602070010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY CHAD
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
The New River Valley Juniors volleyball program is entering its fourth year, and according to co-creator David Simon, interest is reaching a high.
This year's program has six teams for ages from 18 and under to 14 and under.
"This year, for the first time, we have a team based out of Roanoke. In the past, the teams have been mostly area kids," Simon said.
Simon, an assistant coach on Virginia Tech's women's volleyball team, and Stephanie Hawbecker, head coach for Tech volleyball, formed the NRV Juniors program to help area players improve their skills under expert instruction.
"We wanted this to be a developmental program, not an elite club," Simon said. "With elite clubs, the focus is on the best kids and trying to get them volleyball scholarships. That's not our main focus, but if it happens as a side effect, then that's great."
An NCAA rule allows collegiate volleyball coaches to coach club teams made up of players within a 50-mile radius of that coach's campus, Simon said. Such provisions don't exist for other NCAA sports.
"Volleyball was grandfathered in by the NCAA because there is a shortage of people that really know the game and can teach the kids," Simon said. "That's different than say, basketball, where there are a lot more people who can teach the sport."
In addition to Simon and Hawbecker, Radford University volleyball assistant Earl Kneessi, Patrick Henry High School coach Marty Swan, Cave Spring High School coach Penny Williams and former Tech volleyball standout Jennifer Arbuckle coach the Juniors teams.
"Most of the coaches have been with us from the beginning," Simon said. "I feel we have an excellent staff that can teach the kids the sport."
With the growing interest in the Juniors program, Simon said this year the organization feels it can accomplish something no state club team has ever done.
"One of our goals this year is to have a team qualify for nationals," he said. "In the past we felt we weren't strong enough to do that, but this year we feel like we have a couple of teams that might have a chance."
Teams can qualify for the national tournament two ways. One route is to win the regional tournament. The other way is to win one of a select few qualifying tournaments.
"Last year we didn't go to any of the qualifying tournaments because of the expense involved," Simon said. "We are looking at the Old Dominion Regional in Richmond as our chance to qualify."
NRV Juniors team members can expect to pay between $280 and $400 a year in expenses, but Simon said the club has fund-raising programs and sponsors its own tournament to help offset the costs.
"We sell advertising in a program we put together that has biographical information about all our club players," Simon said. "We give those programs to college coaches that come to club tournaments because most players get seen at club tournaments."
The NRV Juniors also raise money by hosting the Shamrock Festival, an annual tournament held in mid-March at Cassell Coliseum. Last year, the tournament featured 48 teams from six states.
"The tournament has become a really big deal for us," Simon said. "It gives the families of the kids a chance to see them play. It's also good for the area because we bring in approximately 600 players, coaches and parents that will spend two days in Blacksburg."
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chad Willis at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or 1-800-346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB