clifford20

Can't wait for this tournament. Very impressive line up.

Really interesting post. We can't compare KIVA with any club in Tn--we are miles behind them. I do think K2 has done incredibly well and it is interesting to compare the 2 clubs. I don't necessarily determine the success or failure of a club by how many D-1 athletes are placed. That is certainly one of the big indicators though. There is no question that the disconnect in the mid state starts at the middle school age kids (IMO). I can't speak to the other areas. I think that Alliances coaching at the very young age can certainly be better. Not saying it is bad. Our best technical coaches need to be in 9-12 year olds. I completely disagree though that the players don't have some ownership in this. If the players have no ownership-then what are we suggesting? That is 100% coaching? 100% club? Good topic. (separate topic) I noticed your user name is Rutherford County VB and I have a serious question for you (you may not have a good answer). I have long wondered why RUCO volleyball is not developing at all. There is one good program there that is successful. I just don't see any reason why Riverdale, Oakland, Smyrna, Laverge, Stewarts Creed, Blackmon, to be so poor in volleyball. It is really confusing. I just feel like that county should be every bit as successful as Wilco. I know the club there is not good, but I still think it should be way better.

Good stuff. I agree with TPV being a positive. I really hope that it pushes Alliance more. Ethos and West really hasn't done that. I agree with some of your points about Alliance. However there are many kids that made 1's as 12-13-14 that didn't make 1's with older and vice versa. I can think have 6-8 with no effort just in a couple of age groups. The reason Alliance doesn't perform well IMO is because most of the kids in the mid state get serious about volleyball in 7th grade or so. Thus missing out on ball control from 9 year olds and up. This might sound weird but the Pat Summit effect in our state hurt volleyball. Every girl in the state started playing BBall at 5, where volleyball was picked up in HS or MS in the 80's and 90's. not until the 2000's did it start to really improve here. Late 90's and early 2000's maybe 1 kid played club on HS teams (out side of the Wilco, Father Ryan etc). I do disagree with the way our young teams have been coached in the past. There is no reason for a 11-12 team to pick a libero in the beginning of the year and that kid stay in that position all year. Or a OH not play back row etc. I can remember watching a 12 Team years ago that had a libero and neither OH played back row. That is not good. I hope Alliance has fixed some of that.

Oh I agree O. Maybe 2 at the most of those kids will play in a power 5 conference-including Shay. It is so hard to say with a bunch of 8-9 graders. Majority will be NAIA/D2 and lower D1--which is still incredible. So many of the parents just don't know how important the tournaments that they play in. I've been around high school and club parents for 20 years or more, and they always surprise me about that. I am certain they will play in AAU nationals.

That won't go over too well for sure. Especially once they see the weakness of those tournaments. There are 3-4 kids off that 14's team that received quite a bit of major recruiting action. The fact they played A5 at nationals, and also made the final 8 was huge for those kids.

Agree with O, If the 14-15-16 teams are not playing good tournaments it will 100% affect their recruiting for the Div 1 level kid. (especially 14-15 teams). It was crazy to see how heavily scouted the 14's courts were last year. It was def a surprise to me. I also would be willing to bet that the parents complaining about 1's kids playing down---are deceived by their child's ability. I could be wrong tho.

So I have thought about club expenses a lot. The rough cost for Alliance is $3800 for a national level 1 team (I think) (not including travel, food etc). I have no idea how much Munciana, SP etc are, however I am not sure how much less the dues could be and still run a top organization. Coaches have to be paid, there needs to be a full time director-who can make a good living. The facilities are expensive. So I ask, what could be different? We are not basketball, so I don't see a scenario like grassroots aau basketball teams are sponsored and kids play for free. Unless the club owns their own facility--I am not sure how that expense could be reduced--even then there are major expenses to owning a building. I would rather pay more money and practice at A game, then to pay a bit less and practice at the Fieldhouse. In the end though--I will go where the best coaching is 1st, and facility second. Also, not to mention the club that get's the athlete the most exposure--which is massively important. Bad tournament do no one good. What do you think?

I can't believe they haven't filled all coaching positions (if in fact that is true). No way would I commit to a club who I didn't have any idea who was coaching. They will never be able to replicate what they have up north. Just completely different market, number of athletes and most of all--former volleyball players. Volleyball in the mid west is just taken so much more seriously. To agree with Summary's point.....At alliance there is such a gap from 1 and 2 teams that the competition isn't great within the club. Not to say that a 2 won't beat a 1, but the gap in talent is very noticeable, especially offensively. The depth in setting is not good either.

100% agree with this. More so at the middle school level. Our middle school volleyball is absolutely terrible. And most of the high school coaches are below average at best. When I say there isn't enough talented players, I mean volleyball talented. There is plenty of talent, they just aren't starting volleyball early enough. There are a ton more college level players coming out of our state though. Just not enough depth behind that. The fact we have 2 kids in the Olympic development teams is incredible.

it will be interesting to see if we can sustain 3 clubs. I don't see it happening. I think competition is always good though. It overall drives down cost and better customer experience. It will all come down to which club has the best coaches. I wish the talent wasn't so spread out though...there isn't enough talented players in the mid state. Thus it makes for pretty average club teams (when compared nationally) . It's rare that any of the Nashville area clubs can really compete nationally. Last year the 14's had a top 6 finish in Orlando, but that is not typical. There were way less younger kids trying out at Alliance this year. That will ebb and flow from year to year.

Incredibly proud of Portland Volleyball. It is hard to build a program like they have in a rural community. Many many years in the making. Those kids have committed to volleyball. Well coached, good kids. What a fun match to watch.

Logan was also in Argentina. Good times JMAV don't be a stranger.

yeah I agree. Such a difference defensively from lower divisions. The last 20years, Brentwood is typically the best serving and serve receiving team in the state. They just put so much pressure on the back line. I remember the Dobbins Bennett Teams were so good in that area.

Siegel is getting handled by Rwood. Should have just listened to Teeter!

Haha...yeah, that is true. Brentwood has so much talent, it is crazy. What is amazing is the outside opposite of logan is a libero--she isn't even an attacker. I still think Siegel is better than Ravenwood, but clearly Ravenwood and Siegel are the 2-3 best teams. But in the end...it won't matter. I am really disappointed in the overall level of play in our state. We have many solid players, but not very many really good teams. Webb and Catholic are obviously good. I saw Goodpasture play this year and they are solid, but still not a great team. So I saw the outside for Berean Christian play--she is good.

Didn’t expect Collierville to win that. Usually Memphis is a quick 0-2. Would be great for AAA if West tn could get going. I would take Siegel’s setter for what it’s worth. She’s still young but very talented. Cleveland vs Houston was bananas. Like Cleveland’s setter.

Station camp has no ball control-they just can’t hang with good teams. Their district is just so bad...it hurts them. . But I agree— prob woods. It will come down to serve receive for sure. Hoping Portland can with AA.

Good to see a couple of less familiar teams in the field this year with Tennessee High and Cleveland. I was looking at the scores for all the AAA sectionals and they were all 3-0, which is disappointing. It will be interesting to see who the final 4 teams are. Brentwood is clearly the fav. I think Siegel might actually be able to make the finals for the first time ever. Has anyone seen most of these teams play? Predictions for final 4? I got Ravenwood, Brentwood, Siegel and HV. Bwood vs siegel in final with Bwood winning....again.

They haven't updated DIV 2 A either. Wondering how all that played out. I am sure Goodpasture won but not sure about anyone else.

Agree 100%. There was a time when this message board was really good and supportive of HS volleyball. Now, it is almost vacant, in large part because it became so toxic a few years ago--especially from Knoxville folks. You can't believe anything he/she posts. On a side note...cannot wait for the State Tournament to kick off!

There was a time when 7AAA was a good volleyball conference. Rutherford County volleyball hasn't developed like it should. No reason for them not to be close to the level of 12AAA. It's not even close. Siegel is the only good program.

K2, you realize that all the district coaches vote on that....right? Mom's don't typically get to vote for all district. Typically you can't vote for your own players either.

Can't believe another regular season is about to wrap up. Any updates on district regular season champs? I think that Goodpasture, Siegel and Brentwood have wrapped up regular season titles. Who else? Portland, Station Camp?

I agree with the Portland comments. They have been doing a good job up there for a long time. They have kids that have committed to getting better and they are well coached.

Logan's little sister, Shay, also has a stress fracture in her foot im told, so she is out got a couple of weeks too.