Volleyball

Top 5 Volleyball Clubs in Utah

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Volleyball has been the more popular sport in female participation for almost 10 years now, but some states are more competitive than others. California, Hawai’i, Utah, Texas, and a few other places, have seen more success in the volleyball world. Here in Utah, we have such a big volleyball culture. But with so many different clubs to choose from, how do we know which one to invest in? Based off of coaching staff, win-loss records, and cost, here are the top 5 clubs in Utah!

#5

Club Elevate

"EAVC" Club Elevate's logo
“EAVC” Club Elevate’s logo, black and white.

Founded in 2002, Club Elevate has been a big name from the start. After being sponsored by Nike in recent years, their participation numbers have increased exceedingly. However, Elevate has never really been known for having a very impressive record, and the cost is high to play ($3,450 for a season). The coaching staff  is not the most impressive, and the skill of play is not the best. But they are a great starting club for athletes who have never played before, and are looking for a way to ease into the sport!

#4

Club GSL

Club GSL's logo, yellow and white.
Club GSL’s logo, yellow and white.

Club GSL (Great Salt Lake) is a great club for co-ed athletes. GSL is widely known for their successful boys volleyball teams; specifically the new welcoming of Shawn Olmstead, the BYU Men’s volleyball head coach, to the club’s staff. However, their professional level staff requires high compensation. With an average of $4,550 for a season, many athletes are unable to afford to play for GSL, pushing is back to #4 on my list.

#3

Club 801

Club 801's logo, red, black and white.
Club 801’s logo, red, black and white.

Club 801 is known for their excellent coaching staff. Featuring college athletes from BYU, UVU, and even from the Utah Utes, 801 ensures that your athlete will learn the fundamentals of the sport and improve exceedingly over the season. However, the cost for 801 can be high depending on what level of play you chose. National level athletes may require over $3,000 for gear, tournaments, and coaching fees. Besides the cost, 801 is a great club to begin with and improve with!

#2

Club V

Club V's logo, red and white.
Club V’s logo, red and white.

Club V has been a big name in the club volleyball world since 2007, when the club was founded. With their trademark red and white, you know them when you see them. Many athletes chose this club for the name, but many chose this club because of the overwhelming success rate. Club V is the #1  youth sport organization in Utah, and #38 in the nation. However, these 4 time National Champions require a hefty price, over $3,500 for a season. As many athletes love the competitiveness this club offers, the price makes it hard for some families to afford it.

#1

Club Sand

Club Sand's logo, orange and pink.
Club Sand’s logo, orange and pink.

Club Sand was founded in 2016 to provide elite beach training for athletes. Although they started as a beach volleyball club, their knowledge of volleyball has earned them excellent court teams. Club Sand does offer tryouts, however they are known to recruit girls from other clubs during the off season. Club Sand also offers considerably less prices for gear and competition, helping any and all athletes play. With their bright colored jerseys, Sand stands out against any gym, and their skill and winning record stands out against any other club.

 

While these are all amazing clubs, there are many others based in Utah. From Club Hive to Club Union, there is a club for every skill level, financial status, and competitiveness for any and all athletes!

Top 5 Shoes for Volleyball

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An athlete standing on the court wearing white Nike shoes.
An athlete standing on the court wearing white Nike shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All athletes out there know that shoes play a big factor in how you play. All sneaker-head athletes know that they don’t only affect how you play, they affect how you look. They affect how you feel on the court.

With tons of different options to choose from these days, how could anyone decide what shoes to pick? Don’t worry, I got you.

Here are the top 5 shoes you should pick for volleyball.

5.) Gel Tactic Asics

Men's Gel Tactic Asics, black.
Men’s Gel Tactic Asics, black.

Now, these may not be the most attractive pair of shoes, but asics is an amazing brand for court shoes. With gel soles and tough materials, these shoes are perfect for traction and running. The heavy build on the shoes offers support and security to your feet and ankles. While the lower pricing allows these shoes to be for anyone. Although, the heavy build can also prohibit running and speed. It’s hard to look past the rather unattractive design, pushing these shoes back to #5.

https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/gel-tactic/p/ANA_1071A065-100.html

4.) Hyper Race 2

Women's Nike Hyper Race 2, white and blue.
Women’s Nike Hyper Race 2, white and blue.

Many people would describe these shoes as plain, but that’s not always a bad thing. For athletes looking for sleek, unnoticeable shoes, these are perfect. With the average pricing of $100, these are a popular choice for many athletes. They are cheap, comfortable, and allow the player to move with confidence on the court. But, the loose design can also lack the support needed for certain movements.

https://www.athleteps.com/nike-mens-air-zoom-hyperace-2-multiple-colors

3.) Nike Hyperspeed Court

Women's Nike HperSpeed Court, white and black.
Women’s Nike HperSpeed Court, white and black.

With few choices in color, these shoes also ride on the safer side. The sleek white and black designs match with any jersey or outfit. As someone who owned a pair of these as her first court shoes, these are a great pick. With the secure and lightweight build, these shoes support and guide for jumping and quick movements. These are some of the most popular shoes for volleyball. While they may not be the coolest shoes on the market, they are sleek, clean, and the cheapest on this list. Although, the light designs and the chosen material allow for the shoes to get real dirty real quick.

https://www.nike.com/t/hyperspeed-court-volleyball-shoes-vJLCz9

2.) Way of Wade 10

Men's Way of Wade 10, "Art"
Men’s Way of Wade 10, “Art”

Way of Wades are perfect for athletes wanting a bold look and great performance. While these shoes come in classic white and gray shades, there is also a large array of colors to draw every eye in the gym. Way of Wade 10s aren’t only for looks, they are also perfect for jumping, quick movements, and traction. But, these shoes are the most expensive on my list. The average pricing for these shoes is around $160-250, taking these out of the question for many athletes.

https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/way-of-wade-10

1.) Lebron Witness 7

Men's Lebron Witness 7's, black and red.
Men’s Lebron Witness 7’s, black and red.

Lebron Witness 7s earned spot #1 because of the lightweight and supportive design. When I bought a pair of these, I was afraid the loose material would prohibit me from making quick movements. But they actually secure your foot without making the shoe uncomfortable. With a wide selection of colors to choose from, these shoes are perfect for sneakerheads and athletes alike. The springy soles offer support for fast movement, and the low cut allows for full ankle flexibility. With that said, these shoes do not support your ankles. I’ve rolled my ankle twice in these shoes, but that’s not uncommon for volleyball players to do. The average pricing of $110 allows for most athletes to own a pair. But, the main seller for these is the design. The colorful designs allow for all athletes to feel confident in these. Who wouldn’t want a lion printed on your heel?

https://www.nike.com/t/lebron-witness-7-team-basketball-shoes-vHcv2n

Let me know your favorite sports shoes!

All about BYU Woman’s Volleyball

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All about BYU Woman’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball team has always been good, they have made appearances in 32 of the 39 NCAA Women’s volleyball tournaments. There’s been a women’s volleyball team at BYU for 52 years. There have been 6 coaches and tons of players. BYU’s most recent season was awesome just like many before it. BYU received the No. 16 seed at the beginning of the season. They opened the 2020 NCAA tournament by beating UCLA. They finished among the top teams and won the West Coast Conference title. They ended the season winning 17-2 and a No. 15 seed. 

 

Last Seasons Best

Every season BYU has amazing players and this season was no different. Their top blocker Kennedy Eschenberg is an American middle blocker. She ended the season with No. 6 in the NCAA division. She had an average of 1.58 blocks per set and a .435 hitting percentage. Kennedy got 135 kills and led the team with 82 blocks. Their top setter, Whitney Bower was named the WCC player and setter of the year. Whitney ended the season with 676 assists, 221 digs, 48 kills, 28 blocks, and 22 aces. Their top outside hitter, Ballard Nixon was a key contributor to the cougar’s success. She got 239 kills, 133 digs, 15 aces, and 38 blocks. Their coach for the 2020-2021 season Olmstead was WCC coach of the year and the AVCA Pacific South Region Coach of the Year. She holds the highest winning percentage of any women’s volleyball coach. She reached 100 wins in 101 games. 

This Season

BYU’s 2021-2022 season has been just as good as the many others. There team consists of 19 players, Taylen Ballard, Heather Gneiting, Morgan Bower, Kenzie Koerber, Bri Albright, Zanya Meyer, Whitney Bower,

 Taylen Hifo, Alyssa Montoya, Erin Livingston, Abbey Dayton, Kate Grimmer, Aria Mccomber, Elyse Stowell, Madi

 Allen, Whitney Llarenas, Sophia Callahan, Kennedy Eschenburg, and Gretchen Reinert. BYU is ranked a No. 11 seed. In their most recent game, they beat Saint Marys, winning every set. Koerber led the team with 16 kills, and the middle blockers Eschenberg and Gneiting both got 8 as well. Their next game is on the 30 against Saint Clara. Their next home game will be on October 7 against Portland. BYU hopes to continue winning and hopefully earn a higher seed.

 

Volleyball History

BYU has been keeping a record on women’s volleyball for 50 years, from then to 2018 they have won 1,281 games. The BYU Cougars first made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 1981 and since then have returned 31 times. BYU’s women’s volleyball team was the first volleyball team to be in the NCAA final four in 1993. They have had 2 players move on and play in the Olympics. Charlene Johnsen after playing for BYU went to the Utah Predators out of college as the starting setter. She played 2 years of professional volleyball in Switzerland and Italy. She competed in the 2000 Olympics and after that served as the assistant coach in Nebraska. Mary Lake played for BYU as a libero, and she is set to go to the 2020 summer Olympics. Mary Lake was named the 2019-20 West Coast Conference female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was also named WCC Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-WCC First Team. She started every game and led the team to a No. 1 ranking. When she was a freshman she broke the school record with 546 digs. And this summer Marly Lake is just one of the 2 liberos on the U.S national volleyball team. 

 

 

Sources: https://universe.byu.edu/2019/10/07/50-facts-for-50-years-of-making-womens-volleyball-history/

 

https://byucougars.com/home/w-volleyball

 

http://www.seniorclassaward.com/athletes/mary_lake/

 

https://byucougars.com/roster/w-volleyball/2021

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