The 2013 Regional Champion Logan County Lady Cougars volleyball team certainly hasn’t rested on its laurels in the off season. A number of girls have been working hard in the off season to keep the wins coming in 2014.
The girls have traveled to Owensboro, Bowling Green and Hopkinsville to continue their State tournament run season during club season. They played for club teams like AVA in Owensboro, BRAVO in Bowling Green and VAPR in Hopkinsville. These programs take the best girls from the area and compete in tournaments in Louisville, Indianapolis, Nashville, Birmingham, St Louis, Lexington, Owensboro, Paducah and finally in Orlando, Florida.
Lady Cougars like Chandler Steenbergen (Jr), Jaclyn Batchelor (So), Amber Carroll (So), Kerra Cornist (Fr), Kailee Moore (So), Miranda Wright (So), and Laura Hendricks (Jr) committed to practice two to three times a week with girls from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. Teams were organized based on age and level of skill. They can compete against the best players in the nation. Teams can play from 30 to 70 matches during the club season, which can go from January to June. Not all teams play til June; most teams end play in April.
Some of the girls were lucky to be on teams that continued until the end of June. Chandler, Jaclyn, Kerra, Miranda, Kailee and Amber had the opportunity to compete in the AAU National Event in Orlando, Fla. AAU Nationals invites over 3,000 teams from across the nation to a four-day event that takes place at the ESPN Center facility and the Orlando Convention Center. This is the largest volleyball event in the nation and includes the best teams from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Teams play in a facility that has over 175 volleyball courts and compete in one of four divisions per age group.
This club season was the first time all three local programs participated in AAUNationals. A total of five teams—three AVA, one Bravo and one VAPR—made the trip to Orlando and competed well against teams from amazing programs like Wisconsin Northern Lights, Texas Tornados, KIVA, Munciana, K2 and Circle City and MAVA. The experience gained at Nationals, by these young players, should pay dividends in the upcoming season.
Coach Steven Lyne and the Lady Cougars lost a lot from last year's great team, but the program is still on the right track for a 2014 championship. These young Cougars seem excited and prepared for the upcoming season. The defending 4thRegion Champs have decided to put in the time and effort to be the best volleyball players they can be. The experience they have gained in the off season, playing at the highest level, shows the character and desire this program has strived to attain.
Good luck this season to Coach Lyne, his staff and this wonderful group of dedicated volleyball players. They certainly have put in the time and effort since last season.
Steve Howard
AVA Club Director - Owensboro
President, Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association