VolleyTalk

A newsletter exclusively for Club Fusion Volleyball athletes and parents

Athletes nominated for PrepVolleyball.coms National Players of the Year uccess is never final. For Club Fusion athletes, nothing is final. Players are told success is a direct result of constant effort, and recognition is merely an added bonus. However, hard work is beginning to pay off for a few of Club Fusions athletes. PrepVolleyball.com recently announced its watch list for the National Player of the Year awards. Four Club Fusion athletes are nominated for the accolade. The recipient of the award must demonstrate success on and off the court throughout the year with both their high school and club teams. Frantti, left, kills a ball at the Illinois PrepVolleyball.com designates four Finals in November. Photo credit: dailyherald.com National Player of the Year Awards in

Shining stars

Spring 2013

respect to age group. Senior Ciara Capezio (18 Black/ Iowa State) is in the running for National Senior Player of the Year. Juniors Ali Frantti (17 Black/ Penn State) and Simone Lee (17 Black/Penn State) are competing for National Junior Player of the Year, while Iman McGary (16 Black) has been nominated for the award in the sophomore class. This season marks the first time in Club Fusion history three age groups are represented for this distinguished award.

Whats inside...
Beach volleyball league..............2 NCAA Clearinghouse change...2 Eyes on the prize.........................3 Social media links.......................3 College corner.............................4 2013/2014 commitments...........4

International influencers

Club Fusion 18 Black returns from annual trip Club Fusion 18 Black recently said Barry. traveled to Nicaragua for its annu- Barry was part of the European al international tour. The tour con- Tour the team took last year. The sisted of a six-day trip to San Juan team toured Italy, Austria, Germadel Sur that not only gave players ny and Czech Republic in six days, a chance to compete against inter- with a full schedule of playing and national teams, but exposed them to site seeing. a world unlike anything they have It was a great experience, ever experienced before. but we were always on the go and When high school senior and didnt get to really soak in the envi18 Black setter Erienne Barry first ronment completely, Barry said. heard the news about the trip, she This year was much different. was unsure what to expect. Along with competition, 18 Black Nicaragua is not a typical des- teamed up with Bring It Promotination, so we were all very curious tions to raise money for Operaabout what the trip would be like, tion Nica, (Continued on page 2)
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(Continued from page 1) which tions, the team raised $1,000 prior which is different from the usual fabegan in 2004. This partnership to the trip, and gave the money to a cilities found in the United States. provides money to communities in local school. The girls were able to We had some problems with spend time with the children play- the sun shooting into our eyes, and Nicaragua in need of help. Operation Nica founder, Tim ing games and teaching them small the floor was still really slippery, but we were able to play some of our Kelly started the program when English terms. he and three of his closest friends It is so interesting and eye best volleyball so far this trip, said outside hitter brought two junior Taylor Krage. national teams from The team Jacksonville, Fla., won all four of to Nicaragua along its matches, but with bags of equipgained more than ment to donate to just competitive volleyball teams in experience from the area. the trip. The tour was a Being in success, and Kelly Nicaragua has has managed to pair definitely helped up with volleyball us come togethteams across the er as a team country to continue and experience this legacy. Today, something that Bring It PromoThe team poses with Kelly on the final day of the trip. Photo credit: Erienne Barry. we may never get tions provides equipment for volleyball and other sports opening to see these kids try to learn again., said middle blocker Adeja while we realize what little resourc- Lambert. teams. Before departure, all the girls on es they have to be successful, said This trip opened everyones eyes and made us realize this is not the team were required to each fill a libero Paige Dacanay. suitcase with 50 pounds of clothes The team competed in four only the end of our season, but a and equipment for donation as a matches against several Nicaraguan new start for us, and we have everypart of its work for Operation Nica. national teams. They played in Nic- thing to gain from this trip thanks to In addition to material dona- araguas National Outdoor Stadium, Mr. Kelly.

NCAA changes academic requirement prior to college 2.3 GPA, which was raised from the College-bound student-athletes acceptable. planning on enrolling at an NCAA High school diplomas are still 2.0 previously required. Standardcollege or university on or after required, but the athlete must have a ized test scores are now taken into consideration as well. Division Aug. 1, 2016, will need to fulfill I institutions will use a sliding Sliding Scale for Competition new academic requirements to be eligible. The NCAA ClearGPA for SAT ACT scale to line up test scores and inghouse has implemented new Competition (critical reading/ Sum the equivalent GPA. The SAT scores taken will prerequisites to stress the impormath) only include critical math and tance of academics. 4.0 400 37 reading, while the ACT score is The NCAA Clearinghouse 3.8 480 43 the sum of English, math, readis an organization outside of 3.6 560 48 ing and science. the NCAA that evaluates high 3.4 640 53 All prospective college stuschool academic performance dent-athletes are required to reg3.2 720 59 and determines if the athlete is ister with the Clearinghouse. eligible for competition as an in3.0 800 66 Visit aausports.org for the coming college freshman. 2.8 880 73 full summary of changes, and If a student-athlete is 2.6 960 81 make sure to register for the deemed ineligible by the Clear2.4 1040 93 NCAA Clearinghouse at eligiinghouse, they will be unable to participate in intercollegiate The new scale colleges will use incorporates GPA, bilitycenter.org prior to the colathletics until grades are deemed SAT and ACT scores. photocredit: eligibilitycenter. lege recruitment process.

Changes in the Clearinghouse

Eyes on the prize

Club Fusion teams prepare to end the season at national tournaments The rigorous club season is winding down, and Club Fusion athletes are gearing up for the biggest tournaments of the year. The Midwest Junior Volleyball Championships May 11-12 will prepare teams for competition at the AAU National Tournament, which starts June 18. The AAU National Tournament will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Several of Fusions teams recently qualified for the USA Volleyball National Championships in Dallas, Tex., which run from June 28 to July 5. The 17 Black and 18 White teams both won their bids at the Mid-East Qualifier in Indianapolis at the end of March. New Wave 16 Rush received its bid April 28 at the Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis. This is the first year Club Fusion will have teams participating in both the AAU National Tournament and USAV National Championships. Many teams hope to continue their success at their final club tournaments. The 17 Black team looks to defend its National Title, while 18 Black hopes to improve and build on its fifth place finish last year. Parents, players and coaches will be able to track court locations, match times and scores via Fusions Facebook page and Twitter. Fans will also be able to update and contribute to the discussions by using #ClubFusionVB and #2013AAUNationals in tweets.

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Grab your sunscreen!

Club Fusion announces inaugural year for beach volleyball league The NCAA launched beach vol- land area in St. Charles, Rockford leyball as an official collegiate sport and Lake in the Hills. for the 2011-2012 seasons, and since Each site will incorporate Futhen its popularity has skyrocketed. sion coaches, and consist of two It is one of the most watched events practices per week. The program at the Summer Olympics. Inspired lasts 10 weeks, and will begin in by the sports rising popularity, Club May. Teams will the choice have Fusion is proud to announce its in- the choice to schedule which touraugural beach volleyball league for naments they compete in. Summer 2013. For more information, contact Training will be offered at three Kyle Milborn at 815-572-6762 or locations throughout the Chicago- email kmilborn@clubfusionvb.org.

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The United States won three medals in beach volleyball during the 2012 London Olympics. Photo credit: sports.yahoo.com

College Corner
Club Fusion alumni increasing success after high school tenure Since 1999, Club Fusion has been the NCAA Tournament with their rethe second highest recruited high-per- spective teams to finish the season. formance club in the nation. Rich Kern Stephanie Holthus (10 Northwestern) and PrepVolleyball.com recently listed was named to the Big Ten All ConferFusion as the highest recruited volley- ence team, while Taylor Brauneis (10 ball club for the 2012 class. Florida) garnered All-Southeastern Fusion is proud of its commitment Conference honors. to helping athletes reach their goal Leigh Ann Hranka (10 Illinois of continuing their passion past high State) and Julie Jeziorowski (10 Marschool and beyond. Club Fusion had quette) joined Holthus and Brauneis at 123 alumni competing collegiately the USA National Team tryouts Feb. during the 2012 NCAA season. 22-24 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Thirteen athletes participated in roster will be announced in mid-June.

Continued greatness

Holthus ranks third in kills for the Big Ten. Photo credit: dailynorthwestern.com

Class of 2013

Fusion athletes and their recent college commitments Victoria Quintanilla (North Alabama) Sydney Racky (Winona State) Amber Rizzio (Cincinnati) Katarina Rotta (Southeast Missouri) Alicia Stokes (Davis and Elkins) Cara Tyrrell (Judson College) Nicole Woods (Memphis)

Commitment central

Class of 2014
Ali Frantti (Penn State) Katie Kniep (Northwestern) Olivia Kofie (Western Michigan) Taylor Krage (Northern Illinois) Adeja Lambert (Michigan) Simone Lee (Penn State) Lauren Levernz (Saint Louis) Mackenzie Long (Saint Louis) Katie Olson (Grand Valley State) Krissy Pratt (Union) Bri Weiskircher (Penn State)

Erienne Barry (Western Michigan) Karrington Bell (Clarke) Lexia Bouza (Valparaiso) Caitlin Brauneis (Georgetown) Ciara Capezio (Iowa State) Paige Dacanay (Nothern Illinois) Nora Palermo (Illinois- Springfield)

Breakdown of the 284 Club Fusion alumni playing collegiate volleyball. Photo credit: Caroline Niski