Lisa joined the JVA Staff in December 2013. She has a solid volleyball background at all levels. After completing her volleyball career at Purdue University, she served as the Student Assistant Coach followed by three seasons as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Samford University where her responsibilities included recruiting, aiding in day to day team training, managing community service functions, and coordination of camps. In 2011 she helped guide the program to its first NCAA appearance.
Message of the Week
Message of the Week
I’ll be honest, I am not feeling particularly inspired to start this week, and I absolutely hate that feeling. I don’t like beginning a Monday without a clear mind and a full tank.
When it comes down to it, my first job as a human is being a mom to three little kids, and man oh man, it was an exhausting weekend.
My six-year-old daughter had five dance recitals. Five.
For those of you who have survived dance recital season, you know these are not two-hour events. These are all-day affairs. I spent the weekend channeling my inner dance mom, and to all the moms out there who do this regularly, props to you. It is no small feat.
I am not cut out for all the hair, makeup, and bobby pins. But if you need someone to get the attention of a room full of kids with a coach voice, I am absolutely your person.
And while I was fully immersed in dance mom life, my husband was running point with our four and eight-year-old boys, getting them to all of their activities and keeping their weekend moving. Between the three kids, we spent the weekend doing what so many families in our volleyball community do every single week, divide, conquer, and somehow make it all work.
June is busy.
Kids are out of school, which somehow makes schedules both more flexible yet more complicated at the same time. You’re balancing your own family’s summer schedules while managing your club responsibilities. You’re coordinating camps, open gyms, summer training, staffing, travel plans, and the million details that come with running an organization.
And on top of all that, you’re preparing for Nationals.
Many of you are heading into the final stretch of your season. There are extra practices, final team meetings, travel preparations, and one last push with your athletes before you hit the road for the culmination of everything you’ve worked toward this year.
At JVA, we’re feeling that same energy.
We are in final preparation mode for the Windy City Round-Up, our final event of the season, while simultaneously looking ahead to what comes next. Behind the scenes, we’re already deep into planning for our annual Staff Planning meeting.
For our team, Staff Planning represents everything about the 2026-2027 season and beyond. It’s where ideas become priorities, priorities become action plans, and action plans become the programs, events, education, and resources that will serve our members in the years ahead.
In other words, it is officially go time for next season…yikes!
And I can tell you this…it’s going to be one for the books.
The upcoming season marks the 20th Anniversary of JVA. Twenty years of serving clubs. Twenty years of supporting athletes and coaches. Twenty years of growing the game together.
So while I may be starting this week a little tired, I’m also incredibly excited about where we’re headed. There is a lot of work ahead, but there is also a lot to look forward to.
Buckle up. The best is yet to come, and there is some big news ahead.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
I’ll be honest, I am not feeling particularly inspired to start this week, and I absolutely hate that feeling. I don’t like beginning a Monday without a clear mind and a full tank.
When it comes down to it, my first job as a human is being a mom to three little kids, and man oh man, it was an exhausting weekend.
My six-year-old daughter had five dance recitals. Five.
For those of you who have survived dance recital season, you know these are not two-hour events. These are all-day affairs. I spent the weekend channeling my inner dance mom, and to all the moms out there who do this regularly, props to you. It is no small feat.
I am not cut out for all the hair, makeup, and bobby pins. But if you need someone to get the attention of a room full of kids with a coach voice, I am absolutely your person.
And while I was fully immersed in dance mom life, my husband was running point with our four and eight-year-old boys, getting them to all of their activities and keeping their weekend moving. Between the three kids, we spent the weekend doing what so many families in our volleyball community do every single week, divide, conquer, and somehow make it all work.
June is busy.
Kids are out of school, which somehow makes schedules both more flexible yet more complicated at the same time. You’re balancing your own family’s summer schedules while managing your club responsibilities. You’re coordinating camps, open gyms, summer training, staffing, travel plans, and the million details that come with running an organization.
And on top of all that, you’re preparing for Nationals.
Many of you are heading into the final stretch of your season. There are extra practices, final team meetings, travel preparations, and one last push with your athletes before you hit the road for the culmination of everything you’ve worked toward this year.
At JVA, we’re feeling that same energy.
We are in final preparation mode for the Windy City Round-Up, our final event of the season, while simultaneously looking ahead to what comes next. Behind the scenes, we’re already deep into planning for our annual Staff Planning meeting.
For our team, Staff Planning represents everything about the 2026-2027 season and beyond. It’s where ideas become priorities, priorities become action plans, and action plans become the programs, events, education, and resources that will serve our members in the years ahead.
In other words, it is officially go time for next season…yikes!
And I can tell you this…it’s going to be one for the books.
The upcoming season marks the 20th Anniversary of JVA. Twenty years of serving clubs. Twenty years of supporting athletes and coaches. Twenty years of growing the game together.
So while I may be starting this week a little tired, I’m also incredibly excited about where we’re headed. There is a lot of work ahead, but there is also a lot to look forward to.
Buckle up. The best is yet to come, and there is some big news ahead.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
