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
Two weekends ago, I was fully immersed in dance mom mode. This past weekend, I traded my daughters’ dance shoes for my oldest son’s baseball cleats and became baseball mom. And now, as we head into the Windy City Round Up in Chicago, it’s time to leave on the Executive Director Nike’s and close out our last official JVA event of the season.
Holy cow, what a season it has been.
Actually, let’s be honest, it’s not even over yet.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that there really isn’t a slow season anymore. The calendar may change, but the pace never seems to. Membership renewals, planning meetings, national championships, tryouts, new initiatives, and all the exciting changes happening across our sport keep the volleyball world moving year-round.
It’s funny that we find ourselves ending our event season in the Windy City because lately it feels like we’re all standing in the middle of some pretty strong winds. And if you know the real reason Chicago earned that nickname, you know it wasn’t actually about the weather. There are a lot of opinions, a lot of conversations, and a lot of change happening around youth volleyball right now. Through all of it, our responsibility remains the same: serve clubs, athletes, coaches, and families while continuing to move the game forward.
Now we turn our attention to the biggest stage of the summer.
Whatever championship you are traveling to, this is what the season has been about. Every early morning practice, every long tournament day, every car ride, every lesson learned through wins and losses, it all culminates here.
For the athletes, soak it in. These moments go faster than you think. Some of my favorite memories as a volleyball player happened during the months of June and July. Not because every match was perfect, but because of the friendships, the travel, the team dinners, the laughs, and the feeling that something special was happening.
For the coaches, bring the best version of yourself. I know emotions will run high. I know there will be moments where your competitive fire shows up. That’s okay. Just make sure that when your tone changes, instruction is still coming out of your mouth. Teach. Lead. Develop. And hey, remember those officials are human too. Shocking, I know.
For the Club Directors…
You made it.
Take a moment and appreciate that. You survived another season. I know these next few weeks will be long. The days will blur together. You’ll answer a thousand texts, solve a hundred problems, and probably spend more time in convention centers than any human should. But this is also where your leadership matters most. Inspire your coaches. Encourage your athletes. Support your families. There will be a lot of face time over the next month, make it genuine but honest.
We’ve got this.
And when you finally get home after Nationals, I sincerely hope you have just enough energy left to survive tryouts 🙂
Good luck, safe travels, and enjoy every moment.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
Two weekends ago, I was fully immersed in dance mom mode. This past weekend, I traded my daughters’ dance shoes for my oldest son’s baseball cleats and became baseball mom. And now, as we head into the Windy City Round Up in Chicago, it’s time to leave on the Executive Director Nike’s and close out our last official JVA event of the season.
Holy cow, what a season it has been.
Actually, let’s be honest, it’s not even over yet.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that there really isn’t a slow season anymore. The calendar may change, but the pace never seems to. Membership renewals, planning meetings, national championships, tryouts, new initiatives, and all the exciting changes happening across our sport keep the volleyball world moving year-round.
It’s funny that we find ourselves ending our event season in the Windy City because lately it feels like we’re all standing in the middle of some pretty strong winds. And if you know the real reason Chicago earned that nickname, you know it wasn’t actually about the weather. There are a lot of opinions, a lot of conversations, and a lot of change happening around youth volleyball right now. Through all of it, our responsibility remains the same: serve clubs, athletes, coaches, and families while continuing to move the game forward.
Now we turn our attention to the biggest stage of the summer.
Whatever championship you are traveling to, this is what the season has been about. Every early morning practice, every long tournament day, every car ride, every lesson learned through wins and losses, it all culminates here.
For the athletes, soak it in. These moments go faster than you think. Some of my favorite memories as a volleyball player happened during the months of June and July. Not because every match was perfect, but because of the friendships, the travel, the team dinners, the laughs, and the feeling that something special was happening.
For the coaches, bring the best version of yourself. I know emotions will run high. I know there will be moments where your competitive fire shows up. That’s okay. Just make sure that when your tone changes, instruction is still coming out of your mouth. Teach. Lead. Develop. And hey, remember those officials are human too. Shocking, I know.
For the Club Directors…
You made it.
Take a moment and appreciate that. You survived another season. I know these next few weeks will be long. The days will blur together. You’ll answer a thousand texts, solve a hundred problems, and probably spend more time in convention centers than any human should. But this is also where your leadership matters most. Inspire your coaches. Encourage your athletes. Support your families. There will be a lot of face time over the next month, make it genuine but honest.
We’ve got this.
And when you finally get home after Nationals, I sincerely hope you have just enough energy left to survive tryouts 🙂
Good luck, safe travels, and enjoy every moment.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
