Gameday Sports Academy launched in 2021 as a boys-only volleyball club at Dignity Health Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art facility owned by retired professional basketball player Kyle Shiloh. The program filled a countywide gap, as previous attempts to establish boys’ volleyball teams had been unsuccessful.

Four years later, Gameday’s boys’ volleyball program has expanded to include 14U, 16U, and 18U indoor teams, boys’ sand volleyball, and an off-season training program running January through April.

Later that year, Gameday launched the Developmental League (DLeague) to serve boys and girls in grades three through twelve. By early spring, the DLeague had grown to 18 teams and added VolleyTots for TK–2nd grade.

The program now operates across three distinct training seasons: Non-Travel Tournament Season (January–May), Summer Skills Development (June–July), and Developmental League Season (August–December). The DLeague currently serves approximately 250 student-athletes per session across 25 teams, establishing it as the first year-round volleyball league in Central California.

In January 2023, Gameday launched its inaugural girls’ travel volleyball season. The academy currently fields 11 girls’ teams from 12U–18U, alongside three boys’ travel teams. Competing in the Fresno Heat Valley JVA League, roughly half of Gameday’s teams finish in the top 10 percent each season.

“In addition to league play, we emphasize building relationships with other programs through competitive and collaborative events,” said Volleyball Director Johnitta Clemons. “Our teams have participated in friendship events with Bakersfield Volleyball Club, Syndicate Volleyball Club, Starlings, Antelope Valley, and SNP.

We also compete in major tournaments, including West Coast Cup, SoCal Cup, In It Win It, Winter Classic, West Coast Invitational, AAU Nationals, MLK Super Regional, Bay Area Battle, and WCVBA Spikefest. This year, our schedule expands to include 18U Nationals, the Hawaii Spam Slam, the NuBreed Tribal Gathering, and the SCVA Summer Soiree.”

Gameday Sports Academy was named a JVA Sponsor Club during the 2024 season. With support from the Sponsor Program, Gameday sent its 16U National Team to the AAU National Championships in Florida. This year, Sponsor Program funds will be used to provide Gameday coaches with advanced professional development at the Align Volleyball Summit.

Johnitta Clemons brings more than 40 years of coaching experience and retired from high school coaching following the 2022 season to focus full-time on building Gameday Sports Academy. She was named County Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2021 and recognized as Kern County’s Most Remarkable Woman in 2020 for her community impact.

Throughout her career, Clemons has collaborated with multiple volleyball organizations to expand accessibility and affordability for athletes. She previously directed and coached for Starlings USA, launching the first Starlings club in the region.

“After years of trying to establish a sustainable volleyball league in Central California, I learned about the Junior Volleyball Association through my Starlings connections,” Clemons said. “I joined before I even had a team. The affordability and structure made it possible for me and other Club Directors to finally build a successful Central California volleyball circuit. The education, training, and ongoing support make it sustainable.”

Service is a cornerstone of Gameday Sports Academy culture. To maintain accessibility at both Gameday Sports Academy and the DLeague, high school athletes volunteer as Coaches and Officials. They receive compensation and discounts toward their own club fees while gaining structured opportunities to develop leadership skills. Team captain and manager roles are assigned, and all athletes share responsibility for equipment, uniforms, and facilities, held to the same standards of professionalism and accountability expected of any employee.

High school athletes also serve as tutors, Coaches, and trainers. During camps, they mentor children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Gameday athletes participate in community events both on and off-site, including Clean Up America, the Valley Fever Walk, and year-round food, clothing, and toy drives.

“Gameday Sports Academy regularly hosts community events and dedicated tournaments, with athletes serving as volunteers,” said Volleyball Director Johnitta Clemons. “They particularly enjoyed participating as guests of honor at a Princess Tea Party event. We also host an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament and a Fentanyl Awareness Tournament, where athletes educate the community and help raise funds.”

Gameday Sports Academy’s colors, lime and purple, honor the memory of former athlete Destiny Love Ayala, who passed away from accidental fentanyl poisoning on her high school graduation night. Athletes at Gameday uphold her legacy by making responsible choices, avoiding high-risk behaviors, and committing to protecting their own “Destiny.”

Here are reflections from a few Gameday Sports Academy players on their experience as members of GSA:

For the past two years, Gameday Sports Academy has hosted the Play Equity Fund Block Party on the National Day of Play, offering free activities to engage children and families in physical activity. Gameday athletes volunteer as coaches, manage activity stations, and encourage participation. Last summer, the club hosted its first Adaptive Fair, connecting the disabled community with resources and opportunities, with athletes serving as event volunteers.

This year, Gameday is expanding programming to include sand volleyball training. Through a partnership with a local country club, the club now has a permanent home for its sand program. The program, open to athletes in grades seven through twelve, focuses on skill development for both developmental and competitive play. Expanding the boys’ travel program is also a priority. While all middle schools in the county offer boys’ volleyball, no public high school programs exist despite strong interest. Gameday plans to launch a high school recreation league this season and work toward long-term adoption of boys’ volleyball at the high school level.

Gameday Sports Academy is developing a homeschool program to meet community needs, including morning volleyball training. The club currently hosts two to three small tournaments each month and aims to grow these events into a major JVA tournament hub.

“We believe Central California is an ideal location to connect clubs from Northern and Southern California, as well as surrounding western states,” Clemons said.

Gameday Sports Academy, based in Bakersfield, California, is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization dedicated to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for Club Directors, Coaches, players, and fans.

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