NKYVC was founded in 1999 with 6 teams, 11U-13U, adding an age group every year, and today fields 48 girls travel teams, 24 girls non-travel teams, 6 boys travel teams 76 coaches, and 723 athletes in the program. The club not only has travel teams, but also offers non travel teams, a boys program, a sand program, youth development program, and so much more. Over 300 athletes have competed at the collegiate level since its first recruiting class in 2006. In this list is pro and national team libero Morgan Hentz. Since 1999 the club has been building and growing into a top club in the country and they train like it!
Jill Hunt became the Club Director in 2018. Prior to becoming the Director, Jill has been involved in NKYVC as an assistant director, coach and Director of Programs-Facilitator. Renae Taylor is the Youth Development Director and Josh Hammer is the Director of Training, both have had great impacts on the program and the athletes. NKYVC has some very experienced coaches, many who played for NKYVC and at the collegiate level.
NKYVC has one of the largest grassroots programs in the country, with a long wait list for their youth programs. This allows the club to have 14 8U-10U teams: two 8U teams, five 9U teams, and seven 10U teams. The younger teams run a short season February-April to give everyone the opportunity to do their other sports and activities as well. This keeps the players engaged and learning without burning them out or causing too much stress on their parents’ schedules. NKYVC runs clinics and programs for these players in December and in May (4-6 week sessions) so they have other opportunities to train throughout the year.
The club has always created a fun, welcoming way for players to start off their volleyball journey.
“We create a team first culture,” said NKYVC Director Jill Hunt. “We focus on the fundamentals but also emphasize the importance of teamwork, discipline, confidence, and grit. We encourage dual sport athletes to allow the girls to get the most out of their time as an athlete. Collaborative coaching is also a necessity in our gym. This helps the girls to develop and learn from multiple coaches, not just their team coach. Positional training is another huge part of how we train. This allows the girls to focus on their craft to help their team. Lastly, we put an emphasis on sports performance, sending the girls to do team lifts once a week while encouraging them to do more on their own as well. Off the court, we encourage academics and non volleyball endeavors. We truly want what is best for our athletes and support them however we can.”
The retention rate is extremely high at NKYVC because they’ve created a club that players want to stay and be a part of. The club makes it a point to celebrate those players who stay for their entire club career, and those who finish their junior careers at NKYVC. Senior Signing Day is a celebration with each senior signing their letter of intent to play at the collegiate level, each player also gives a speech sharing their journey and how they got to where they are today. The players include their best memories and biggest lessons, and all the younger athletes come and listen.
In addition, NKYVC hosts an End of the Season Celebration to celebrate the seniors’ accomplishments. Each senior receives a bracelet from NKYVC. Those players that have been with NKYVC since their 12s year receive a diamond in their bracelet charm. “This is something that all our players strive for – to receive the diamond!” shared Jill.
The club also has a Big Sister Little Sister program. During a preseason event the teams get together and and meet each other and spend some time together. Then, throughout the season, they give each other little motivational cards or gifts and cheer for each other at tournaments. “It is a great thing as it promotes the older players to be role models and the younger players, it gives them someone to look up to and want to strive to be,” added Jill.
NKYVC is involved in the community through outreach programs, allowing the coaches and the players to give back to their schools and other programs and share the love of volleyball. NKYVC also offers free coaches’ clinics, helping to train the game for grade school, high school, and club coaches. Free clinics also help get kids into the gym to help grow not only their skill but their love for the game.
Angie Reckers is a coach that as been with NKYVC since the beginning. Coaches and volleyball coordinators in the area reach out to Angie and she goes out and runs clinics with them. She shows the coaches how to run an organized practice plan and teaches fundamentals and key terms so they they can continue to grow and learn throughout the season. Jill will also go into the community and do coaches’ clinics for different elementary schools – teaching drilling, line-ups, rules and what ever else they may need to have a successful season and help the players grow. There have also been multiple drives NKYVC has been a part of, a food drive and a backpacks for the homeless drive being the most recent.
NKYVC is going to continue to grow and develop players to impact the sport and their college teams or their other future endeavors.
“This sport is continuously growing, and we hope to grow with it and learn to help not only our girls program but the boys program as well. We will also strive to improve the knowledge of our coaches, helping them realize how much there is to learn from this game and other coaches. Developing our coaches will help impact our players and help NKYVC to continue to grow the game in the Northern Kentucky area,” said Jill.
NKYVC (Wilder, KY) s a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization committed to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for club directors, coaches, players, and fans.
View more about joining the JVA. View more about starting a boys volleyball point series. View more about JVA Awards. Nominate your club for JVA Club of the Month.
