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A5 Family,
There'll be a few Slow News Weeks between now and Nationals. Indeed, if there's not enough timely news, we may skip a week - as we do in the club off-season. But we've got some news this week, as you will see when you read on.
Beach Bangers Bring Back Bids
In our most recent newsletter we announced that the team of Hannah Nelson and Colson Dennis had earned a regional bid to the USA National Beach Tour Championships in Manhattan Beach, California this summer.
But we neglected to mention the team of Grace Kolacinski (left) and Kendall Gentry, who finished second in the same tournament, also earning a bid. Two of the Final Four U16 teams were A5 teams.
Additionally, since then, the U14 team of Morgan Perry and Madelyn Ferdoussi earned a bid to Nationals in Manhattan Beach, CA by finishing 3rd in the SRVA Regional Championship Tournament the weekend immediately following.
There's a lesson in the above. With 1000 athletes in our system it is impractical to follow the results of every team, and we can't report what we don't know. So if your beach or indoor team had a noteworthy performance, we expect a parent, communications coordinator or coach to send me the following:
- Summary of the accomplishment
- Name of the Team
- Picture of the athletes with their bling
We''ll take it from there, as we love to recognize our athletes' outstanding performances.
Congrats to all!
Fridays at Four Commences This Friday
This ultra-popular program is for the youngsters with little or no volleyball experience aged 8 - 11. Run by A5 11-1 Coach Walter Patterson, F@F features skills instruction and game-like drills. It is held at SVC every Friday from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., commencing Friday, May 16th. Cost is $10/person. First-timers are charged just $5, and those who bring a first-time friend are also charged just five bucks. Can't beat that!
No registration is necessary. Just show up in gym shoes and knee pads (if you have them) and prepare to fall in love with the most popular women's sport in the land. Guys, you're welcome too.
Questions? Contact Walter Patterson directly.
A5 Minis Are Back as Well
One of the secrets to A5's success has been our focus on the Youth. The minis convene for just an hour beginning this Wednesday (5/8) from 4 to 5 p.m. and extending for the next four weeks. The Minis are even younger than the F@F group, focusing on the 5 - 8-year-olds, with an occasional 4-year-old in attendance as well.
Fridays at Four... At Minis.... Inexpensive... no long-term obligation.... great coaching by our youth specialists.... THERE IS NO BETTER WAY FOR A YOUNG BOY OR GIRL TO DIP HIS OR HER TOE INTO THE WATER TO SEE IF THEY LIKE THE SPORT!
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High Academic Volleyball Showcase Cancelled This Year
We would rather not host an event than put one on that is half-baked. For some reason - perhaps the new NCAA Recruiting Rules? - registrations to this year's event are down significantly - to the extent that its very viability is in question. So rather than proceed with a substandard event, we are cancelling the High Academic Showcase this year. Those who have registered and paid will receive a refund check within the next two weeks.
We are disappointed that we have to do this, as in previous years we have been able to connect 120+ brainiac athletes with 30 or more college coaches from High Academic Institutions. Hopefully the event will be back in 2020, and we will do what we can to make it so.
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Link for Recruiting Videos is Live
We mentioned this new service, spearheaded by Conor Lounsbury, in a previous newsletter and we are now set up to accept registrations. To do so, or for more info, click this link.
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Final Reminder -- Registration for A5 and Volleyperformance Summer Camps is Open
Want to know the best way to make an A5 club, or if you're already a member, to leap-frog your peers and make a higher-level team at tryouts this fall? The secret is simple: get in the gym! A5, A5 South and Volleyperformance are offering dozens of options this summer for you to do just that. Check them out, overlay the dates with your vacation plans, and register for the camps and clinic you think will best help you. ...and if you are in doubt, talk to a coach.
Click the appropriate link and go from there:
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Preliminary Bid Results
As A5 veterans know, we are big on setting measurable, quantifiable goals, and one of the metrics that is important to us is the number of our teams earning bids to USAV Nationals and at what level. Our club is traditionally among the top in the U.S. by this measure.
Teams earning bids to the Open Division have been identified and publicized, but the other divisions are still in flux. Here's what we know to date:
- A5 is one of three clubs in the country to qualify a team for Nationals in the highest division of each age bracket (National for U11 and U12; Open for 13's and above). The other clubs are TAV and Skyline. Rare air to be sure. As evidenced by the fact that only three clubs did so in 2019, this is a very difficult feat for a club to accomplish, and A5 has done so for each of the past six years.
- Though our 24 bids earned will undoubtedly be close to the top in the country, we know we won't be #1, as OTVA already has 25 bids to their credit - including, incredibly, 12 in the highest category (National/Open). That's the reason many of our teams are looking forward to scrimmaging with them in a few weeks and we are collaborating with them in other ways.
We'll impart additional information about the bid situation as it becomes available.
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Basket Raffle Results
Winners were announced live via facebook and instagram noon Friday,May10th:
#1 Golf Galore Basket: Alex Corrolla
#2 Wine and Beer Experience Basket: Rob Cason
#3 Let's Play Basket: Kelly Wilson
#4 Everything Apple Basket: Bo Wilson
#5 Geek Squad Basket: Nailah Jenkins
#6 Winter Summer Fun Basket: Lori Burton
#7 Let's Get Cooking: LA O'Sullivan
#8 Explore Atlanta Basket: Tiff L
#9 Explore Chattanooga: Linda Smith
#10 Taste Chattanooga: John Wright
#11 Club Refund: Posa
Winners have been contacted and need to come pick up their baskets asap, please.
Gross Sales: $44,832, broken down as follows:
Beach- $615
Boys- $700
GA5- $2320
Chatt- $3390
South- $4399
A5- $31,633
Donation- $1775
Some of this income will be applied to the player accounts of those who sold a sufficient number of tickets. The balance will be used this fall to provide financial assistance to prospective club volleyball players who otherwise would not be able to afford the experience.
This seems the appropriate spot to recognize A5 18 Scott, which led all teams in raffle ticket sales, selling over $9000 worth of tickets. This is the first time an 18's team has paced the club in this manner. This is yet another way in which these college-bound ladies have exercised the outstanding leadership for which they are known.
Thanks to all who participated!
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