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In this Issue:
PVA All Time Favorite Players
25 Top Underclassman to watch
Meet Derria Grant of Euclid High
PVA Player Discussions with: Middle Hitter
Essence Andrews and Janae Smith
Kenya Jones
Story on page: 22-23
THE SPOT SPORTS MAGAZINE
About Precision Volleyball Academy
Precision Volleyball Academy has been in existence since 1998, beginning as a two sport pro-
gram, basketball and volleyball. At the time Precision was better known as the Northeast Lady
Jaguars. Since 1998 Precision Volleyball Academy has continued to provide exceptional service
to young student athletes in the community.
Our program primarily impacts athletes from Bedford, Warrensville, Akron, Ravenna, Cleve-
land, Shaker, Garfield, Parma, Westlake, Solon, Cleveland’s west side, and Cleveland Heights.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide high quality affordable services that teach, enhance, and further de-
velop volleyball players. Promoting individual development, skill, and personal growth. Pre-
paring skilled athletes for today and leaders for tomorrow by providing, structured, challeng-
ing, professionally managed programs and services that encourages young athletes to achieve
their highest on and off the court.
Vision Statement
Precision Volleyball Academy will be recognized as a teaching, learning, and competitive pro-
gram that fosters services and student success in the classroom and on the court. Precision
Volleyball Academy will be a valued resource in providing a positive outlet in the community
and young athletes for life beyond athletics.
Values
To successfully fulfill the mission and vision Precision Volleyball Academy will conduct busi-
ness with integrity and treat others with respect. We will continue to provide a family orient-
ed atmosphere. We will continue to give back to our community and provide affordable ser-
vices for our members.
Frequently ask Questions About Playing for Precision Volleyball Academy
What if my child plays another sport? If your child plays another sport we ask that you make PVA a
priority. Our practices are mandatory, only an excuse serious enough to miss school is an excuse
from practice. Keep in mind that our priority and goal is to assist you in becoming a better volleyball
player and getting a volleyball scholarship, you need to make it a priority to be at every practice. If
you are able to manage your schedule then it is up to you rather or not you play more than one sport.
What if I can’t make the full payment for my child? There is a payment plan available as well as
fund raising. We try to do everything we can to help with the cost of playing volleyball.
When is the first down payment due? The first down payment is due ten days after tryouts.
How much is the down payment? The down payment is $450. There is no refund once a payment
has been received.
Where does your program usually travel? High School teams could go up to 12 hours away and it
varies year to year. Middle school teams will go no more than 4 hours away. Our normal playing area
is Cleveland; Geneva, Ohio; Columbus; Dayton; Pennsylvania; West Virginia; Michigan; Buffalo, Virgin-
ia, DC, New York, and Chicago.
Does PVA send girls to showcases and if so at what age? Yes, we recommend players that are col-lege prospective ready to attend showcases. If we fill the athlete should wait a year before attending a showcase we let the player and parent know.
Will PVA talk to college coaches on athletes behalf? PVA will help in the college recruiting process, but keep in mind that players must do their part as well. PVA guarantees that each player that is ready to compete on the college level will get an opportunity however, it may not be the opportunity that you want. Playing in college is not as simple as showing up and saying that I want to play here. Players have to be mentally and physically ready. There also has to be a need for you at the school of your choice are does the school need a hitter, a passer, a setter? Are you what they are looking for? For example, are they looking for someone who can come right in and play or are they willing to fur-ther develop you?
When are practice days and times? If your child practices anytime during the week the times will be
between 6-9 p.m. If your child is scheduled to practice on the weekend she will practice anywhere
between 8-9:30 p.m. This information is available before the start of the season. Usually around try-
out time.
What’s included in the fee? Court time; administration cost including memberships to both USAV
and AAU if applicable; equipment; tournament cost; some team gear.
Is there a mandatory play rule? No, Playing Time-We do not guarantee equal playing time; this is a
college athletic prep program. (Middle School or first year teams are developmental) Playing time on
any team is dependent on how well the player is prepared. Precision Volleyball Academy has the phi-
losophy that what you pay for is instruction time during practice and not playing time. The coaching
decision is not up for debate or question. Athletes are encouraged to ask what they can improve on
to get more playing time. All coaches will have the final decision on playing time, team composition,
player positions, line-ups, etc.
What’s Up With:
Middle/Outside Hitter
Essence Andrews
Class of 2018 Essence is a third year, first year starter standing
at 5’9” tall. She’s one of the athletes that has a lot
of energy and always a smile on her face. This
season she rotated from the Storm 16u team to
the Ravens 18u team. She’s a versatile player
that’s dedicated to the program and getting
better. We sat down and spoke with her a while
back and this is what she had to say.
PVA: What is the most gratifying feeling you’ve
had this season? The most gratifying feeling I had
this season was when the Ravens had a tourna-
ment at University of Findlay and I hit the ball
straight down over 18 year olds.
PVA: Tell me about your experience in the pro-
gram? The experience I had with precision is one
of the best experiences I’ve ever had with playing
volleyball and I learned how to be discipline.
PVA: Where do you plan to take your talents after
club and PVA? I don't really know what school I
want to go to but if I get an offer I will go there.
PVA: What do you plan to study? I plan to major in Physical Therapy.
PVA: How have you gotten better this year? I think my hitting and passing has gotten a lot better since
I first started PVA in late 2015; next season I plan to be an all around player.
PVA: What were your expectations before the start of the season? I didn’t expect to get a lot of play-
ing time. I was nervous when I did because it was not what I was use to in high school. I adjusted quick-
ly by watching the other and practicing hard. I can't think of anyone who I would want to play with
right now .
CATCH VIDEO OF ESSENCE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND WEBSITE!
She is very dedicated and inspirational, she's a true example of positive energy.
For Derria the sky is the limit.
Derria is an special person with a special athletic ability,
the sky is the limit.
Honorable Alumni: Player High School College YR.
Anita Lane JFK Case 06
Dianca Mann JFK BGSU 06
Janae Peters JFK Kennon 06
Brittany Renfrow Glenville Notre Dame 06
Chevi Dejesus Rhodes Notre Dame 07
Chante Melton John Marshall Toledo 06
Ciera Sears Bedford Akron 08
Natasha W-Prather Shaw Syracuse 07
Deandra Fellows Shaw Notre Dame 07
Christina Hannan Shaw Notre Dame 07
Amber Byrd Bedford ECSU 08
Kanicha Dungy Cleveland Hts CCC/ECSU
Nia Bailey Shaker Shaw 08
Lauren Strowder Cleveland Hts Denison 08
Alex Reasor Cleveland Hts Ohio U 08
Ciera Sears Bedford Akron 08
Amirah Saafir Cleveland Hts Howard 08
Brittany Ross Warrensville Shaw 08
Lashira Williams Glenville Virginia Union 07
Ashley Robinson Shaker Bowie State 07
Chanthany Duncan Shaker CSU 07
Carmen Guess Bedford Wooster 08
Amber Byrd Bedford ECSU 08
Ramona Hemmings Shaw Earlham 07
Goldie Taylor Garfield Virginia State University 10
Tori Lamont Shaker Elizabeth City State University 11
Mikayla Johnson Regina St. Paul’s College/Cleveland State University 11
Kenya Jones Orange Univ. of Charleston WV 12
Clairissa Larry Regina Univ. Of Charleston WV 11
Bryce Gantt Cleveland Hts Howard 13
Aaliyah Saafir Cleveland Hts Howard 13
Davida Aldridge Cleveland Hts West Virginia Tech
Sam Luf Garfield West Virginia Tech/Akron 14
Tavia Dukes Warren West Virginia Tech
Toreya Townsend Shaker Univ. of Miami
Tatyanna Banks Garfield Lake Sumter/Livingstone College 15
Ashia Patterson Garfield Tri-C 15
Nikiiyah Gest Solon Northern Kentucky/Ohio U 15
Kyra Jefferson Brooklyn Ursuline 15
Player
Alexis Williams Garfield Tri-C 13
Tracey Jones East Tech Shaw 16
Dana Jewett Cleveland Hts Lakeland 13
Callie Anderson Brush Toledo 14
Denise Johnson Shaker CSU 08
Sonseeahray McHenry Bedford Kent 09
Chelsea Miller Chanel Toledo 12
Avion Mitchell Euclid Ohio U 12
Tamia Puckett Richmond Mercy Hurst 14
Apples of Gold
Child Care
Where Brilliant Minds Grow!
Hours vary by
Location, call!
Need child
care?
Apples of Gold I-
15606 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland,
Ohio
Apples of Gold II-
10370 St.Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio
Apples of Gold III -
15720 Kipling Road Cleveland, Ohio
216-481-6800
2017 Team
Fees
20% OFF
Precision Spirit Gear
Expir ation D ate: 12/1/2016
Online or Advertised. Excludes Clearance
2017 Team Fees
$1 OFF
Precision Concession Stand
Expiration Date: 2/1/2017
2017 Team Fees
DISCOUNTS AND SAVINGS
20% OFF
RECOMMEND A FRIEND TO ONE OF OUR PROGRAM
AND RECEIVE
Expiration Date: 12/1/2016
Friend must register and participate for you to receive discount
2017 Team Fees
Shayla Brooks
Richmond Heights High School
Sophomore
All Defensive Player of the Year 2015
& 16
Co-MVP 2016 Storm 16u
RR Player to Watch 18u 2016
4.4 GPA
3 Year club player
Jaguars 2014 14s
Jaguars 2015 15s
Storm 2016 16s
Ravens 2016 18s
Dear Potential Sponsor:
For the past fifteen years, companies like yours have reached out to help the Northeast Jaguars
(Precision Volleyball Academy); with that assistance each year we have climbed higher and higher. We
are hoping that this year you will become one of our sponsors.
Our mission is to provide high quality affordable services that teach, enhance, and further develop vol-
leyball players. Promoting individual development, skill, and personal growth while at the same time
preparing skilled athletes for today and leaders for tomorrow. We will provide, structured, challeng-
ing, professionally managed programs and services that encourages young athletes to achieve their
highest on and off the court.
Since 2000 more than 40 athletes have received full or partial athletic scholarships to division I, II, III
colleges and universities (8 graduating classes). We began in 1998 with only 1 team in 1 sport, today
we have three youth volleyball teams, 2 adult volleyball team, and 1 pee-wee t-ball/basketball team.
We are now in preparation of the 2016-17 volleyball season! Our goals are to continue to participate
within the Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball, traveling to tournaments across Ohio, North Carolina,
West Virginia, Chicago, DC, PA, and New York. We are looking for major sponsors which will be able to
cover the above needs. This year our program is estimated to have a total of 40 -50 athletes spread
across 5 teams, as of today each player is expected to pay an estimated $900.
We are asking for your assistance in sponsoring one or two of our athletes for the 2016-17 season; so
that they may continue to participate in our program and possibly obtain a volleyball scholarship.
Many of our girls have above a 3.0 GPA and have a sincere desire to compete at the college level.
Equipment, facility rental cost, and team uniforms are also a necessity this coming season. We could
use your help in this area as well.
Please contact me with your donation or intent for sponsorship. I can be reached at 216 -799-5910
Monday through Friday from 2-6 p.m. or Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. I can also be reached
by email at [email protected] All donations are tax deductible.
Kyra Gates, Program Director
The Benefits of Sponsoring Us!
Gold Sponsor $2000 or more a year
Sponsor Benefits: Tournament Hosted in Organization’s Name, 4 reserved
seats at the Annual Sports Banquet; Award Presented in Organization’s
Name; Full page Ad for the year in our sports Magazine; Quarter Page Ad on
our website, Organization’s Name and/or Logo on a set of all team tee-shirt,
and a fund raiser benefit held in your name
Silver Sponsor $ 500-1999
Sponsor Benefits: Full page Ad in our sports magazine for the year; 2 re-
served seats at the annual Sports Banquet; Organization's Name and/or logo
on a set of 1 team shirts, quarter page ad on a page on our website
Bronze Sponsor $300-500
Sponsor Benefits: Organization's Logo/Name on team's website sponsor
page; Organization's Logo and/or team name on a set of 1 team t-shirts; Or-
ganization's 1/4 page Ad in our sports magazine for the month
Booster Members $100-200 a year
Name on our sponsor page of the website; name on our sponsor page in our
sports magazine; program tee-shirt
Precision’s Point of View:
Who Made the List Ohio’s
All time favorite players
1. Nile Whaley Garrison/Maple Heights
2. Lauren Strowder/Cleveland Heights High School 2008
3. Nikiiyah Gest/Solon 2015
4. Kaylon Eppinger/Warrenville High School 2007
5. Tatyanna Banks/Garfield Heights High School 2015
6. Kenya Moyers/Garfield Heights High School 2015
7. Raina Williams/Glenville 2007
8. Brittani Maddox/Cleveland Heights High School 2005
9. Lashira Williams/Glenville High School 2007
10. Kenya Jones/Orange High School 2012
11. Bryce Gantt/Cleveland Heights High School 2013
12. Aaliyah Saafir/Cleveland Heights High School 2013
13. Alisa Snoody/Orange High School 2007
14. Clairissa Larry/Regina/2011
15. Mikayla Johnson/Regina/2011
16. Dana Jewett/Cleveland Heights High School/2010
17. Alexis Williams/Garfield Heights High School/2012
18. Akia Harper/East Tech/2003
19. Lauren Billingsley/Shaw High School 2005
20.Jamie Gambrell/West Tech High School 1993
21.Tiffany Engle/John Hay High School 1995
22. Ashley Robinson/Shaker Heights High School 2007
23Denise Tate/Glenville High School 2003
24. Barbara Colegrove/West Tech High School 1992
25. Asia Reynolds/Brush 2015
Precision’s Point of View:
25 Underclassman to Watch
1. Shannon Williams/Brecksville-Broadview Heights 2018
2. Naheemah Story/Solon 2019
3. Kiana Mack/Solon 2019
4. Morgan Goodwin/Solon 2018
5. Chelsey Farris/Elyria 2018
6. Teisa Tutio/Brunswick 2018
7. Aliyah Rhoden/Barberton 2019
8.Gia Cannavino/Mayfield 2018
9.JeiLynn Brown/Shaker Heights High School 2018
10. Julia Waltz/Walsh Jesuit 2018
11. Amber Hall/Perry 2019
12. Seven Tonsel/Lorain 2018
13. Chyna Martin/Bedford 2018
14. Stacey Witschey/Wadsworth 2018
15. Kendall Edwards/Copley 2018
16. Janae Smith/Garfield 2018
17. Shayla Brooks/Richmond Heights High School 2018
18.Essence Andrews/Shaker Heights High School 2018
19. Teya LeBlanc-Hill/Brush 2019
20. Candace Wright/Ellet 2019
21. Chaundralyn Bell/North Vikings 2019
22. Emily Germann/Cuyahoga Heights 2019
23. Andrea Saddler/Garfield 2018
24. Dajara McIntyre/Shaw 2018
25. Derria Grant/Euclid 2019
Meet Derria Grant Setter/Defensive Specialist Precision Jaguars PVA sat down and asked Coach A. Gates what he thought about his 2016 MVP Derria Grant and what she brought to the team being a first year club player. PVA: Coach, first I’d like to say welcome and thanks for taking the time out to talk to me. Derria, Euclid High School freshman originally sought after to compete on the Senior Ravens team but from my understanding you stole her away before the season started to compete with your up and coming Jaguars. It took some convincing from your Program Direc-tor but in the end how do you think it all worked out? Coach A. Gates: The Ravens lost 5 seniors in 2016, half of which had been with the program since 7th or 8th grade. So this was also a rebuild-ing year for them. The players that were brought into that team as well as though that came up from Storm were immediately needed to spe-cialize in their positions on that team. Keeping Derria with me allowed her to become more of an all around player. She started off as a DS, then I moved her to an Outside hitter but in the end she was the setter that we needed. PVA: You had a coaching change at the end of last season, your 2013-14 Jaguars were all moved to Storm for their sophomore season after com-ing off of an outstanding year. I know that was tough for you seeing as though you’d had them for their first two seasons. So for 2016 you had to start from scratch; five girls were brought up from the JV Ravens team: Jordan Thomas, TiAsha Nicholson, Samiyah Melton, Emily Ger-mann, and Gabrielle Cloud, your youngest from the Jaguars previous team Clairisa Williams rotated from Storm to Jaguars and filled the 2016 Jaguar’s roster. It was a rebuilding year for you tough in any program but it seems by mid season the girls were starting to pull it together. How did Derria add to that? Coach A. Gates As we know, a setter has to have good ball control and sound fundamentals because she is expected to “better the ball” for the attackers. The second contact is crucial and as coaches we expect a lot from our setters with no excuses because they are the floor generals and they con-trol the games’ tempo. My setter has to lead by example, maintain a high level of focus, build a re-spectable relationship with teammates and have the ability to make those around her better. Derria was what was needed and what I was looking for, she didn’t disappoint. Here’s what Derria had to say after her first season with Precision Volleyball Academy. PVA: What's been the most gratifying feeling you've ever had during your Volleyball season? My most gratifying feeling is when I set forth goals and with the support of my coach and teammates
PVA: Precision is a very demanding program. Share the daily experience of being a part of this pro-gram. Derria: Fun and something I looked forward to every day, the program is family oriented and not only demands but brings the best out of me, I've learned a lot from this past season.
PVA: What schools are you looking into for college? And what do you plan to study? Derria: Ohio State University, Duke and Cleveland State University as of now. I plan to study Sports medicine and or/athletic training.
PVA: What has been the part of your game that has improved most this past season? And what do you plan to focus on for next Volleyball season? Derria: Hitting, communication and leadership; confidence, pushing my teammates. PVA: What are your hopes for the upcoming club season? Derria: To compete for gold more and continue to get better.
PVA: If you could play with any player that you're not currently playing with past or present who would it be and why? Derria: Misty May or Micah Christenson, they both display toughness and confidence in which inspire me to work hard and become a better player.
EATING RIGHT AND STAYING FIT/THE ATHLETE
Prioritize fueling when it’s important. All too often, players skip a pre-practice snack,
then go out later in the day for dessert with friends. Shawn’s advice: Skip the dessert
run and eat a healthy snack at the right time so you have energy to play your best vol-
leyball. It’s not that Shawn is anti-fun. If it’s somebody’s birthday, go enjoy some des-
sert, she says. But save treats for special occasions rather than making them the focal
point of time with friends.
Eat a recovery snack after you train. A couple of hours of practice or a strenuous
match necessitates refueling. Within 30 minutes of leaving the court, be sure to have
some food so you put some of the carbohydrates you burned back into your mus-
cles. Good choices include a piece of fruit, low-fat yogurt, pretzels, a peanut butter
sandwich, string cheese, carrots, turkey wrapped in either a tortilla or a piece of
bread. Low-fat milk or low-fat chocolate milk are good choices, too.
Have a sports drink instead of water if you haven’t eaten recently. We all know that
hydrating is important, and we also know that water is a great thirst-quencher. But a
sports drink may be a better option if you are deep into a practice and it has been
more than two hours since you’ve had a snack. Sports drinks contain carbohydrates
that will help you maintain your energy level. Shawn recommends drinks that have
10 to 15 grams of carbohydrate for every eight ounces of fluid.
Carbs are important. Carbohydrates have taken a lot of knocks in recent years, but
as Shawn says, they “aren’t the enemy they have been made out to be” – and they
are essential for athletes. Unlike someone who sits in front of a computer all day, a
volleyball player who trains and competes on a regular basis needs carbs for opti-
mum muscle contraction. So if you’re going to practice for two or three hours, you’ll
benefit from an extra cup of cereal (but one that doesn’t list sugar as either the first
or second ingredient) for breakfast, an apple with your sandwich during lunch along
with a sports drink or snack during practice. Other lunch and dinner options: a piece
of chicken with brown rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables, even a moderate portion of
whole wheat pasta with red sauce.
• Get enough vitamin D – Most volleyball players seem to have a basic under-
standing of why it’s important for athletes to get the right amount of major nutri-
ents such as carbs, protein and healthy fat. Often overlooked, though, is vitamin
D, which helps the immune system ward off common colds and the flu while in-
creasing the body’s ability to handle inflammation and also reducing muscular
pain or weakness. Most of our vitamin D comes from sunlight – it’s good to get a
few minutes of sun each day, just don’t overdo it – but what you eat helps, too.
Fortified milk, egg yolks, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines) and sundried mush-
rooms are just a few of the foods that boost vitamin D.
• Super foods are good, not magical – There are many, many super foods, and
there are also a lot of foods that don’t necessarily fall under the heading of
“super” but are nutritious and beneficial to your health and athletic performance.
My point: Don’t feel the need to cram every imaginable super food into one meal
or snack. Rather, mix them in as often as you can, but don’t obsess over them.
Some of Shawn’s favorites for volleyball athletes include sweet potatoes, kale,
walnuts, beets, cherries, coconut, quinoa, salmon, Greek yogurt and low-fat cot-
tage cheese.
• Fat is not a synonym for “bad” – Volleyball players who have intense training
routines need fat. For one thing, fat is your main source of fuel when you’re rest-
ing after a workout, practice session or match. Also, fat has nutrients that help
keep you healthy. And fat has another benefit – it makes you feel full and satisfied.
That means you’re less apt to make unhealthy snack choices to ward off hunger
pangs. The key, of course, is consuming mostly good fat – for instance: avoca-
does, olives or olive oil, nuts, seeds and wheat germ – and limiting foods like
burgers, dessert pastries, pizza and fried foods to special occasions.
KENYA JONES Kenya “Bubbles “ Jones four year starter, four year libero, began her career with us in the winter of
2009. As a freshman she was placed on the Precision Cardinals 16u but by tournament three she was
rotating to the 18u team then known as the Precision Tigers. Kenya’s first year she participated on
every team in our program which in turned helped her get stronger.
Kenya was named MVP her senior year; Player of the Year; and team captain her junior and senior
year. She is one of the most dedicated and memorable players of our program and we are very proud
of the accomplishments she has made. We sat down and spoke with Kenya and here is what she had
to say:
Five years ago did you think you'd have a degree in nursing?
Yes I've always known I would achieve my nursing degree
How does it feel to be a graduate and how tough was the road getting there?
The road to becoming a graduate was very difficult, and time consuming I learned a lot
and it feels amazing to be a college graduate.
When did you first start playing volleyball? And who got you first interested in playing?
I wanted to play volleyball since the 5th grade I went to a camp and I loved it. I didn't offi-
cially start playing on a team until I was a freshman in high school for precision.
What are some of the obstacles you had to overcome in volleyball? And how did that
help you grow?
The most influential obstacle I had to overcome was racism. Coming from a primarily
Caucasian school it was very difficult to relate to other players and gain the same re-
spect. This taught me how to cope with unethical people and protect my rights and moral
obligation.
Who was your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration was my mother
Who were some of your favorite coaches and what are some of the qualities they had you
admired?
My favorite coach is Kyra because she provided a platform for women of color to show
the world that African American girls can play volleyball too, she taught me diligence and
to be on time (fifteen mins early).
What is one of your favorite moments from club volleyball? Can you tell us about it?
My favorite moment from club volleyball was going To dinner as a team and staying in
hotels with the team. You learn about each other and you gain trust on and off the court.
This is where you make some of your life long friendships.
Who did you most enjoy playing with and why?
I most enjoyed playing with Davida because she put pres-
sure on me to be better, I also trusted her on the court to
have my back.
Who didn't you get a chance to play with that you would
have loved playing with?
I would have loved to play with Lauren because she puts a great
block and you don't have to worry about covering her hits they al-
ways go straight down.
Were your parents always supportive of your decision to play club volleyball?
Yes, my parents have always supported anything I've wanted to do.
Now let's talk about college.
How tough or easy was the transition from club to college?
The transition to college ball was very difficult. I wasn't mentally prepared for the
physical aspect and the change of intensity in the work outs but I learned to be tough
and push myself.
Do you feel you were ready? If yes how so. If not what would you have changed?
I don't think I was ready, physically because I didn't understand the impact of lifting in
collegiate sports. I couldn't lift the bar when I started I would have encouraged my
high school and club coaches to implement more intense work outs. Conditioning pro-
tects your body and promotes optimum performance.
What were some of the highlights from your college career?
The highlights of my college career were becoming a captain my senior year.
Was it difficult maintaining your grades and volleyball?
I had a hard time maintaining my grades because of the nursing grading scale. An 80
and below is an F and an 80-86 is a C the requirement to maintain a 2.75 GPA in an in-
tense study field was very difficult, volleyball helped with time management and or-
ganization skills.
Have you had any serious injuries?
Yes, I injured my shoulder my freshman year which I later learned was a labrum tear.
Can you talk about a nail biting incident that had a happy ending?
Playing our rivals West Virginia state to stay in the conference tournament my fresh-
man year. It was a very close match but we won.
Do you feel as though you missed out on anything because you played volleyball?
I don't feel that I missed out on anything But I wish I better understood the recruiting
process and looked at more schools. I gained my education but a better more rounded
school would of helped with a lot.
What are some encouraging words you'd give to upcoming athletes?
At the end of the day you have to play for yourself and you have to play for every ball
like it's your last because you never realize how soon it'll all be over until you're done.
After you play for yourself you play for the person standing next to you because you
can't do it without them and they can't do it without you. Winning is great but playing
for a team you love is so much more rewarding.
Garfield’s Janae Smith
Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter
Precision Ravens
“Janae Smith the quiet attack you don’t see her coming. By the time you realize she just hit the ball
the play is over and you’ve lost a point”, says Coach K. Gates of the Precision Ravens.
PVA: What was the deciding factor in bringing Janae up mid season?
Coach K. Gates: I noticed Janae when she was in middle school coming up to train
with her high school coach. It was before the season had started. When she be-
came apart of the club her eighth grade year I watched her get better and better. I
would have moved her sooner but I did not have a position available. I lost a few
girls early on in the season and knew then that it was time for her to come rotate
and compete on the 18u level.
PVA: What are you expectations next season?
Coach K. Gates: I expect that she will be stronger both mentally and physically. I
believe she will be a more powerful threat for our first line a defense and make a
huge difference on offense. She’s already being looked at by Lincoln U of PA; Adri-
an College, Daniel Webster, and Heidelberg University. She’s young and has time
so I’m confident that she will continue to give us a 100% and get more attention.
PVA: Janae Smith; Rookie of the Year 2016 Precision Ravens; what was one of the most gratifying feelings you had play-
ing this season?
Janae: I love the feeling when everyone is happy after winning a tough match.
PVA: What type of commitment is needed to participate in this program?
Janae: You have to be very dedicated to play for Precision. It's a lot of work. Including practices and tournaments.
PVA: What are you plans after your high school career?
Janae: I plan to study medicine but I'm not sure what college I want to attend.
PVA: Where did you see improvement?
Janae: My hitting has improved the most. My passing has also gotten better.
PVA: What are your goals for next season?
Janae: My goal for next season is to become a better player defensively.
PVA: Looking forward to next season what are your expectations?
Janae: My hopes for the upcoming club season is that our team plays well together and we can win way more matches.
PVA: What was one of the biggest adjustments you had to make rotating to the 18s team?
Janae: One of the biggest adjustments I had to make was moving past mistakes and focusing on the next play because the 18s play faster and more competitively.
PVA: Okay Janae, last question, if you could play with any player past or present who would it be?
Janae: If I could play with any player that I'm not playing with now, it would be Samantha (Sammi) Roberts from Gar-field High School. I'm not sure what college she is going to. I would want to play with her because she was a great play-er and a good team leader.
Player Positions - Volleyball
The setter is the player on the volleyball team that sets the teams attackers. A setter position is similar to a quarterback in
a point guard in basketball in the sense that the setter runs the team’s offense. Some teams may choose to have
multiple run the team
Outside
Teams outside hitters are usually the primary attackers on the team. These hitters attack balls that are set to the left side
of court. Outside hitters may also be referred to as outside
Weak-side
Team’s weak side hitters hit from the right side of the court and are usually not the primary attackers on the team.
hitters may also be referred to as weakside
Middle
Team’s middle hitters hit balls set at the net in the middle of the court. Middle hitters are sometimes the primary attackers
on team. Middle hitters are commonly used as a decoy to freeze or confuse the opposing team’s
A middle hitter is also referred to as a middle blocker or just middle. Middle blockers are often in charge of front row
players coordinate team blocking
The libero plays a special roll in team defense and passing. The libero is the player on the volleyball team that can come
into game and replace any player on the back row. The libero is sometimes called a defensive specialist or DS. The
libero may be the game to pass for a weaker passer or to help cover the court by making great defensive plays. The
libero may also serve
Court Positions - Volleyball
The player that is right back is in the rotation position in the backcourt on right side of the court. At the start of the rally,
this the player that starts in Zone 1. When a team rotates, it's the player rotating to the right back position that goes
back to Right
The player that is right front is in the rotation position at the net on right side of the court. At the start of the rally, this
is player that starts in Zone
Middle
The player that is middle front is in the rotation position at the net in the center. At the start of the rally, this is the player
starts in Zone
2017 TEAM GEAR
UPCOMING
YOUTH CAMPS
___Lil Warriors (ages: 5-7) 4-5 p.m. $30
___Lil Jaguars (ages: 8-10) 5:15-6:30 p.m. $40
___Future Ravens ages: (11-12) 7-8:15 p.m. $50
Camp Dates for all camps:
Sundays September 18-October 9th
For more information on Precision Volleyball Academy
or to place an ad in our magazine:
email: [email protected]
www.precisionvolleyball.kk5.org
“Winning Isn’t Everything
But Wanting to Win Is!”
Vince Lombardi
