Middle School Volleyball Development League
Grades 7 - 8
Registration full!
January 8 - February 2, 2024
Clinic Overview
A four-week developmental program for middle school girls in grades 7 & 8 to learn and improve their skills in preparation for the upcoming interscholastic season. This program is designed to maximize exposure to the sport by providing high-quality training and guaranteed playing time without the time commitment, cost, and travel required of more competitive club teams. Athletes will develop basic to intermediate volleyball skills, strategy, and rules of volleyball to help prepare them for future competitive teams.
What to Expect
Athletes, regardless of school affiliation, will participate in a tryout and will be selected to teams coached by Michigan Tech Varsity Volleyball players and staff. Each week will consist of one mid-week team practice and a Friday night scrimmage. Playing time is shared and each athlete will have the opportunity to learn multiple positions. Our final session will be a fun, but competitive, tournament in which teams can showcase their skills and compete for a Development League Championship!
Days/Times
January 8, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31, February 2
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Schedule
- Check-in: Monday, January 8, 5:30 - 6:00 pm at the SDC front counter
- "Tryouts"/Sorting into Teams: Monday, January 8: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
- Practice Days/Times: Wednesdays, January 10, 17, 24, 31: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
- Scrimmage Days/Times: Fridays, January 12, 19, 26: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
- Tournament: Friday, February 2, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location
Special Requirements
Please bring individual water bottles for participants. Knee pads are recommended but not required.
Cost
$90/participant; $75/additional sibling (includes jersey)
Payment in full is due at the time of registration.
Registration Information
Registration opens October 16, 8:00 a.m.
Registration is available online, in person at the SDC Ticket Office, or by calling the SDC Ticket Office at 906-487-2073. Payment in full is due at the time of registration. A parent/guardian must complete and sign for each participant liability waiver, health history, and concussion awareness forms with the participant's printed name/signature as well in order to be able to participate. Forms will be emailed to participants after they register and are also available at the link below.
Registration closes Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 11:59 pm.
Parking Information
Visitors may use Lots 22 or 24, located outside the main entrance of the SDC, for parking during camps. There is no overnight parking. Please do not park in the UP Health System and Rehab Services lot (north end of the SDC).
Questions?
Michigan Tech Recreation: 906-487-2975, sportscamps@mtu.edu
Camp Coordinator: Mallory Nickelson, 906-487-2595, mnickels@mtu.edu
Meet the Coaches
In 11 seasons as head volleyball coach, Matt Jennings has orchestrated an impressive rebuilding of the Michigan Tech volleyball program. Under Jennings, the Huskies have gone from last place in the conference to nationally ranked and consistently in the NCAA Tournament. Jennings has coached the Huskies to four straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2017-21 and has twice been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019.
Under Jennings’ leadership, Michigan Tech volleyball has established itself as a competitive presence in the midwest region and within the GLIAC conference. The Huskies are 73-19 (79%) in the GLIAC over the past six seasons, and 119-52 overall (70%). Tech has won back-to-back GLIAC Regular Season Championships in the spring and fall of 2021, hanging conference championship banners for only the second and third time in program history. They’ve finished first in the conference standings in the last two seasons and have reached the GLIAC Championship four of the past five seasons. Entering his 11th season, Jennings has an overall record of 171-119 (59%) and 105-59 (64%) in GLIAC play.
In addition to his responsibilities with Husky Volleyball, Jennings currently chairs the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Women's Volleyball Committee (until 2025) and is the region’s representative on the NCAA Division II National Women's Volleyball Committee.
Mallory Nickelson was named an Assistant Coach with the Michigan Tech volleyball team in February 2023. She was a four-year starting libero and setter at future GLIAC member Roosevelt University and was recently an assistant coach for two seasons at UW-Stevens Point.
Nickelson was an assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point under Lyndsay Kooi. The Pointers were 52-16 overall and went to the NCAA Tournament both seasons, advancing in 2022 while also being WIAC Tournament runners-up earlier that season.
Meet the Team
