Volleyball: Spring 2024 High School Skill Academies

Grades 8 - 12

 

Registration opens November 15, 2023!

Register Here 

Registration Info

2019 Spring High School Volleyball Academies
 

April 13, 14, 20, 2024

 

Clinic Overview

The spring high school skills academies are position-specific, high-intensity skill training designed for athletes with prior experience playing volleyball. Each academy, led by the Michigan Tech Husky Volleyball coaching staff and current players, will provide 5 hours of focused instruction designed to improve the athlete's skill set.

Local coaches of all levels are welcome to attend and observe the teaching of the skills first-hand and the opportunity to collaborate with the MTU coaches and players. There is no cost for coaches to attend. However, we do require coaches to pre-register for each clinic by emailing Mallory Nickelson at mnickels@mtu.edu.

 

What to Expect

Setter Academy: Setter-specific footwork, movements, ball-handling, placement, consistency, offensive decision-making, and game strategy.

Libero Academy: Libero/defensive specialist-specific footwork, movements, reading/anticipation, defensive efficiency, and serve receive.

Attacker Academy: Hitter-specific footwork and form, blocker-specific footwork and form, transition work, approach patterns, scoring strategy, and reading/anticipation.

 

Daily Schedule

Check-In: 9:00 am - 9:30 am at the SDC front counter

Clinic: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (includes a 1-hour break, lunch will not be provided)

  • Session 1: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
  • Lunch Break: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (bring your own)
  • Session 2: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

 

Location

SDC Varsity Gym 

 

Special Requirements

Please bring individual water bottles for participants. Knee pads are recommended but not required.

 

Cost

$75/participant for each academy, $180/participant for all 3 academies

Payment in full is due at the time of registration.

 

Registration Information

Registration opens November 15, 2023

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 confirmation packet will be emailed to participants after they register and are also available at the link below.

Confirmation Packet Forms!

 

 

Libero School - Saturday, April 13, 2024

Registration Opens: November 15, 8:00 a.m.

Registration Closes: April 5, 11:59 p.m.

Participant Max: 60

 


Setter Academy - Sunday, April 14, 2024

Registration Opens: November 15, 8:00 a.m.

Registration Closes: April 5, 11:59 p.m.

Participant Max: 60


Attacker School - Saturday, April 20, 2024

This camp is full! Click here to be added to the waitlist.

Registration Opens: November 15, 8:00 a.m.

Registration Closes: April 12, 11:59 p.m.

Participant Max: 60


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

Matt Jennings

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, Assistant Volleyball Coach

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 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.

As a student-athlete, Nickelson played for former Michigan Tech assistant coach Nic Paquiz at Roosevelt. She was the team captain in 2020-21 and graduated with the second-most assists in school history. She was an all-conference selection in 2019, a three-time academic all-conference team member, and received the 2021 Roosevelt University Presidential Award for Social Justice. Nickelson set the single-match school record for assists with 68 in a five-set win over Indiana South Bend in 2019, earning her NAIA National Player of the week.

Nickelson coached and developed student-athletes at UW-Stevens Point who earned First Team and Honorable Mention All-America honors, the WIAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, and multiple all-conference selections. She assisted in all areas of the Pointers' program and specialized in training defenders and setters while also recruiting, planning team travel, player development, opponent scouting, and academic advising. 

Nickelson coached three years at the club level and was the head coach of the 17 National Team at Wisconsin Ice Volleyball Club out of Stevens Point for two seasons. She also spent a season with the 15s group at New Wave Volleyball Club out of Darien, Illinois.

At Roosevelt, Nickelson earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Journalism and Media Studies & English with a minor in Integrated Marketing Communications in December 2020. She finished a Master's of Science from UW-Stevens Point in Community and Organizational Leadership in May 2023 where she worked on programming focused on student-athletes in their final year making the transition out of college sports.


Meet the Team

2021-22 Michigan Tech Women's Volleyball Team

Michigan Tech Women's Volleyball

Women's Volleyball on Facebook