15 club volleyball tryout tips from a Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee and elite club coach who's helped hundreds of athletes navigate tryouts successfully.

The Best Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes Answer My Questions

Jen Keddy and Erin Johnson two of the best middle blocker volleyball athletes talk about competing in Division I

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Struggling with passing consistency?

I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

The best middle blocker volleyball player in the Big Ten and Big West conferences..

Two college volleyball players, Jen Keddy and Erin Johnson answered my interview questions about how athletes live learn and excel in Division I.

The College Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes from the Big West Conference Answer Interview Questions

The College Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes from the Big West Conference Answer Interview Questions - Jennifer Keddy

Meet Cal Poly middle blocker volleyball hitter Jennifer Keddy.

What makes you special?

I am a 6' 4" middle blocker that plays all the way around.

What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

"I play with both my pinkys taped. I also have a bracelet that I tape over and an anklet that I will never take off."

What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

"I stay with one of my teammates before every game."

Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

"My father, Wayne Keddy.

My head coach, Caroline Walters and my assistant coach Justin Hutchins.

She makes me want to be the best that I can be and he pushes me to be better everyday in practice and during competitions.

And I always want to play well for my teammates."

The College Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes from the Big West Conference Answer Interview Questions - Jennifer Keddy

What volleyball awards did Jennifer Keddy win this week?

Jennifer Keddy was voted the Big West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

Jennifer Keddy recorded led her Cal Poly Mustangs volleyball team to a 2-0 week in Big West Conference play

Jennifer has set a precedent this season by becoming the first repeataward recipient, after first being named Player of the Week on Oct. 3.

The junior middle blocker tied her career-high in kills while setting anew career-high in this weeks match against UCSB.

Against Cal State Northridge, Keddy posted a career-high 22 kills whilecompleting her fourth double-double on the season, third in-a-row, aftersuccessfully completing 12 digs

In seven days, Jennifer has averaged 4.78 kills, 3.22 digs and 0.78blocks per set, while hitting .418.

The College Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes from the Big Ten Conference Answer Interview Questions

The Best Middle Blocker Volleyball Athletes from the Big Ten Conference Answer Interview Questions - Erin Johnson

Meet University of Illinois middle blocker volleyball hitter Erin Johnson.

What makes you special?

I wouldn't consider anything about me really special. I'm a hard worker,

in volleyball and in school, but the majority of people who play at this level are as well.

What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

What helps me play my best is making sure I'm taking care of myself, getting enough sleep and getting treatment when I need to.

What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

I don't have any superstitions or habits. I think you always have to be prepared and focused to play when the time comes, whether or not you had the chance to perform "pre game rituals."

Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

My parents inspired me to play hard every opportunity I get, whether its practice or a match.

Not everyone gets the opportunity to play the sport they love at the college level, so I try to make the most of it.

What awards did Erin Johnson win this week?

Erin Johnson was voted the Big Ten Defensive Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

Recorded 1.5 blocks per set in No. 3 Illinois’ back-to-back conferencewins on the road against No. 9 Minnesota and Wisconsin
Tallied a career-high 10 block assists against No. 9 Minnesota
Earns her first Defensive Player of the Week award

Do You Follow Me on Pinterest?

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.

If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.

Struggling with passing consistency?

Download my eBook for $7.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend

Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.

utkaprilcollegepiconneylandstadiumvideoboard

Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee, Coach April Chapple is

the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
former USA National team member
one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist

April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match

Coach April's 2025 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training

Pre-Registration now open for 2025 Private and Semiprivate Training Sessions with Coach April . Get prepared for club tryouts or train with me during club season!

Email now for information on semiprivate or private indoor skills, individual or small group training volleyball classes and my Breakfast Club for College Players training for 2025.

Invest in your improvement while preepping for your next level and college goals while working hard and training smart.

Email me right now to register or for more information.

info@improveyourvolley.com

Serving slang is not just about individual techniques; it also relates to overall game strategy. A coach might instruct a player to serve a "short serve" or a "deep serve" to target specific areas of the opponent's court or exploit weaknesses in their serve receive formation.

Ari, my private training client and I are working specifically on serving on jump float cross court serves ...short to Zone 2

There's so much we work on to get to this point where she can contact the ball with

the same toss height and same toss location
the same armswing speed
the same timing for when her serving hand contacts the ball
the middle of the hand contacting the middle of the ball every single time
getting use to watching her serving hand contact the ball at the highest point of her jump ...before she starts to land
and finally contacting the ball in the precise spot on the ball so it goes where the coach wants the player to put it so in this case ..a short serve in the farthest short right corner on the court also called Zone 2.

kamiminerpac12setteroftheyearformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

Tommi Stockham All Big West Conference sophomore former Coach April Chapple private client 3 years

katepriorallwestcoastconferencebyufreshmanformercoachaprilchappleprivateclient3years

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Dear Vegas Parent

Read my open letter to Las Vegas Jr high/high school volleyball parents about my predictions on individual and small group volleyball training trends for 2019/2021

Tennessee Athletics Honors April Chapple at Champions Weekend for Legendary Volleyball Achievements

From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Produces Powerful Passionate Players...is that you?

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Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!

A-1 Vegas Volley VBC

In It To Win It Tournament

May 2 - 4, 2025 Tournament

Gold Medalists

18s Premier Division

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Making A-1 Vegas Volleyball history as the very first TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! In the In It To Win It Tournament, May 2-4, 2025 Tournament, A-1 Vegas Volleyball Club Gold Medalists, 18s Premier Division