In the heart of Las Vegas, where dreams take flight, I see you, volleyball mom.
You're up before dawn, preparing protein shakes and double-checking gear bags. You're navigating rush-hour traffic to make those 6 AM practices, maintaining detailed spreadsheets of tournament schedules, and your voice - just like my mom Sallye's was for me - rises above the crowd during every crucial point.
You're the true MVP behind your player's success, and I see every sacrifice you make.
As both a former U.S. National volleyball team player and now a long-time Vegas volleyball club coach and private trainer, I learned what ultimate dedication looks like from my mom.
She'd race me to LAX (that's the Los Angeles International Airport in Inglewood), practically pushing me out of the car to make sure I didn't miss my flight to a club tournament.
She was my loudest cheerleader but also my most nervous supporter - every volleyball mom reading this knows exactly what I mean.
For over 15 years here in Vegas, I've watched moms like you pour that same love and dedication into your players' dreams, and it reminds me so much of my mom, who I lost in November 2020.
I created it because I see you juggling club selections, managing recruiting processes, and navigating this increasingly competitive landscape.
Every design, every motivational message, every carefully chosen detail honors the spirit of volleyball moms like my mother and you - the ones who turn everyday moments into extraordinary opportunities for your players to shine.
When I'm making decisions about scheduling and working with clients and club players, I think about all the planning and coordination you do.
This collection is my tribute to you, the heart and soul of Vegas volleyball.
You know that moment when your player starts talking about college volleyball dreams?
Maybe they're considering schools far from home, and part of your heart catches in your throat.
I remember when I was that player, with offers from big-time California schools where "everyone" was going.
But my mom, Galsal, taught me one of the most valuable lessons about being a volleyball mom - sometimes supporting your player means letting them spread their wings far beyond the familiar court.
My mom was born in Memphis, and I'll never forget how her eyes lit up when I mentioned being interested in visiting the campus of the University of Tennessee.
Even though she'd initially hoped I'd stay in California to play in college, she showed me what unconditional support looks like.
Together, we visited that beautiful Knoxville campus, where they treated us like royalty.
There we were, a mom and daughter from Inglewood, California, walking among future Olympians (Benita Fitzgerald, Sharrieffa Barksdale, Willie Gault, Shelia Collins, and legendary coaches like track and field Olympian Ralph Boston and basketball legend Pat Head Summitt (who, believe it or not, later asked me to play basketball for her!).
What I remember most wasn't just the world-class facilities or the prestigious Lady Vol program - it was watching my mom transform from nervous about her baby leaving California to becoming my biggest cheerleader for going cross-country.
She saw what I saw: an opportunity to grow not just as a player, but as a person.
When I design each Peace Love and Volleyball shirt, I think about how my mom, Galsal, understood something that every volleyball mom comes to know - this sport creates families beyond blood.
She wasn't just my biggest fan; she was the architect of my volleyball journey, recognizing that my competitive spirit needed more than just her love (though she gave that abundantly) - it needed a whole volleyball community to thrive.
I remember her supporting my decision to train with the guys at St. Bernard's in Playa del Rey, including the Lennon brothers.
She understood that this would make me stronger, faster, more competitive. But perhaps her greatest gift was encouraging my connection with the Sato family.
While some moms might hesitate to share their child with another family, she saw how the Satos - Gary (now USC Men's associate head coach), Liane (my future National team teammate and future Olympian), and Eric (two-time Olympic gold medalist and my very first pepper partner) - could help shape my volleyball journey.
Mom and Pop Sato became my adopted volleyball parents, driving me to practices, mentoring me while Liane and future Olympian Liz Masakayan played in tournaments across California.
My mom supported this extended volleyball family because she knew something vital - something I see in you, Vegas volleyball moms, every day: true love means supporting your player's growth, even when that growth happens beyond your immediate family circle.
This is why each Peace Love and Volleyball shirt carries messages of both strength and love.
Because you, like my mom, understand that being a volleyball mom means creating opportunities, building connections, and sometimes sharing your child with a larger volleyball family.
When I held my mom's hand during her final weeks, battling uterine and breast cancer, I realized that everything she did - every drive, every shared practice, every connection she helped me make - was born from a love that saw no boundaries.
Vegas volleyball moms, I see you pioneering something extraordinary in our desert city.
You're not just driving to practices - you're driving a revolution.
I've watched our volleyball community explode from a handful of clubs to dozens of programs, each promising to be the path to your player's success.
I know how overwhelming it can be, navigating through all the choices, weighing the coaching credentials, balancing the financial commitments, and trying to make the best decisions for your player.
In a city that's growing as fast as ours, every season brings new challenges, new clubs, new decisions.
But here's what amazes me most: despite the pressure and pace of Vegas volleyball life, you're building something more precious than just competitive programs.
You're creating a community.
I see you sharing tournament carpool duties, organizing team dinners, comparing notes about recruiting processes, and supporting each other through the ups and downs of this volleyball journey.
In a city known for its transient nature, you're establishing roots and connections that run deep.
Every butterfly design represents your own transformation from uncertain beginner to confident volleyball mom, every motivational message echoes the encouragement you give not just to your player, but to other moms just starting this journey.
Whether you're new to this journey or a seasoned tournament warrior, your dedication is transforming our desert city into a volleyball powerhouse, one player, one practice, one tournament at a time.
Each design honors your early morning alarm clocks, your tournament weekend sacrifices, and those precious moments when you watch your player soar.
These aren't just shirts - they're a tribute to your love, your dedication, and the incredible community you're building here in Vegas.
This Mother's Day, let's celebrate the heart of Vegas volleyball.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for a volleyball mom in your life, these shirts tell her story.
Each piece in the collection is available in my Etsy shop and on my website ImproveYourVolley.com.
Subscribe to my 'Producing Powerful Passionate Peaceful Players' email list for exclusive Mother's Day discounts and early access to new designs.
Because in Vegas, volleyball moms aren't just supporters - they're MVPs.
And that deserves to be celebrated, not just on Mother's Day, but every day.
#VegasVolleyballMoms #PeaceLoveAndVolleyball #VolleyballMomLife
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
What Are You Looking For?
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Thanks for stopping by. Hope you learned something today that will help you reach your volleyball goals.
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Stay strong! Stay motivated!
-Coach April
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