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My Motivational Volleyball Story Inspiring Stories by Great Players
Follow along as eight (8) iconic legendary players share their inspirational volleyball story of overcoming obstacles on and off the court.
Despite having dreams to play in the Olympics, Debbie Green Vargas spent hours in the gym because she had to improve her setting skills since she was always the shortest girl on her team.My Volleyball Story: Elaina Oden
Follow Elaina Oden's story of her journey to accept that despite not having the physique of the "typical" volleyball player, she was determined to be an Olympian.
Elaina Oden
My Volleyball Story: Kim Oden
Elaina's older sister, two-time Olympic team captain Kim Oden was always the tallest player on her team, until she made the Olympic team, then things changed.
Kim Oden
My Volleyball Story:
Debbie Green Vargas
Despite having dreams to play in the Olympics, Debbie Green Vargas spent hours in the gym because she had to improve her setting skills since she was always the shortest girl on her team.
The Shortest Volleyball Player On The Court
Debbie Green Vargas
My Volleyball Story: Liz Masakayan
Olympian and beach volleyball legend Liz Masakayan was raised in a single parent household. She felt that led to her compulsion to overtrain and overperform in order to get her teammates and others to like her.
Are you guilty of doing the right thing for the wrong reasons?
Liz Masakayan
My Volleyball Story: Mary Jo Peppler
Not all families members may be happy when you tell them that you want to play in the Olympics. Mary Jo Peppler told her family and was kicked out. Read how she handled the situation.
Mary Jo Peppler
My Volleyball Story: Nina Matthies
Nina Matthies worked hard to accomplish her goals. The founder of the Women's Pro beach Volleyball Association, the first womens beach volleyball tour admitted that she had very few obstacles to overcome.
Nina Matthies
My Volleyball Story: Flo Hyman
The first American Olympic women's volleyball team to win a silver medal did so at the Los Angeles, California Olympiad in 1984.
One of three black females on the team and to this day still considered the best female volleyball player ever was 6' 5" Flo Hyman, born in Inglewood, California.
Flo Hyman
My Volleyball Story: Rose Magers
Olympian Rose Magers was a teammate of Flo's and played on the 1984 silver medal winning American women's team as well. In 2007, USA Volleyball awarded the "All Time Greatest Player Award" to Rose at the USAV Nationals.
Read her story as told by her friend, coach and mentor, Ruth Nelson.
Rose Magers
My Volleyball Story: Laurel Brassey Iversen
In many situations when growing up, Laurel Brassey Iversen played with and against and was surrounded by boys her age.
She had to learn how to outplay them and how to compete against them. She did. She did it so well that during her career she played on many men's teams.
Laurel Brassey Iversen
My Volleyball Story: April Chapple
Pro volleyball player, April Chapple had to overcome several physical obstacles before being able to pursue her goals of making the US National Team, earning a college scholarship and playing professionally in Italy.
April Chapple
Read more about the professional volleyball players in the pages below.
Get Inspired By 8 Pro Volleyball Players Personal Volleyball Stories
Get motivated by the volleyball stories told by inspiring female pro volleyball players with their personal stories of overcoming obstacles. Be inspired!
Legendary USA Olympian Beach Volleyball Player The Liz Masakayan Story
Liz Masakayan, one of America's best beach volleyball player and raised in a single parent household talks about how she trained and improved her skills.
Middle Hitter Volleyball Stories Elaina Oden on Being A Good Player
World class middle hitter, US Olympic bronze medalist and professional volleyball player Elaina Oden shares her volleyball story on what motivated her as a teen
The Shortest Volleyball Player on the Court US Olympian Debbie Green
Debbie Green, Olympic silver medalist setter describes what it's like to be "the shortest volleyball player" on the team
Inspirational Volleyball Stories: Once upon a time ..there was a girl
Once upon a time...don't all great volleyball stories begin that way?
Flo Hyman, The Volleyball Story of America's Best Outside Hitter
One of the most famous volleyball players in the world Flo Hyman is still loved by many fans
Mary Jo Peppler The Female Volleyball Player America Had To Respect
Mary Jo Peppler "The Female Volleyball Player America Had To Respect" written by Mary Jo Peppler for the Volleyball Voices project produced by April Chapple.
Nina Matthies, Womens Pro Beach Volleyball Association's Founder
Former Pepperdine head volleyball coach Nina Matthies created the WPVA, America's first pro beach volleyball tour for women and shares her inspiring story
Sharkie Zartman Explains What It Means To be Volleyball Obsessed
One of the world's famous volleyball players, Sharkie Zartman, describes what it’s like to be “obsessed.” By Sharkie Zartman for the Volleyball Voices by April Chapple. .
Laurel Brassey Iversen, A Girl Volleyball Player Better Than The Boys
Laurel Brassey Iversen, first called a "runt" by her brothers friends when she wanted to play ball with them, later became an Olympic volleyball player.
Famous Female Volleyball Players Rose Magers 1984 Olympian
One of America's famous female volleyball players Rose Magers-Powell a 1984 Olympic player earned the first silver medal in US history for women.
Kim Oden 2x Olympian The Tallest Volleyball Player On the Court
This story "The Tallest Volleyball Player on the Team" was written by Kim Oden for the Volleyball Voices Volleyball stories project by April Chapple.
Teee Williams Olympic Bronze Medalist Tells Her Volleyball Story
Olympian Teee Williams learned how to became a better volleyball player, through faith and her will to never give up learning about the game no matter what.
Heather Bown, Middle Hitter and American Olympic Silver Medalist
The untold story of how Olympic Silver Medalist Heather Bown gained confidence in her volleyball skills
April Chapple My Volleyball Story
"I had to get the leg braces off and learn to walk again"..this is my volleyball story f. April Chapple
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AUTHOR BIO
April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.
She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.
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.
- 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 2026-27 Private and Semi private Volleyball Training
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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
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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
Vegas Volleyball's Unsung Heroes: Celebrating Moms with Peace Love Volleyball Shirts
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