KELLY FAMILY Club volleyball leads to college

Howland High coach Mark Kelly says club participation is most important.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HOWLAND -- If high school volleyball players are serious about their sport and would like to play in college, they should get involved in a youth league.
"The ideal preparation is a combination of playing club and high school," said Howland High volleyball coach Mark Kelly. "The club is more important. Club volleyball has better players and coaches."
Kelly, who has coached at Howland for five years, should know. He was a high school player in Pennsylvania and a club coach and player in the Howland area before becoming the Tigers' coach in 2001.
His wife, Donita, who also was a club player, has been Howland's assistant coach for the past five years.
And their two daughters, Jaime and Brittany, also played club volleyball before starting all four seasons at Howland and earning college scholarships.
Brittany signs letter
Jaime, a 6-foot outside hitter, will be a sophomore next season at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., while Brittany, a Howland senior and a 5-10 setter, recently signed a letter of intent to attend Notre Dame College in South Euclid.
Kelly said Jaime was MVP all four years at Howland and holds all the kills records.
But Jaime had to play behind five seniors last season at St. Vincent.
"It was a big change. Jaime has never been off the court. She is a powerful player," said Kelly.
He also called Brittany "a natural leader on the court. She is very competitive and a social person. Her personality makes her a great setter because she is a natural leader, very outgoing socially."
Kelly recalled that "Jaime and Brittany were a great combination" playing on the court together. "Those two worked together well. Their skills complemented each other."
Club volleyball important
Kelly believes that a girl has a better chance of playing college volleyball if she plays club volleyball.
"It is extremely difficult to play [only] junior high and varsity and then play college," he said. "It is important to play club volleyball.
"College scouts go to the club volleyball tournaments because they can see more players in one setting. Then, if they hear about or find a player they like, they can scout [her] playing in high school."
Kelly said the clubs have age groups that that range from 12-and-under to 18-and-under, and recommends that girls start as early as 9 or 10 years old.
Howland needed coach
Howland sponsored volleyball since 2000 but Kelly said he didn't become coach until three weeks before the second season.
"I was playing leagues and coaching club volleyball. I got into it [at Howland High] because I like the game and my daughters were playing in club," said Kelly. "[My wife and I] love the game. That's why we got into it. We both played co-ed leagues around here."
Kelly said that "girls like the team aspect of the game," and contends that "once a girl begins playing volleyball, they won't leave the team."
So he would like to see more girls become involved in club and then high school volleyball.
"If we can promote it around here, we can send a lot more kids to college," he said.
kovach@vindy.com