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Spikers volley for JO spots
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
The Thunder Volleyball Club will hold the second of three Junior Olympic girls volleyball tryouts on Sunday with 185 candidates between the ages of 10-18 vying for team slots.
Tryouts are slated from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium gymnasium.
Joe Conroy, in his sixth year as the area’s Junior Olympic director, was once YSU’s volleyball coach. He was a four-time Mid-Continent Conference coach of the year and coached 19 all-conference players and one league player of the year during his 14 seasons for YSU.
His commitment to area girls volleyball is well-documented.
“Thunder volleyball has just one goal and that is to help the girls take their game to the next level,” Conroy said.
“We want all participants to become better volleyball players and strategically place them in a competitive environment against those in their own age groups,” Conroy said.
While the tryouts remain the nerve-racking part of the process, girls and parents agree that when completed and teams are finally chosen, it has been a great learning experience that has produced many fun moments.
Kelly Matanin, a freshman on the Hubbard High junior varsity team, is in her third year with the Thunder.
“I am a setter but I want to try hitting so I am working on that portion of my game,” Matanin said. “I am working on my weaknesses and trying to improve in that area for my high school season.
“It’s great to be able to play against those that are in your same age group,” Matanin said. “Waiting for the call midweek, however, when tryouts are completed to see if you have made the team tends to make you quite nervous.”
Her mother, Dr. Marcia Matanin, is a professor of Human Performance and Exercise Science at YSU.
In addition to a developmental process for all, she notes that the Jr. Olympic experience has been a positive one socially.
“The girls used to view the others as the enemy but now they view them as their friends,” said Dr. Matanin. “They Facebook each other and have developed a social network.
“On weekends the norm is to leave the house by 5:30 a.m. with sandwiches, Gatorade and other goodies, knowing full well that you won’t return home until sometime after 6 p.m.
“It’s a family commitment that produces much needed time together,” Dr. Matanin said.
Sarah Ball, whose daughter Brooke is a sophomore at South Range High, notes that parents have become friends as well.
“The Thunder experience has brought Brooke out of her shell,” Sarah Ball said. “The parents have also gotten together and dined, making it a mother-daughter night out.
“While the setting is a little more laid back, I think everyone has learned a lot from the coaches and added to their game because the playing field is more level,” she said.
Matt Keller, a starting offensive lineman, four-year letter-winner and member of two Big Ten title teams while at Michigan State (1986-90), notes that his daughter, Kayley, gets lots of reps against quality opponents while playing against top-notch competition.
“In a weekend, Kayley might play as little as 10 or as many as 15 matches while in high school, winning two straight games in a best of three series might signal the end of the night.
“This is her [Kayley’s] sport so as parents while we might feel it is a long day, it remains a great day of competition for her,” Keller said.
Playing on the Canfield seventh grade volleyball team with Conroy’s daughter Emily is how Kayley ended up with the Thunder.
“Coach Conroy asked me to come and try out and while I didn’t know what to expect initially, each year I feel like I have gotten better and have learned quite a bit about the game,” Kayley Keller said.
“Playing more games has been a real plus and even when I see coach in the store, he stops to give me a volleyball tip or two while we are in the aisle.”
Tryouts will conclude on Dec. 5. Further information may be obtained by calling 330-717-6721.