The 1st Annual Ft. Lauderdale Invitational is a big SMASH!

Last weekend South Florida put the nation on notice that we are becoming a stronger force to be reckoned with in Volleyball. Hats off to the folks that host the event, everything went well and I personally thank them for putting these events together. It was great to see the entire spectrum of competition from the 12 year old to the 18's.


In between my daughters games I found myself engulfed in so many matches. I was impressed with the quality of play and the size and strength of so many players. It was great to see teams from the west coast, gold coast and Central Florida. It will only be a matter of time that teams from the northern states start coming to the tournaments in South Florida, after all, where would anyone rather be in January and February.

For those of you that saw OBV on your pool and do not know anything about them they are a South Florida club in it's second year. Mike Zarate is the founder of various volleyball clubs including Crackers and Rice (1996), Club Florida (2000) and Club F1 (2005). Recently (2007) Mike founded Ocean B Volleyball in his quest to provide athletes with "A Fresh Approach" to club volleyball. His dedication to the sport paid off in the opening of his club with 277 girls and 75 boys trying out in the FIRST YEAR.

In only their second year, Mike has led OBV to become the LARGEST club in South Florida and the 2nd largest club in the state!! In 2008 OBV's tryouts exceeded 300 girls! Presently he has the ONLY club in Florida that fields girl's teams, boy's teams, a men's team, women's team, and is affiliated with the largest beach club in Florida - Beach Dig. many of their teams did well and some are pictured throughout.
There were so many incredible games, match ups and subplots that the tournament was truly enjoyable. Unfortunately I was unable to see all the games but I found myself highly impressed with the play of Boomers Elite 18, Miami Elite 18, South Florida Flyer's 17 Top Select 14 Elite and SDVC-17 Navy (Pictured Below).


Congratulations to all the teams that competed - win or loose all the girls played hard and we are very proud of you.




For a complete standing of each team click on the title of this posting and it will send you to the final standings of the 1st annual Ft. Lauderdale Invitational.



Attention Club Directors, Coaches, Parents & Players send in your stories and pictures, this site is for all of South Florida Volleyball.

Contact us at volleyballreport@gmail.com
Special Thanks for the great pictures from Philip "Flip" Littke and OBV.

Start'Em Young - CUERVO STYLE

As much as we admire the great players that South Florida has on the hard court and the sand. We are pleased to see that girls are coming into the sport at a younger age and that clubs have special programs to help develop these girls into future elite performers. We came across one of the many families that we see at tournaments, parks and events and sat down with the Cuervo family.

Here is an "early" glimpse of the future of two up an coming athletes from South Florida who were born to play the game of volleyball. We met up with sisters Michelle Cuervo (age 9) , Melanie Cuervo (age 8) and their parents to discuss the sport.

SFVR: Hello Girls ! When was the first time that you remember liking volleyball ?
Michelle: When I was around 5 years old and I used to go to the Sunset H.S. games and my dad would bump with me during warm ups...
Melanie: When my dad and mom would play with me and my sister...we would go to many games together...

SFVR: What do you both like most about volleyball ?
Michelle: I like the spiking...(big smile)
Melanie: I like the setting most of all...(big smile)

SFVR: In the future, how do you think volleyball will be a part of your life ?
Michelle: I would like to be an Olympic athlete and play volleyball...
Melanie: I want to play for my school...

SFVR: Who is your favorite volleyball player ?
Michelle: Kerri Walsh (Olympian) and Sabrina Gonzalez (former Sunset H.S. player and current F.I.U. star)
Melanie: Misty May (Olympian) and Kerri Walsh (Olympian)

SFVR: How do you feel when you are playing volleyball and people are looking at you ?
Michelle: Nervous and excited...
Melanie: It makes me want to play better...


SFVR: What are your favorite numbers ? and why ?
Michelle: # 17 , It is my lucky number...
Melanie: # 7 , It's my lucky number...

SFVR: Who are some of the coaches that have made an impact and helped you so far in your young volleyball development ?
Michelle and Melanie:
Coaches - Charlie (Ball Llovera) , Camilo (Gaitan), Adriana (Fundora) , Mauricio (Diaz) , Vannessa (Abaunza) , Katie (Newby) , Flo and Michelle...

SFVR: If you were coach for a day, what would you ask of your players ?
Michelle: Work on drills like passing, serving, bumping, setting, and spiking...
Melanie: I would have them practice my very favorite drill - setting ...

Parent Questions?

SFVR: I see that Michelle and Melanie have a great grasp of this fantastic sport and there are many years to come for them to develop into solid volleyball players, is there anything you would like to say ?
Dad: Yes, We are blessed to have two exceptionally gifted daughters and my wife and I are so proud of all of their accomplishments so far. They truly are hardworking young girls that are having a lot of fun right now and playing really good volleyball. They both are honor roll students and they always put school first. I would like to let other parents know that in order for any child to succeed at any sport and life in general they first have to have a lot of love and support from their family. Sports are fantastic and they should be introduced at a slow pace so that the children may learn the fundamentals and basics first hand. Then, as the child progresses, the encouragement should increase. Michelle and Melanie have the potential and ability to become solid volleyball players,there is no doubt about it, but this won't happen without them enjoying the sport and having fun playing !

SFVR: Did Dad or Mom play organized volleyball at some point ?
Mom: I played varsity Water Polo in High School and love to watch my daughters play volleyball now !
Dad : Me too ! I actually played on my 7th grade volleyball team that made it to "junior high" volleyball championships held at Miami Dade Community College...It was a great experience and I played for only one season before transferring schools and taking up basketball as a player and then later as a coach. This was so different from the volleyball that is played nowadays. In today's age the game has grown so much, the speed and abilities of players is so much faster.
It's exciting to see, its great !

SFVR: How did you build a passion for sports/volleyball in general?
Armando: My mother (Michelle and Melanie's grandmother) was a huge sports fan, she passed away at a very early age, but she instilled sports in me like you cannot imagine. She had me playing baseball, basketball,Karate/Judo...you name it, I played it. She was a fantastic woman. May God Bless her always !

SFVR: How did you decide to have Michelle and Melanie try volleyball ?
Mom: My girls were born to play volleyball ! (My husband and I have been taking the girls to volleyball matches ever since they were born)
Armando: That's right...The girls have been exposed to many great matches...They were going to gymnasiums even before they could walk. We have exposed them to the best players throughout Miami Dade County for many years now and they are picking up different techniques from different folks. We really have great athletes that come out of Miami Dade County, and as you (and others) well know I will be launching my website, hopefully in the near future...The talent in Miami Dade County is so unbelievable. I'm so excited !!!

SFVR: What are some of the training techniques that you use with Michelle and Melanie ?
Mom and Dad: Well we just make it fun...and we make the time in our busy schedules to play with them...Most of the techniques come from the real pros (the different coaching that they receive from so many different people) and we just copy most of the techniques that we learn from different players,coaches and friends...

SFVR: Could you give us some examples?
Mom and Dad: Yes,of course...We have the girls pepper a lot. They need to get the control of the volleyball before anything can happen in a game situation.When we can, we work with them on passing and setting...These are the types of fundamentals that are crucial for every volleyball player to grasp.

SFVR: What are some nutritional aspects that you provide for Michelle and Melanie?
Mom and Dad: We make sure that they have a good breakfast every morning. They have to eat healthy foods. We try to follow the food pyramid and provide them with different vitamins. Remember , "If the tank is empty, then they run out of gas. it's simple."

SFVR: Do you have any quotes or sayings of any sorts in your household ?
Dad: Yes. "First work, then play. " (Work hard and play harder , then your level of success on and off the court increases.)

Every day we are seeing more families like the Cuervos that are incorporating the sport of volleyball into their children's lives. Every parent has their reason for doing so. We are just happy to see that kids are staring to play at an early age. If they are good at the age of 8 and 9 can you imagine how good they will be by 13.
We look forward to speaking with more families from across South Florida and showcasing our future stars.

FIU's Coach Danijela Tomic - Part 1 of 3

We recently had the opportunity to speak with FIU Head Coach Danijela Tomic to reflect upon her past, present and future. We found a vibrant and energetic leader that exudes an extreme passion for her sport. Below will be a three part series covering her start in Volleyball and her start with FIU (Tuesday the 20th). Next we will cover the 2008 season (Wednesday the 21st) then look to the future with next years team and helpful tips for prospective players at the university level (Thursday the 22nd). We hope you enjoy getting to know Coach Tomic as much as we have.

SFVR: When did you first play Volleyball?
TOMIC: I started playing volleyball when I was 10 years old in my home town in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

SFVR: When did you realize that you wanted to be involved with Volleyball as an elite player and later as a coach?
TOMIC: I fell in love with volleyball the first time I saw it played. I have always been goal oriented and driven, so I started at an early age. I started playing club at 14, and my goal then was to make the fist team. When I did that, my next goal was to make the junior national team, and then the senior national team. (At that time the country was called Yugoslavia). I accomplished both goals, so when I was 18 I started playing for one of the best clubs at that time in Europe, “Mladost.” I stayed there until my arrival to the US in 1995, when I came to play for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). I played two years there, and earned our first NCAA bid my senior year. I believe I realized there that I wanted to go into coaching because I had a great role model in my college coach, Van Compton, who still coaches at UALR.

SFVR: What was the greatest thing you learned when you were an assistant with Arkansas- Little Rock and LSU?
TOMIC: There were so many things that I learned as an assistant at UALR and LSU. Both coaches (Compton and Flory) were great mentors in different areas. At UALR I was involved in all aspects of coaching, which prepared me well for being a head coach. At LSU I learned how recruiting is done on a national level because we had unlimited financial resources. Both places were instrumental for my coaching development.

Not many people know that FIU is your first Head Coaching Job. In your second year you were named Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Coach of the Year. This year you are the fastest coach to 50 wins in FIU history, the team wins the Sun Belt Conference, you win your second SBC coach of the year and FIU makes it to it’s second NCAA Tournament.

SFVR: Looking back can you reflect on what you must have felt like when you were announced as FIU’s Head Coach and you addressed your first group of players?
TOMIC: FIU was the school where I wanted to coach, so when I was announced the Head Coach, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I was thankful that Rick Mello, FIU’s Athletic Director at that time, was confident in me and gave me a chance to prove myself. The first team meeting that I had with my players was in our locker room, and I remember it as if it was yesterday. They were all anxious, but I think after I explained my coaching philosophy and the goals for the program, most of their questions were answered.


SFVR: Was there any doubt that you would be successful at FIU?
TOMIC: I have never had any doubts that we would be successful at FIU. I knew that we had great recruiting tools because we live in one of the best cities in the world, have a great university, and one of the prettiest campuses in the country.

On Wednesday the 21st we will post Part 2 of Coach Tomics Interview.

FIU's Coach Danijela Tomic - Part 2 of 3

In the second part of the interview with FIU's Coach Tomic we look back at a memorable season that we all hope was a sign of better things to come for the ladies Volleyball team.

SFVR: What was your most memorable game of the 2008 season?
TOMIC: The most memorable game of the 2008 season was our home match against Middle Tennessee State. We won first two sets, then lost the third and fourth, and in the fifth we were down 5-10 and 8-12. I called my last time out at 8-12, and I don’t remember what I told the team, but they went back to the court, and played their hearts out and won the match 21-19! We had the record high attendance, and the gym was packed. The crowd was on their feet and cheering us through the whole 5th set, and I believe they gave us the energy to come back and win the match. It was just an unbelievable experience for everybody who witnessed that match!

SFVR: Rate last years (2008) freshman class?
TOMIC: I don’t like ratings, so I won’t rate our 2008 freshman class. However, I will say that the three freshman had a major role in our success. Sabrina Gonzalez and Andrea Lakovic were our starting middles and Nina Colon earned the libero role in the middle of the season. I was very happy with their development and their contribution to the team.

SFVR: Isadora Rangel was a transfer last year. What did she bring to the team?
TOMIC: Isadora was a great addition to our team. I don’t think we would’ve had a season that we had if we didn’t have her as our outside hitter. She was recognized by the conferences’ coaches for her great year by being named “Newcomer of the Year” and “2nd Team All-Conference.”

SFVR: Was the team together when FIU was selected for the NCAA Tournament?
TOMIC: We didn’t have a watch party for the NCAA selection, but the team watched it together in their dorm. I called them when we found out that we got an at-large bid, and I could hear over the phone how ecstatic they were.

SFVR: What was the message to the team after the loss to Colorado State in the NCAA Tournament?
TOMIC: It is never easy to talk to the team after a loss, especially after our first loss in the NCAA to CSU. I told the team that even though we lost, we were proud of them, and they should be proud of the season that we just finished. We told them that we will be back to the NCAA again next year, and that we are very close not to just win in the first round, but to go even further in the tournament.

SFVR: Coach we couldn't agree with you more.

On Thursday the 22nd we look to the future with Coach Tomic regarding recruiting, the 2009 team and a few tips for players that wish to continue playing at the university level.

FIU's Coach Danijela Tomic - Part 3 of 3

In the last part of the interview we go over next years team, recruiting and Coach Tomic opens up a bit about her life in Miami.

SFVR: How’s Recruiting going?
TOMIC: Recruiting is going well. My assistants and I will be going to many tournaments here in FL and out of state. We will continue recruiting in Puerto Rico because there are many great players there, and we love our two Puerto Ricans whom we have on the team now.

SFVR: Will your team take part in Beach Volleyball activities during the summer?
TOMIC: We are planning to do some beach volleyball this spring, but it still depends of our school and competition schedule if we will be able to do it. We will for sure do some spring training on SOBE.

SFVR: With Yarimar Rosa a senior and so much talent on the team, what are the expectations for next year?
TOMIC: The expectations for this season are high. Realistically, we should be better than this past season because we have all of our starters back with a year of experience under their belts. Our team understands this, and they have already started working hard in the weight room, and next week we start our individual volleyball practices to have an even better season this year.

SFVR: As you know there are many talented players in South Florida. What advice can you give a player that wants to pursue a collegiate career?
TOMIC: My advice would be to work hard, play volleyball all year long (beach and indoor), watch college, Jr. college games, and learn from better players. Also, they should start the recruiting process early, and not wait till their senior year to send college coaches their DVD and schedule.

SFVR: At what age should they register with the NCAA Clearinghouse?
TOMIC: My advice would be to register by their junior year.

SFVR: What do college coaches look for in prospects?
TOMIC: Every coach is different, so I will say what I look for in a prospect. Besides obvious physical things (height, jump, etc.), I look for somebody who has passion for the game, and who won’t be satisfied and contempt by just receiving an athletic scholarship. Academics is very important to me, so we recruit students with high GPA. They have to be unselfish, and know how to work hard. We also look for prospects who like diversity because that’s what our university and our team represent.

SFVR: What can high school and club coaches do to help promote players?
TOMIC: The best thing that high-school coaches and club coaches can do to help promote players is to email us their schedule, and send us unedited game DVD.

A little about you:
SFVR: Have you gotten used to living in South Florida?
TOMIC: Yes, Miami is my home now, and I love living here. I love the weather, the ocean and beaches, and the diversity that Miami has.

SFVR: What is your favorite South Florida Restaurant?
TOMIC: Since I am vegan, my restaurant choices are limited. I love going to the Farmer’s Market in Coconut Grove which is open every Saturday. Also, there is a new restaurant called “Om Garden” which I really like.

SFVR: Will you attend the AVP when it comes to Miami?
TOMIC: I plan to attend the AVP because it’s a lot of fun, and you can see the best players in the world right here in Miami. I also encourage all of my players to attend it, so they can learn.


We hope you've enjoyed getting to know Coach Tomic. We feel very confident that next season will be very special at FIU with a strong team and a great coach. We hope to see you at next years games supporting the Golden Panthers.

PLAYER PROFILE: LUCY PEREZ

We've heard nothing but great things about this young lady by many in the volleyball community. We can attest first hand that she is an explosive player with solid all around skill sets. She is very quick and can be an asset all around the court. We recently cought up with Lucy and asked her a few questions about volleyball and her future in the sport.

SFVR: Tell us something that not everyone knows about you.
PEREZ: I am fun, athletic and funny. My background is Lebanese and Cuban. By looking at me you would find it hard to believe that I do not speak Spanish fluently. I love Volleyball with a passion and I am determined to play it in college.

SFVR: What do you do to stay so fit?
PEREZ: In addition to all the Volleyball, I jog regularly. I also enjoy swimming, flag football and acting.

SFVR: Why do you want to play Volleyball collegiately?
PEREZ: I have been playing volleyball for about six years now (school & club) and I am in love with the sport. I am not ready to give up playing it competitively just yet.

SFVR: Are you aware that playing for a University is like a full time job?
PEREZ: Absolutely - I'm excited to see how good I can become at the next level. I will work, work, work to become the best I can become.

SFVR: What does the word coachable mean to you?
PEREZ: It defines a player who is a good listener and always is willing to learn more from a coach, because every player has room for improvement.

SFVR: Have you registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse?
PEREZ: YES!


Player Profile Below:

Lucy Perez - SR. 5'11" / 155Lbs. Position OH/RS
Team Captain in 2007 and 2008

Last measured approach reach 9'5.5", block reach 8'10", Standing Reach 7'7"
2008 High School Stats: 344 Assists, 297 kills, 93 digs, 83 Blocks and 43 Aces.
High School: Miami Sunset Sr. High

Coaches Comments:

Charlene Ball-Lovera, Head Coach Sunset High-School: Lucy is a very hard worker that has excelled every year that she has been on the team. She is usually early to practice and stays after practice to perfect her craft. She is a very explosive outside hitter with endless energy and potential. As a former Div I player I know she has what it takes to excel at the next level and I sincerely recommend Lucy Perez as an elite player that has yet to reach her potential.

Joy Beverly, Head Coach Spike Volleyball Club and Arvida Middle, "One word comes to mind when I think of Lucy Perez - strong. By age 13 Lucy was probably the biggest, strongest player in the county. When she went up to hit, the other players had no chance of stopping her. She just continued to get stronger in high school and became a leader on and off the court. As strong as she is now, I'd love to see how far she can go. I think she has the physical potential and the inner drive to be successful at the highest level."

Experience:
She has been playing competitively since 7th Grade.
* Arvida Middle School Volleyball Team (2 years)
* Southend Volleyball Club (3 years)
* Spike Volleyball Club (1 year)
* South Dade Volleyball Club (1 year)
* Miami Volleyball club (currently)
* Miami Sunset Varsity Volleyball Team (4 years)

Awards and Recognition
* 2008 First Team All Dade County
* 2008 The South Florida Fabulous 50
* 2007 Second Team All Dade County
* 2007 Won District 15-6A
* 2007 Outstanding Student Athelete Award by U.S. Army Reserve
* 2006 Won District 15-6A

GPA/HPA 3.4/3.8
Major to be Studied: Business Management and Administration.
Hobbies and Activities: Acting/Drama for the last four years.
In 2009, I am starting a business internship.
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Band: Linkin Park
Favorite Vacation: Puerto Rico

ATTN: COACHES - WRITE US FOR CASSAY COOK CONTACT INFORMATION, TRANSCRIPTS AND REFRENCES. volleyballreport@gmail.com

Lucy - we wish you the best of luck and we know your college carrer will be special-stay in touch.

PLAYER PROFILE: CASSADY COOK

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Cassady Cook. We found a very likable, intelligent and team oriented young lady. We feel that she is a great all-around talent that can play defense, set and be a presence at the net. Below are a few question and answers followed by a Player Profile on Cassady.

SFVR: Tell us about your love for the game and your desire to become a better player?
CASSADY: I really want to become a high level volleyball player at the college level. I am looking forward to that level of competition.

SFVR: What does the word Coachable mean to you?
CASSADY: A coachable player is a person who is always willing to learn something new from a coach and apply it in practices and game situations.

SFVR: Royal Palm Beach had never made it pass regionals except for this year. Describe how it felt to make it to the State Finals?
CASSADY: We were always good, but we never had that 'something' to get us all the way to state. This year it all came together, which was perfect for my senior season.

PLAYER PROFILE

Cassady Cook - SR. 5'11" Position: S/OH/RS Team captain in 2007 & 2008
Last measured approach reach: 9'4", block reach 8'9.5" standing reach 7'4"

High School: Royal Palm Beach, FL. Coach: Sal Ciano

Coaches Comments:
Sal Ciano Head Coach Royal Palm Beach High: "Great all around player, very talented and versatile, could be an instant contributor as a hitter, setter or utility player - the numbers back him up. Cook who plays both the outside hitter and setter positions, finished the season with 338 kills, 352 assists, 247 digs and 81 blocks. Balanced numbers like those are very uncommon at the high-school level and one of the main reasons Cook is the 2008 Palm Beach Post and the Sun-Sentinel Player of the year.

Steve Wilcosky Head Coach Nova Southeasten, Boomers 16 Elite Coach: Cassady is a very physical athlete with good knowledge of the game. She has a cannon for an arm while possessing the ability to create shots as well. Cassady is also a presence at the net with her blocking and her timing has improved tremendously. Personally Cassady was a fun athlete to coach and has a big upside as she continues to develop.

Lynze Roos Head Coach Lynn University, Boomers 17 Elite coach: “Cassady was an impact player on our 17s team. She was able to step into any role that we needed and did so with confidence and determination. Cassady was our go-to player and delivered with key kills and blocks which helped rank the team in the top 3 of the Florida Region.”


Awards and Recognition:
* 2008 Palm Beach Post - Player of the Year, for Palm Beach County.
* 2008 Sun Sentinel - Player of the Year, for Palm Beach County.
* 2008 No.1 on the South Florida Volleyball Report Fabulous 50.
* 2008 News Channel 12 Athlete of the Week.
* 2008 1st Team All County - Sun Sentinel.
* 2008 1st Team All Area - Palm Beach Post.
* 2007 Florida Sports Writers Association All-State 3rd Team.
* 2007 1st Team All County - Sun Sentinel.
* 2007 1st Team All Area - Palm Beach Post.
* 2007 1st Team All Conference - Palm Beach Post.
* 2006 2nd Team All Conference - Palm Beach Post.
* 2006 All Tournament Team - East Coast Challenge

Non-Volleyball Related Awards:
* 2008-09 Student Council Rep, SADD
* 2007-09 Class Officer - Secretary
* 2007-09 National Honor Society - Officer - Soc. Director, Parliamentarian
* 2006-07 USAA National Science Merit Award

GPA/HPA: 3.5/4.0
Major(s) to be Studied: Business, Psychology or Education.
Hobbies: Volleyball, whether its at the gym, the beach or on a grass field. She also enjoys swimming, volunteering at her sisters school and a multitude of sports.
Favorite Food: Mashed Potatoes.
Favorite Vacation: Anything by a pool or water.

ATTN: COACHES - WRITE US FOR CASSAY COOK CONTACT INFORMATION, TRANSCRIPTS AND REFRENCES. volleyballreport@gmail.com



We wish you the very best. Please stay in contact with us and let us know how your college career goes.

Stephanie Zielinksi - 6A-5A-4A Broward Player of the Year as reported by the Sun Sentinel

Stephanie Zielinksi Sr.- St. Thomas Aquinas. Her career began long before she actually picked up a volleyball.

That's what happens when your mom is one of South Florida's most prominent coaches.

You spend your afternoons doing homework in the bleachers while her team practices. You get to talk strategy with some of her best players. And finally, you get your own chance to shine.

By Zielinski's freshman year, she earned a spot on the St. Thomas Aquinas team coached by her mother, Lisa. That's when the fun really started.

"I always wanted to play," Stephanie Zielinski said. "I played basketball and ran track before, but volleyball was what I always wanted to do."

And she does it well.

Through the course of her career, she went from a relatively quiet setter to a dominant leader. Twice she helped take the Raiders to the Class 5A state tournament. She garnered attention from college coaches before signing with Rutgers this fall.
We wish her the very best and will follow her carrer at Rutgers.

As reported by Robert Duyos of the Sun Sentinel