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11/27/09
Hannah Allison named 1st team All-American and will get to play in the televised game December 20th the day after the National Championship Game in Tampa!
(click here) for more information.
5/30/09
Alicia Swearingen and Lizzy Briones make USA Volleyball Girls' Continental Team program
2009 Girls' Select Continental Team selected Alicia Swearingen (Ozark 151) and Lizzy Biones (Ozark 181) to be a part of the 2009 USA Volleyball Girls' Continental Team program. Thirty athletes will comprise three teams and train for four days in preparation for the five-day High Performance Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, FL July 18-26. Congratualtion girls!!! Way to go.
5/30/09
 16 out of the 25 girls selected for the Arkansas Athletic Outreach (AAO) Top 25 Camp were Ozark girls and 4 out of the 8 of the individual awards were presented to Ozark girls. Here is the list. Way to go girls!!!
Hannah Allison Ozark 181 MVP
Shannah Seyfarth Ozark 182 Best Defense
Sydney Marsellis Ozark 182 Golden Glove Setting Award
Kristin Hylton Ozark 182 Best Passer
Melissa Bakke Ozark 151
Allie Wade Ozark 182
Sarah Pfitzinger Ozark 182
Ashley Price Ozark 182
Morgan Hayes Ozark 161
Aubrey Marsellis Ozark 151
Rebecca Brown Ozark 151
Sydney Thurow Ozark 182
Alicia Swearingen Ozark 151
Courtney Marshall Ozark 161
Morgan Ozark 161
Kailey Bain Ozark 182
5/14/09
 Hannah Allsion makes the U. S Girls' Youth National Training Team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 14, 2009) – USA Volleyball is proud to announce its 19-player U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team for 2009.
The 19-member team will train May 16-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista, Calif. After the four-day training period, the roster will be trimmed to the 12-player U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team which will represent the United States at the 2009 FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship July 3-12 at Nakhonratchasima, Thailand. The 12-player roster will have a second training period starting June 16 at Chula Vista before departing June 29 for Thailand.
The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team qualified for the FIVB World Championship by winning the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship last summer at Puerto Rico. Jim Stone (retired head coach at Ohio State University) returns as the team’s head coach, and he will be assisted by Melissa Wolter (head coach at University of West Florida) and Chuck Erbe (retired head coach at Michigan State).
The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team includes three setters, three liberos, six middle blockers and seven opposites/outside hitters. The setters are Hannah Allison (Siloam Springs, Ark.), Kamryn Sherman (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) and Carly Thomas (Swansea, Ill.). Liberos are Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif.), Lauren Metzger (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Sarah Palmer (Kailua, Hawaii).
Middle blockers on the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team are Katherine Bell (Mesquite, Texas), Erica Denney (Centennial, Colo.), Anna Dorn (Munster, Ind.), Madelyn Hutson (Brentwood, Tenn.), Oliva Okoro (Carrollton, Texas) and Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.). Opposites/outside hitters are Haley Eckerman (Waterloo, Iowa), Kaitlyn Leary (Parma, Ohio), Andrea McHugh (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Katie Messing (The Woodlands, Texas), Amy Neal (Austin, Texas), Aiyana Whitney (Cresskill, N.J.) and Sam Wopat (Goleta, Calif.).
Bonilla, Denney, Hutson, Thomas and Carly Wopat aided the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team to the gold medal at the 2008 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship. Thomas earned the Best Setter award and Bonilla was selected Best Libero at the NORCECA event. In addition, Allison, Dorn and Leary are repeat selections from the 2008 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Training Team.
# - Name (Pos / Ht / Hometown / High School / Grad / Volleyball Club / Region)
1 - Hannah Allison (S / 5-11 / Siloam Springs, Ark. / Siloam Springs / 2010 / Ozark Volleyball Academy / Delta)
2 - Katherine Bell (MB / 6-1 / Mesquite, Texas / North Mesquite / 2011 / Texas Assault / North Texas)
3 - Jennifer Bonilla (L / 5-9 / Reseda, Calif. / Marymount / 2010 / Sports Shack / Southern California)
4 - Erica Denney (MB / 6-5 / Centennial, Colo. / Grandview / 2010 / Front Range / Rocky Mountain)
5 - Haley Eckerman (OH / 6-3 / Waterloo, Iowa / Waterloo East / 2011 / Iowa Elite / Iowa)
6 - Anna Dorn (MB / 6-4 / Munster, Ind. / Munster / 2010 /Dunes / Hoosier)
7 - Kaitlyn Leary (OH / 6-1 / Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan / 2010 / Cleveland VB Company / Ohio Valley)
8 - Andrea McHugh (OH / 5-10 / Yorba Linda, Calif. / El Dorado / 2010 / Impact VBC / Southern California)
9 - Madelyn Hutson (MB / 6-6 / Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood / 2011 / Impact / Southern)
10 - Katie Messing (OH / 6-5 / The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands / 2011 / Asics Willowbrook / Lone Star)
11 - Lauren Metzger (L / 5-6 / North Tonawanda, N.Y. / North Tonawanda / 2011 / Niagara Frontier / Western Empire)
12 - Amy Neal (OH / 5-10 / Austin, Texas / Lake Travis / 2012 / Austin Juniors / Lone Star)
13 - Olivia Okoro (MB / 6-0 / Carrollton, Texas / Hebron / 2011 / Dallas Skyline Juniors / Lone Star)
14 - Sarah Palmer (L / 5-11 / Kailua, Hawaii / Hawaii Baptist Acad. / 2010 / Asics Rainbows VBC / Aloha)
15 - Kamryn Sherman (S / 5-10 / Ponte Vedra, Fla. / Nease / 2011 / Jacksonville Juniors (JJVA) / Florida)
16 - Carly Thomas (S / 5-11 / Swansea, Ill. / Althoff Catholic / 2010 / Southwest Illinois VBC / Gateway)
17 - Aiyana Whitney (OH / 6-5 / Cresskill, N.J. / Northern Valley Old Tappan / 2011 / Atlantic Valley VBC / Garden Empire)
18 - Sam Wopat (OH / 6-1 / Goleta, Calif. / Dos Pueblos / 2010 / Santa Barbara VBC / Southern California)
19 - Carly Wopat (MB / 6-2 / Goleta, Calif. / Dos Pueblos / 2010 / Santa Barbara VBC / Southern California)
Head Coach: Jim Stone
Assistant Coach: Melissa Wolter
Assistant Coach: Chuck Erbe
4/24/09
 On Thursday, Tatum Fredeen became the first BHS volleyball player to sign a letter of intent with a Division I school. Fredeen, an All-State outside hitter for the two-time state champion Lady Tigers, signed with Oral Roberts University after recording 381 kills her senior season. Fredeen became the fifth player from this year's team to sign to play at the next level. Last week, Katelyn McCarthy accepted a spot on the University of Arkansas team as an invited walk-on while Jamie Haworth signed with Central Missouri. "I'm excited," Fredeen said. "I wish I had made my decision earlier so I could've signed with my teammates (on April 14)."
"It's a very good program," Coens said. "When Jennifer and I played we always played (ORU) every single year at the U of A. It was always a very tough match. They were always a team that I remember being very good across the net.
Fredeen had a kill percentage of .417 her senior year for the Lady Tigers (33-4-2), but it was the manner in which she did it that turned people's heads. Fredeen, blessed with a rocket right arm, put the ball down with a ferociousness and intensity that was unmatched in the conference.
Playing with her sister Tara her junior year, Fredeen had 242 kills as the Lady Tigers won their first state championship.
4/16/09
 Katelyn McCarthy and Jamie Haworth Sign
Bentonville's two-time state championship volleyball team celebrated a big day Tuesday at the Tiger Athletic Complex. Seniors Jamie Haworth and Katelyn McCarthy made their college destinations known in front of a large group of teammates, family and friends. Haworth signed with Central Missouri and McCarthy accepted a spot on the University of Arkansas team as an invited walk-on. McCarthy, twice an All-State pick and a three-year starter, was named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament after the Lady Tigers defeated Rogers 3-1 in November to win their second straight state championship. They finished the year with a 33-4-2 record and won the 7A-West Conference championship with a 13-1 mark. McCarthy led Bentonville in kills (418) and kills per game (3.8) and had an attack percentage of .408 in more than 1,000 attempts. The 5-foot-7 hitter totaled a team-high 23 kills in a 25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22 win against the Lady Mounties at Conway High School, earning state tournament MVP honors. She'll also play for the West squad this summer at the annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star games in Fayetteville. McCarthy will become primarily a defensive player with the Razorbacks but with her athleticism, Coens is confident the coaching staff will be impressed with her ability on the back row. She totaled 258 digs her senior season, second on the team. McCarthy is following in the footsteps of her head coach. Coens played for the U of A from 1999-2002 and was a two-time All-SEC second-team selection.
Haworth, also an All-State pick as well a member of the All-State Tournament team, controlled Bentonville's defense from the back row. She averaged nearly four digs per game and led the Lady Tigers with 390 last season. At Central Missouri, she will play for a program that's one of the most consistent winners at the NCAA Division II level, having made 26 consecutive trips to the national tournament. Haworth is part of the first recruiting class for the school's new head coach. Formerly the school's assistant of 23 years, Flip Piontek was named head coach when Peggy Martin retired after 33 years and more than 1,000 wins. Haworth's parents are both CMU alums.
4/16/09
 Rachel Woodson signs with Nova Southeastern University
ROGERS - Rachel Woodson was looking for the right fit for college. The right major, a volleyball program on the rise and sunny Florida - the Rogers senior found it all at Nova Southeastern University. Woodson signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play NCAA Division II volleyball at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., school. Woodson, an All-Conference and All-State Tournament selection at middle hitter for the state runner-up Lady Mounties, attracted several colleges with her improvement since getting into competitive volleyball in the past few years. "Last year to this year I had quite a bit of improvement and that's what (NSU coach Stephen Wilcosky) said," Woodson said. Wilcosky liked the progress he saw during Woodson's senior season and was excited to catch a player on the upslope, Woodson said. NSU, which moved to NCAA Division II in 2002, made a run to the Elite Eight of the volleyball tournament and finished 24-12. Wilcosky, who just finished his third year at NSU, led the Sharks to their first berth and win in the postseason in 2007 before winning three postseason matches to win the South Regional and advance to the national quarterfinals. The Sharks graduated five seniors and have a big incoming class, Woodson said. Woodson plans to take advantage of NSU's dual admission option, where she can apply to the professional school in physical therapy while completing the athletic training undergraduate studies program. "My mom's a physical therapist and I've wanted to do it probably since I was in third or fourth grade," Woodson said. The dual admissions program would allow her to finish a doctorate in five or six years. "It's one of two programs in the nation that we found (that offered such a program). It's a perfect fit."
4/16/09
 Cassie Clarke signs with the University of Arkansas
Very few move-ins have impacted a program to the level that Fayetteville senior Cassie Clarke did in just one year. Clarke was an all-state performer in both basketball and volleyball and helped lead the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs to a 32-0 record and Class 7A state basketball championship. But it was volleyball that beckoned Clarke to the Division I collegiate stage. Clarke inked a letter of intent with the University of Arkansas during a signing ceremony at Bulldog Gym Wednesday. "I'm excited to get to stay here and go to Arkansas," Clarke said. "This takes a lot of stress off me. Until a couple of months ago, I still didn't know if I was going to play basketball or volleyball. I was keeping my options open. I know my dad wanted me to play basketball but when Arkansas offered me in volleyball, I felt like coming here was the right thing for me to do. "I love both sports but I think I have a little more passion for volleyball. I may never play basketball again, but I can't ask for a better way to go out. But I've made a lot of friends here and I'm glad I get to stay." During the ceremony, Fayetteville volleyball coach Jessica Phelan, an All-American at Arkansas in her junior season, gave Clarke (5-11) her No. 4 jersey. Clarke, the sister of Arkansas Razorback guard Rotnei Clarke, will also wear No. 4 for Robert Pulliza's Lady Razorbacks, who finished 7-23 overall and 4-16 in SEC play last season. "The real winner today is the University of Arkansas," Phelan said. "When she committed to Arkansas, she asked me what I thought about her wearing No. 4 and I was honored. Giving her my jersey was a small token. As her coach I'm proud of her but as an Arkansas alumni I know she will embody all of the things that make that jersey and the Arkansas tradition special." Clarke, a setter and team captain, made quite an impression on Phelan in her one season. Phelan said Clarke will carry her passion and enthusiasm to Arkansas.
3/29/09
OZARK JUNIORS 181 WINS THE PACIFC NORTHWEST NATIONAL QUALIFIER
What a weekend for Ozark Juniors 181 team! The Ozark Juniors 181 coach, Denise Baez, guided the girls to the first tournament win of a National Qualifier in the History of Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club and Delta Region Volleyball. It is such an accomplishment for those young ladies who put countless hours on the court working to achieve their goal. Ozark Juniors 181 defeated Capital City 18 Black in a tough battle for the 1st place of the Pacific Northwest Qualifier in Spokane, WA. Led by junior setter, #8 Hannah Allison, the team was able to get the victory in a 3 set match. The balanced effort on the outside from seniors Tatum Fredeen #20 and Katelyn McCarthy #22 and in the middle from sophomore Elizabeth Briones #12 and junior Kirstie Hesseltine #10 led the team to one of the best matches in their careers. This win could not have happened without the strong right side block from senior Cassie Clarke #1 and the outstanding defense of senior defensive specialist, Jamie Haworth #32, and libero, Mindy Gowen #4. “With such an outstanding defense and balanced attack, we were able to control the matches and come out with the victory”, said Coach Denise Baez. “It was a team effort and a tribute to their hard work”. “We can’t wait to get injured middle hitter, Haley Martin, back with the team and start preparing for the Junior Olympics Championships at the end of June”.
7/7/08
 Ozark Juniors 161 - Finished 9th at the Junior National Olympic Championships by winning the Silver Division. Ozark Juniors 171 finished 31st, and Ozark Juniors 131 finished 42nd.
5/20/08
 Tara Fredeen is the 3rd Ozark Juniors athlete that signed with John Brown University. Congratulations Tara we are proud of you. Good luck with your season. We are sure you will have lots of fun with Kirsten Lee.
5/18/08
 Kassie Keeter signs with John Brown University. Congratulations Kassie we are proud of you. Good luck with your season.
5/12/08
Hannah Allison (Ozark 161) is one of the 22 girls selected to be a part of the USA Volleyball 2008 Girls’ Youth National Training Team (GYNTT). These 22 girls were picked from across the country and will come together in Atlanta to participate in a three day training/tryout. All 22 athletes will vie for the 12 spots on the Girls’ Youth National Team (GYNT) roster. The training/tryout is at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, GA, from May 15th to May 18th. The 12 players selected from this group will represent USA Volleyball as our 2008 GYNT at the NORCECA Continental Championships in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The NORCECA Continental Championship competition will run from July 3-11. Congratulation Hannah!!!
Ozark Athletes who made the A1 High Performance Developmental Camp
Kirstie Hesseltine (Ozark 161)
Martha Swearengen (Ozark 151)
Staci Williamson (Ozark 161)
Shanna Seyfarth (Ozark 162) - Shanna also made the Delta Region HP National Team
Sydney Marsellis (Ozark 161
Aubrey Marsellis (Ozark 151)
Haley Martin (Ozark 171)
Alicia Swearengen (Ozark 151)
Courtney Marshall (Ozark 152) - Courtney also made the Delta Region HP National Team.
Ozark Athletes who made the A2 High Performance Developmental Camp
Tatum Marshall (Ozark Juniors 131)
Jessie Heuertz (Ozark Joplin 14).
Jessie also made made the Commuinity Olympic Development Program (CODP) in Springfield, MO with Lori Endicott Vandersnick for the 2nd year in a row.
5/12/08
16 out of the 25 girls selected for the Arkansas Athletic Outreach (AAO) Top 25 Camp were Ozark girls and 4 out of the 8 of the individual awards were presented to Ozark girls. Here is the list. Way to go girls!!!
Allie Wade Ozark 161
Elizabeth Briones Ozark 161
Haley Martin Ozark 171 Best Blocker
Hannah Allison Ozark 161 MVP
Jamie Haworth Ozark 171
Jill Barrett Ozark 161
Katelyn McCarthy Ozark 171 Best Server
KatyBeth Carlson Ozark 171 Best Hitter
Kirstie Hesseltine Ozark 161
Kristin Hylton Ozark 161
Martha Swearingen Ozark 151
Rachel Woodson Ozark 171
Roxi Hazelwood Ozark 171
Staci Williamson Ozark 161
Sydney Marsellis Ozark 161
Tatum Fredeen Ozark 171
1/15/08
High School All Ameican
Congratulations to Jessie Wade, Hannah Allison, and Yazmin Hernandez who were named as PrepVolleyball.com 2007 High School All Americans
(Highest Honerable Mention)
Only four Arkansas players made the list and three of them from Ozark Juniors.
Jessie Wade and Jordan Waggener were named to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All Star Team for the West.
New Member to the Ozark Family
 Kale Dedrick Cirillo born on 1/08/2008 at 5:06am. 7lbs. 4 oz and 20 1/2 inces long. He is BEAUTIFUL!! Mamma Nicole Corillo (Ozark Joplin Director) is the happiest :))).
Ozark Junior/Siloam Springs Rocket Jessie Wade signs with national powerhouse, Washburn U.
Courtesy of Washburn U Athletic Website
Head coach Chris Herron announced that six high school seniors have signed national letters of intent to attend Washburn next fall and play volleyball with the Lady Blues. The early period recruiting class features two players from Kansas, two from Nebraska, one from Missouri and one from Arkansas.
Jessica Wade • 6-1 • Fr. • MH • Siloam Springs, Ark. • Siloam Springs HS
Siloam Springs High School
Jessica lettered in volleyball for three years for the Panthers as a middle hitter…she helped her team to three straight state championships and was named the state tournament MVP her senior year…she also earned all-state and all-conference honors and spots on the state all-tournament team her final two years.
Personal
Jessica was born on January 18, 1990…she plans on majoring in graphic/interior design…her parents are Melanie and Todd Wade…her uncle, Dave Waggoner, played football at Louisville.
11/15/07
www.prepvolleyball.com
Ozark Juniors and Siloam Springs High School sisters, Sarah and Hannah Allison, were voted national finalists for Senior & Freshman High School Player of the Year awards in the respective classes by www.prepvolleyball.com
Sarah Allison excerpt....
".....Voted 2006 PrepVolleyball All American...this is her 2nd Prep All American Award....." She was voted one of the Top 25 High School Seniors in the Nation as well as voted the Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Hannah Allison excerpt......
"......About three weeks ago, we released our 10 finalists for freshman of the year honors. Each had outstanding years, but we narrowed the field to four, Hannah Allison of Arkansas’ Siloam Springs, Brianna Gannon of Michigan City Marquette in Indiana, Alexis Olgard of Washington’s Mead High and Wintzinger. Each of the four had been catalysts for state title runs, stat leaders on their team and named to at least one all state team."
Hannah Allison (15 National) makes the A1 USA Select High Performance Camp
Kelsey Harris (18 National) commits to Hendrix College
Jennifer Hauskey (18 National) commits to Mississippi State University
Antonia Jones won "The Utilitarian" award from Prep Volleyball at the President's Classic tournament in Omaha, NE (click here)
Ozark Alumni Catherine Fowler named 2005-2006 Gatorade Arkansas Volleyball Player of the Year
Sarah Allison made Prep All American for High School (click here)
KatyBeth Carlson participates in the 2005 USA Volleyball Austin Holiday Camp (click here)
Jennifer Hauskey appears in the most prestigious volleyball magazine
(click here)
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Ozark Kaepa Juniors gained National Recognition by being featured on PrepVolleyball.com . Prepvolleyball.com is the nations leading source for volleyball information. It has replaced "Volleyball Magazine" as the "Sports Illustrated" of Volleyball.
Things Looking Up For Ozark
by Matth Scherer on 5/5/2005 | Printable Version
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In a state like Arkansas where volleyball is at most a second thought, Kurt Matthews of Ozark Juniors aims to make it a first option. And he’s doing it quickly, with a goal of being one of the biggest clubs in the nation in a very short time…. |
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Even with gas hovering at $2.20 a gallon, and the time it takes to get her daughter to practices and competitions for the Ozark Juniors in Springdale, Arkansas, Carol Seaton said she doesn’t mind driving her daughter, Kristen, from far away Fort Smith. “It’s hard at times and it’s inconvenient sometimes for us to drive her there,” said Carol Seaton, “but she loves the coaches and the girls on the team.”
For the Seatons, the 67-mile, one-way trip from their home to the All Star Sports Arena is worth the effort. Kristen, a senior, accepted a scholarship to the University of Arkansas and was named to the PrepVolleyball.com All American team.
Yet, if Kurt Matthews, the director of operations at the All Star Sports Arena, held a contest for most mileage accumulated traveling from their homes to his new volleyball and basketball arena, the Seatons would not be listed among the top 10 of this hypothetical competition.
Kayla Allison, who drives more than 120 miles one way from Jenks, Oklahoma, to take part in the club’s weekend practices and competitions, might be the winner of Matthews unofficial “Longest Round Trip To Attend Practice With The Ozark Juniors” contest.
Unlike other successful club volleyball programs located in metropolitan centers, Ozark is drawing volleyball players from all over Arkansas as well as neighboring Missouri and Oklahoma communities, both to his main facility and to several Ozark satellite programs.
“The main goal of the satellite programs is to help develop the sport in the areas that do not traditionally have competitive volleyball and to give the more talented players a chance to play locally and not have to drive here,” said Matthews, a former assistant coach at the University of Arkansas. “This also helps our program give the players of less experience a chance to get better for their scholastic teams.
“Bringing kids in to practice helped us get better competitively and helped those kids gain exposure in areas that didn't feature juniors teams that traveled to the big tournaments.”
Even with the success of athletes like Seaton and Allison, who has committed to Arkansas State, Matthews and his director of coaching, Lori Schaal, have a difficult time convincing parents that volleyball is worth the investment and commitment for their daughters.
“The problem in Arkansas is that our players’ mothers didn’t play volleyball when they were in high school,” said Schaal. “For them, the only sport was basketball.” Matthews adds that high school basketball coaches haven’t wanted talented two-sport athletes to play high school basketball and then attend an Ozark club practice.
“There are a couple of coaches who have some of our players stay behind to work on free throws or find some reason to keep them longer because they don’t want them playing volleyball even if the player could get a better scholarship in volleyball,” he said.
Matthews adds that high school basketball is still the kingpin of women’s prep sports in these parts. Like prep football coaches in neighboring Texas, coaching careers depend on their won-loss records, and some basketball coaches make their players choose between volleyball and basketball.
Still, more and more parents in the Ozark programs are now pushing for changes in school coaching policies, Matthews said.
“When small schools start to do well in volleyball thanks to the introduction of club volleyball in their community, we will get better support,’ he said.
Doug Freden, an assistant coach for Ozark’s 16-year-old national team, said club volleyball must bridge the gap between what his program is teaching his daughter and what they learn during their fall scholastic season.
“One of the things which is helping our players is the way Kurt organizes practices,” he said. “Kurt is very good at breaking down the passing routine into the small technical stuff. He does a great job of helping the girls understand the little things that get overlooked.”
Janice Coulter, a mother with three players in the Ozark national level program, said she is glad that her daughters, Katie, 17, Kelsey, 15, and Courtney, 13, have a choice between basketball and volleyball as major team sports in Arkansas.
“If you saw Kelsey, who is six foot and 145 pounds, you would think that she would be a perfect basketball player,” Janice Coulter said. “Kelsey doesn’t have the heart for basketball. Her sport is volleyball.”
Started three years ago with 20 players, Ozark Juniors now has over 400 competitors, including satellite programs in Conway, Springdale, Bentonville, and Joplin, Missouri. Their goal is to have 1,000 kids in the club by Feb. 2008, part of their “1,000 Kids/1,000 Days” campaign and to become not only the largest club in the United States, but a national power as well.
“When we brought Ozark to the national level, we were like the red-haired step child,” said Freden. “Everyone knew that when they played us that we were going to be an easy win for them.”
Things have changed for the Ozark program. The 14-year-old team finished sixth at the Lone Star Volleyball tourney last weekend in Austin.
“We’re getting a lot of college coaches watching us play in these tournaments,” said Freden.
Even if his “1,000 Kids, 1,000 Days” campaign succeeds by the 2008 target date, that may not be enough to completely satisfy Matthews.
“Our goal is to have 1500 kids or 150 teams,” said Matthews. “Even, if it kills me.” |
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FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas volleyball signee Kristin Seaton was named one of PrepVolleyball.com's 2004 High School All-Americans according to the publication’s web site. 
OZARK Alumni, Amy Allison, chosen ALL SEC
