Ray Bradbury once said, “I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true – hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice.” These famous words are being lived out by a group of young athletes taking the club volleyball world by storm. Orlando Volleyball Academy (OVA) trains female volleyball players from ages twelve to eighteen and has made a habit out of transforming great players and making them exceptional. A combination of the insight the OVA coaches provide and the perseverance the players possess creates an environment that supports excellence and creates opportunities for players to excel.
Among the various teams OVA coaches, one team has been standing out game after game during the 2012 club season – the 17 Asics. Among several tournaments this year, the ladies of 17 Asics have outshined their national competition and secured a first place finish at the Mideast Qualifier and received a bid to the USAV Junior National Tournament to be held in Columbus, OH in July. The ladies will also travel to the National Junior Classic held in Chicago over Memorial Day Weekend.
Success for this team has not been a token of luck. These girls have put in work beyond what is asked of them, and in addition to training with the OVA staff and their coaches, Tanya Jarvis and Jeff Reavis, the team works on strength and speed training with Titus. Ryne Malone, Titus coach, describes the players as possessing such great skill that they tend to concentrate on their speed and strength rather than their skill development. “The girls need to be able to explode and create impact with their movements, so we work on their speed and their strength so that every hit is meaningful,” says Malone.
Coach Tanya Jarvis also appreciates the girls’ extensive hard work with Titus. Jarvis says, “Titus, along with our dedicated trainers Ryne Malone and Ross Hilaman, has given our girls a strong foundation and an advantage that will continue into their weight training and volleyball careers. The girls dedicate themselves to train with Titus 2-3 times a week, and we have seen a direct correlation to their performance on the court. They are stronger, all their verticals have increased, and the endurance they now have is enough to push through the championship matches that we have had the privilege this season to play in.” Additionally, as most of the girls look towards college scholarships, Jarvis mentions, “All the girls will be going into similar weight and conditioning programs at their respective Colleges and Universities. Thanks to Titus, they are already ahead of the game.”
The hard work of the OVA 17 Asics is coming to fruition as showcased in their 2012 club season. As the girls continue to compete for National Ranking their dedication and discipline will be a remaining factor in their success. We wish the girls the best of luck as they compete this season and advance in their collegiate careers.
