Local Girls Volleyball Teams Travel to Tampa

TAMPA, FLORIDA - This weekend 4 local girls volleyball clubs with 35 teams traveled to Tampa to compete in the 2011 Tampa United Kickoff Junior Volleyball 3 Day Tournament.  219 teams competed at the Tampa Convention Center over President's Day Weekend.  This is the first time this year that all four local clubs have competed in the same tournament.

At least one of our local teams placed in the top half in 12 divisions.

11s and under – Venetian Bay (2 teams) came in 3rd our of 6
12s – Suncoast Regional Black finished 5th out of 18
13 Open – Venetian Bay Panthers finished 2nd out of 11
13 Club – Venetian Bay Cheetah finished 5th out of 19
14 Open – Venetian Bay Jaguars came in 5th out of 20
- Suncoast 14 national Black came in 7th out of 20
14 Club – Suncoast 14 National Red finished 9th out of 26
15 Club – MAV 15 Elite came in 2nd out of 30 teams
- Suncoast 15 National Red came in 9th out of 30 teams
- SVA 15 Navy came in 9th out of 30 teams
16 Open – Suncoast National Black came in 11th out 22 teams
16 Club – SVA 16 Navy came in 9th out of 34 teams
17 Open – Venetian Bay Tigers came in 3rd out of 22 teams
- SVA 17 Navy Elite came in 9th out of 22 teams
17 Club – Suncoast 17 National came in 3rd out 14 teams
18 Club – Suncoast 18 National came in 5th out of 16 teams
- MAV 18 Elite came in 5th out of 16 teams

Suncoast Volleyball Club had 7 teams finish in the top half this weekend.  Director Jeff Horr was happy with his club overall results but expects more from his teams in next month’s Tournaments in Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.  “Most teams have now completed 2 or 3 tournaments with about another 5 tournaments to go.  It was a good weekend but we can and will do better.  Our 14s, 15s, and 18s did well this weekend”.

Venetian Bay Volleyball Director Brian Wheatley was proud of his club with 6 of his 10 teams finishing in the top half.  Coach Wheatley remarked “Venetian Bay had an outstanding tournament with overall great results. It’s evident that teams are competing on a more consistent basis which is a tribute to the players and coaches hard work.”

The 4 clubs have over 35 teams participating in tournaments through out Florida with 11 of the teams traveling out of state to compete in National Qualifying Tournaments.  This year some of National and Elite Teams will be traveling to Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, and St. Louis as well as Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando.

For more information visit the clubs' websites:

Manatee Area Volleyball Club -  www.manateeareavolleyball.com
Sarasota Volleyball Academy - www.svavolleyball.com
Suncoast Volleyball Club - www.suncoastvolleyball.com
Venetian Bay Volleyball Club - www.venetianbayvbc.com