With volleyball's rising popularity among junior athletes, clubs like the United Volleyball Club in Alabama are stepping up to offer not only competitive training, but also a supportive community and essential life lessons, making it a sport of choice for many aspiring athletes.
Born and raised in Huntsville, Heather Sodade has worked with some of the largest tech companies in Alabama, including Boeing and SLS (Space Launch Systems). As an Electrical Design Integration Architect, she’s a trained problem solver in the world of engineering. She taps the same solution-driven skill set to empower her community as director of UnitedVolleyball.Club.
As a female trailblazer in her niche of tech & engineering, Sodade hopes to inspire girls to delve into tech as well as the world of athletics. Her passions and hobbies all tie back to the sport of volleyball. “I still play and I coach young girls both in beach and indoor volleyball.” Alabama’s UnitedVolleyball.Club in Huntsville and Athens is dedicated to fostering the growth of volleyball in its community by offering affordable, elite indoor and beach training for kids ages 8-18. Its camps and clinics provide newcomers with an introduction to the sport, while United’s Locals and Club Teams offer dedicated players opportunities to develop both character and technical skill.
Once considered a picnic pastime, volleyball is surging in popularity among junior athletes, especially girls; 2015 marked the first year that saw more high school aged girls playing volleyball than basketball according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Volleyball is the most popular team sport among girls in both high school and college. Additionally, boys' high school volleyball has grown by 40% since 2017, making it the fastest-growing sport in the country.
Increased media coverage, expanded collegiate opportunities, and the success of professional leagues like the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) is driving much of the growth, and new volleyball organizations and leagues like the UnitedVolleyball.Club are springing up all over the country to support the new athletes.
For a community organization director who also happens to be an engineer, the tech-savvy Sodade believes the volleyball club must also operate seamlessly in the digital realm. Specifically, she says “we believe in providing a reliable and consistent platform for registration to meet the needs of the club as we grow.”
In addition to easy registration, the club opted for a .CLUB domain for its URL. “If it works for your business, then go for it! It makes you unique versus the standard .com,” she advises.
United Volleyball Club prides itself on its dedicated staff of directors and qualified coaches, who enhance the club's culture. Their dedication ensures a safe, respectful, and enjoyable learning experience for all junior athletes involved.
United’s commitment to its athletes is not limited to their time in the club. Its in-house Recruiting Director, Ashley Hardee, draws on his extensive expertise as a former D-1 Volleyball Coach and two-time Great West Conference Coach of the Year, to guide athletes and their parents through college placement to ensure continued growth.
“It’s rewarding when the coaches of the club buy into the mission,” says Sodade, “and live by the mission. Makes you realize the culture you are working towards is starting to form and makes you proud.”
Through innovative programs like United Unlimited, the club’s unique annual membership program, United Volleyball Club supports young athletes of all backgrounds. The membership helps offset the potentially prohibitive costs often associated with club sports. The initiative helps reduce expenses such as try-out fees, season dues, and other training and classes, and reflects the club’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity within the communities it serves. For those interested in learning more about the club’s mission and programs, please visit their website UnitedVolleyball.club.