"Go" side,  "left" side, "strong" side, "power" side, just a few of the many nicknames for an outside hitter. Typically at tryouts you will see this position have the most number of players in contention, and for good reason. The outside spot plays an essential role in your team's system. Ideally they will play all-around, are one of your top attackers and serve receivers, and act as the safety net for most broken plays. On a broad note, this is a good summary to answer the question of "Why is an outside hitter so important?". Let's dig in a little deeper to see what the finer detai ..read more

The other half of Boston University’s top tier outside hitting duo, Alana King is the youngest of three volleyball siblings. From my own hometown of Newton, MA, I have known Alana since she was in middle school. By then, Alana was already a few years into her volleyball career. Starting when she was 9 years old, she first got an interest in the sport through her older sister Becca who was playing for the Newton North High School team. Alana would tag along with her parents to watch her sister’s games, “decked out in black and orange”, and had an immediate interest in the sport. She first lear ..read more

One of the best outside hitters playing in the NWCVL right now, and arguably one of the best volleyball players around Boston, Alex Braverman is the current president for the Boston University Women’s Club Volleyball program. As someone my own team plays against almost every tournament, Alex has done her fair share in giving me grey hairs. A player with an all-around skill set and an incredible ability to power swing to any part of the court, she is the type of player you love to have but hate to play against. Alex is from Sudbury, MA. She got her start in 7th grade, when her dad Michael (who ..read more

"Go" side,  "left" side, "strong" side, "power" side, just a few of the many nicknames for an outside hitter. Typically at tryouts you will see this position have the most number of players in contention, and for good reason. The outside spot plays an essential role in your team's system. Ideally they will play all-around, are one of your top attackers and serve receivers, and act as the safety net for most broken plays. On a broad note, this is a good summary to answer the question of "Why is an outside hitter so important?". Let's dig in a little deeper to see what the finer detai ..read more

The other half of Boston University’s top tier outside hitting duo, Alana King is the youngest of three volleyball siblings. From my own hometown of Newton, MA, I have known Alana since she was in middle school. By then, Alana was already a few years into her volleyball career. Starting when she was 9 years old, she first got an interest in the sport through her older sister Becca who was playing for the Newton North High School team. Alana would tag along with her parents to watch her sister’s games, “decked out in black and orange”, and had an immediate interest in the sport. She first lear ..read more

One of the best outside hitters playing in the NWCVL right now, and arguably one of the best volleyball players around Boston, Alex Braverman is the current president for the Boston University Women’s Club Volleyball program. As someone my own team plays against almost every tournament, Alex has done her fair share in giving me grey hairs. A player with an all-around skill set and an incredible ability to power swing to any part of the court, she is the type of player you love to have but hate to play against. Alex is from Sudbury, MA. She got her start in 7th grade, when her dad Michael (who ..read more

A coach's worst nightmare. You have all the talent you need to make a successful team, but player personalities start clashing and the chemistry kills the skill. Knowing how to manage different personalities as a coach is essential into building a great team. It can be the most difficult part of coaching by far, and takes a ton of practice. Follow these guidelines to make sure every player you coach can benefit from your leadership ..read more

The player and coach relationship is a very special one. When it works, the relationship is a two way street where both coach and player work together every step of the way to achieve the same goal. While the benchmarks and end goal should ideally be the same for both sides, the differences between playing volleyball and coaching volleyball are in the approach to each step. For players just making the switch to coaching, the adjustment can be hard to grasp at first but make complete sense once they are laid out ..read more

Tryouts are an exciting time of the season. Full of expectations and high hopes for the upcoming season, with the added thrill of seeing what new talent shows up to play this year. With so many bodies moving around on the court, tryouts can get very chaotic. The risk of injuries, drills ineffective at showcasing skills, or being distracted while a skilled player performs well are all things that can hurt your team in the long run. In order to minimize these risks, here are some suggestions as the best way to structure a volleyball tryout ..read more

For a lot of coaches, a big challenge coming into the season is that their returning players begin the season out of shape. A main reason why athletes do not get the proper exercise they need during the offseason is a lack of location to train. Gym access is not always an option for players, especially if money is an issue. Luckily, Boston has a great selection of free outdoor spots athletes can go to to train for the upcoming season. Here are some of the best places for volleyball training around Boston ..read more