Top 10 Reasons to Play for D1

1, 2, and 3)  COACHING, COACHING, COACHING.  The hallmark of the D1 program is our unparalleled caliber of coaching.  We are one of only a handful of clubs in the country where you can find current Division I and II men's collegiate volleyball coaches actively leading junior boys teams.  Led by co-director Shane Davis, the Head Men's Volleyball Coach at Loyola University Chicago, we offer unrivaled coaching leadership and professionalism.  The vast majority of our coaches are current or former collegiate players or coaches-- they know what it takes to compete at the highest level of the game, and they have the knowledge and skills to lead athletes to their fullest potential. 

4)  WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!  D1 is not a place where you will find cranky, burned-out coaches and directors.  We are young, fresh, and full of enthusiasm for the sport.  Many of us have chosen volleyball as a lifelong profession, and we want to spread our love of volleyball to everyone we can.

5)  WE ARE GREAT AT WHAT WE DO...and our membership growth shows it.  As a first year club, we had 42 D1 Player, Dan French, getting a block at the 2008 Open Nationals in Atlantaathletes play for us.  In our second year, we had over 100 athletes tryout and we fielded 7 teams (nearly doubling our membership from the first year).  In 2010, our 18 Green team finished 5th Place in the Gold Division at Nationals, an achievement few club organizations have earned in such a short amount of time. And in 2011, we fielded 11 teams with 6 teams competing in the National tournament.  

6)  ORGANIZATION/COMMUNICATION.  Our player and parents are ALWAYS in-the-loop with practice and tournament schedules, travel details, special camp and collegiate volleyball news, you name it.  Our dedicated director, Andrea, is always available to answer questions and she keeps things running smoothly all year long (just ask anyone who's played for us)!

7)  MENTORING.  We believe young athletes look to their coaches for more than just volleyball training.  For example, our athletes often want to talk with us about their college plans, how to balance their high school academic and athletic responsibilities, etc.  As competitive youth volleyball players, they are making sacrifices all the time to give their best to the sport.  We believe in doing the same-- our coaches are positive role models both on and off the court. 

8)  COLLEGIATE VOLLEYBALL INSIGHT.  If your goal is to play volleyball in college, you likely have a million questions about the process.  Luckily, at D1, no question has to go unanswered, because we employ coaches with vast collegiate volleyball playing and/or coaching experience.  Want to know what a Division I Men's Volleyball Coach is looking for in a prospective athlete?  Ask Shane Davis, Head Men's Volleyball Coach at Loyola University Chicago. Curious about what it might be like managing your studies, social life, and playing on a nationally-ranked men's volleyball team?  Ask Mark Hulse, Kyle Exline, etc....

D1 parents and coaches out for dinner at a tournament9 and 10)  IT FEELS LIKE FAMILY AT D1.  Aside from all the volleyball-related benefits of playing for us, there's one final aspect of the experience we can't leave out.  You're part of the D1 family when you play for us.  We can't deny it-- as much as we are strong and competitive-- we are warm and welcoming.  Our weekend travel tournaments are always a blast for our parents and coaches to mingle outside of the gym atmosphere, and we are certain many of the friendships we have formed through the club will last a long, long time.

Still have questions?  Email our Director, Andrea at andrea@d1chicago.com