GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The girls volleyball scene in West Michigan has grown tremendously over the last 25-30 years and a large part of that is the rise in success of local club options. This week we take a look at four of the options across West Michigan that bring in players and families from all across the state.

The main points of contact are these locations

Northwest Side – Inside Out Volleyball – Muskegon

Southwest Side – Impact Dynamic Volleyball – Hudsonville

Southeast Side – FaR Out Volleyball – Grand Rapids (Cutlerville)

Northeast Side – Michigan Volleyball Academy – Grand Rapids (Cascade)

We caught up with the club directors at each of these to give a short program overview and also to highlight when tryouts would be for the 2025-26 club season.

 

Impact Dynamic

  • Club Director – Rey Castillo
  • Club Offerings – Club Teams (6th – 12th grade) and Youth Programs K-8th grade
  • Tryouts – October 12 (12-14’s) and October 19 (15-18’s)
  • Primary Goal – “Our primary goal has always been the developmental approach to all of our players – local to travel. And the little things that go with it like servant leadership.” Rey Castillo
  • One Big accomplishment  – One big thing for our club is moving into a brand new facility a couple of years ago.

Inside Out

  • Club Director – Rick Rykse
  • Club Offerings – 10’s-18’s Girls Teams
  • Tryouts – October 19 and 26 (12-14’s) and November 2/9/16 (15-18’s)
  • Primary Goal – “Creating an opportunity for players of all skill levels to improve their volleyball skills as they prepare for school teams or college teams” Rick Rykse
  • One Big accomplishment – One of our  biggest accomplishments is the number of people that we have been able to keep involved in volleyball after the move from playing club volleyball. We strive to move as many kids as possible on to college programs while also creating opportunities in coaching in reffing for these young players. We also just broke ground on a new 8 court facility in Fruitport Twp that is scheduled to be completed in July of next year. 

FaR Out

  • Club Director – Joe and Roxane Steenhuysen
  • Club Offerings – Teams for 12-18s. Four levels National, Regional, State, Local, Camps (individual, positions and team), Lessons for 6-12th graders, Youth Academy K-6th graders, 456ers for 4-6th graders 
  • Tryouts – October 5 (12’s), October 12 (13’s) and October 19 (14’s)
  • Primary Goal – “FaR Out’s primary goal is to provide a place for young female athletes to compete at their highest level, learn how to work hard and have an outlet where they can make lifelong friends in an environment fostered around, teaching both on and off court life skills” – Joe Steenhuysen
  • One Big accomplishment  – “The continued rate of improvement at each of our levels and age groups that has allowed us to garner a 2025 US Club Ranking of 42nd nationally. We are the only club in West Michigan ranked. This is not possible without our staff, coaches, and athletes at every level implementing and living out our Trust. Love. Family. culture.”

Michigan Volleyball Academy

  • Club Director – Craig Vlietstra
  • Club Offerings – Many opportunities from Toddler to 18’s including teams at three different locations
  • Tryouts (Grand Rapids) – September 7 (15-16’s), September 21 (13-14’s) and October 5 (12’s) (also has separate tryouts for Shore (Holland) and House (Norton Shores)
  • Primary Goal – “At Michigan Volleyball Academy we teach, train, and encourage young women to excel in both the sport of volleyball and in their everyday life.  We create a positive, cooperative spirit between players, coaches, parents, and club” – Kelly Delacher (Director of Coaching)
  • One Big accomplishment – The development of a top-notch coaching and leadership team and they are excited to expand and offer new programs along the lakeshore in Holland and Muskegon area.

 

The growth of the game has changed dramatically over the last 25-30 years especially in the state of Michigan where girls volleyball used to be played in the winter months and since the early 2000’s it has since moved to a fall sport as it switched with girls basketball.

  • MVA – “Opportunities have risen dramatically in the last 30 years. If young athletes want to play the sport of volleyball, there are now multiple levels and options available in West Michigan. With the success of the Grand Rapids Rise professional volleyball team, we have seen an even higher interest in young female volleyball players who can strive to play at the highest level in their hometown”
  • FaR Out – “Volleyball continues to grow fast as athletes fall in love with the sport’s pace of play and team camaraderie. Clubs have also expanded their ability to offer youth programming, getting athletes exposed to the sport sooner in environments they enjoy being in and also teaching the game in ways that allow them to improve at noticeable benchmarks and skills”
  • Impact – “The growth of volleyball in GR has been amazing! In the 90’s we have a couple clubs that only had 2-3 teams to the early 2000’s where a couple more clubs pop up and it multiplied the number of players playing. And now in the present time, it is exciting to see the participation of players and the number of clubs in the area that has grown significantly especially now with the middle and high school boys are in the middle of volleyball growth.”
  • Inside Out – “The skill level and athleticism has increased tremendously over the years due mainly to the added opportunities that now exist for everyone. The level of coaching also continues to go up as there are so many more opportunities for younger coaches to get involved and seek a career as a coach”

 

With so many great clubs and coaching and development, it leaves families with some hard decisions to make on where to send their daughter for that extra training outside of the season or to generate some love for the game! Some pieces of advice from all

  • MVA – “There are many options, so it is important for families to do research and find out what is really important to them and will best fit their daughter and their family”
  • FaR Out – “Go shopping! Make sure to be thorough in evaluating where you want to help your daughter reach her on court goals while also becoming a strong independent young woman ready to chase her life dreams and goals! Club volleyball is a large financial commitment. You deserve to have the opportunity to check out each offering you would like and be loyal to the dreams of your daughter, not an organization. You don’t buy the first prom dress you see!”
  • Impact – “My advice to parents and players looking at club options in our area would be the culture of the club. Each one is unique in their own way and approach. West Michigan is fortunate enough to have four great clubs. I’d say to research each club and go to the one that is in line with what they think works well for their daughter and sons. Between master coaching style of teaching to their team and individuality approach of coaching. What I mean is they must know if their daughter/son will thrive in the program coaching style development or individual team dynamic approach of development. And also consider more tourney with further travel commitment to manageable not as far travel commitment.”
  • Inside Out – “Pick a club based on what is right for your daughter.  There are so many clubs out there and each one is unique in what they offer. Find a team with a great coach and a commitment level that works for you and your family.”

 

2025 Fall Girls Volleyball MSR Broadcast Schedule

  • September 11 – Caledonia at Byron Center
  • September 23 – South Christian at Hudsonville mini
  • October 9 – Reeths Puffer at Byron Center
  • October 16 – South Christian at West Catholic
  • Oct 23 – FH Northern at GR Christian
  • Oct 28 – Mona Shores at Jenison
  • Oct 30 – GR Christian at Rockford

 

MSR Weekly Top-10 Poll – OK Conference and River Cities Alliance

  1. Rockford – early season tourney wins at TC West, Cornerstone and Grand Haven Invite
  2. FH Northern – won the Lakeshore Invitational
  3. GR Christian – early win over Lowell
  4. Lowell – big wins over many top teams including Hudsonville, Byron Center, Mona Shores and South Christian
  5. Jenison – Impressive start to season with lone loss to FH Northern
  6. Grand Haven – solid early season record with only setbacks to Brighton, Rockford and FHN
  7. Byron Center – big wins over EGR and South Christian
  8. South Christian – have played a strong schedule thus far
  9. Hudsonville – Gearing up for OK-Red play soon
  10. East Grand Rapids – undefeated after season opening loss to Byron Center

Honorable Mention – Holland Christian, Mona Shores, GR Catholic, Tri-Unity Christian, Northview, Fruitport, Caledonia

 

The week that was…

  • Jenison posted four wins at the Unity Christian Invite – beating Otsego, Unity, Calvin Christian and Kalamazoo Christian
  • Lowell had an impressive showing at Hudsonville as the Red Arrows beat the host Eagles as well as South Christian, Northview and Byron Center
  • South Christian posted a 3-1 mark at Hudsonville with their only setback to Lowell
  • Grand Haven hosted the End of Summer bash and picked up wins over Mattawan., GR Christian and FH Central
  • Rockford went 4-0 at the Grand Haven End of Summer Bash
  • Battle on the Boardwalk – an outdoor competition in Grand Haven completed its 13th year

The week ahead…

  • Tuesday – Holland Christian is hosting a tri-meet with GR Christian and South Christian – first time that D2 powers (South and GR) will meet since last year’s Regional Final
  • Tuesday – Grandville is hosting a quad along with GR Catholic Central, Unity Christian and Caledonia
  • Thursday – Lowell at Coopersville – the top two teams in the River Cities Alliance start league play
  • Saturday – East Kentwood Invite as well as the Rock and Rumble hosted by Rockford
  • Saturday – Fruitport is hosting a big tournament including Coopersville and Montague