Youth Volleyball Tryouts Recap: Meet NSSC’s 15 New 10U–14U Teams

If your daughter came home from the Sportsplex on Saturday tired, a little nervous and already asking what happens next, she wasn’t alone. NSSC’s youth volleyball tryouts for the 2026–27 season are officially a wrap, and what a day it was.

On Saturday, October 24, 180 athletes ages 10 to 14 filled the courts at The Sportsplex in Cape Girardeau to show our coaches what they can do. By Sunday night, 144 of them had committed to 15 brand-new NSSC teams that are ready to get to work.

Here’s a look back at tryout day, a first look at every 10U–14U team and coach, and what NSSC families can expect next.

Looking for your athlete? Every photo from tryout day is in the full NSSC youth tryouts photo gallery.

Tryout Day at the Sportsplex

The day ran in two sessions. Our 13U and 14U athletes checked in at 7:30 a.m. and were on the court from 8:30 to 11:00. The 10U, 11U and 12U athletes followed with an afternoon session from 12:30 to 3:00.

Each session opened with a huddle. Coaches walked athletes through the plan for the day, reminded them to breathe, and made sure every player knew one thing: this is a chance to show what you can do, not a test you pass or fail.

From there, athletes rotated through skill stations covering the fundamentals:

• Passing — forearm passes to target, reading the ball off the serve
• Setting — hand position, footwork and consistent location
• Serving — toss, contact and getting the ball over with control
• Movement and attitude — effort between reps, communication and how athletes respond after a miss

That last one matters more than most families realize. Our coaches watch how a player bounces back as closely as they watch her platform.

How Our Coaches Evaluate at Youth Volleyball Tryouts

Tryouts can feel high-stakes, especially for younger athletes walking into their first club season. That’s why we keep the focus on growth.

Evaluators with clipboards moved from court to court all day. That gives every athlete more than one set of eyes and more than one chance to shine.

Coaches are looking at more than who hits hardest today. They’re looking for:

1. Current skill level across passing, setting and serving
2. Coachability, or how quickly an athlete adjusts after feedback
3. Effort and energy when the drill gets tough
4. Where she will grow the most this season

That fourth point is the heart of NSSC. Many clubs carry one or two teams per age group. At NSSC, the number of teams we build each year is driven by tryout turnout and the coaches we have available. When the numbers are there, we add teams. That’s why some ages have up to five levels this season, from Nike down to Yellow, giving more athletes a roster spot where they’ll be challenged in the right ways and have room to rise.

The Afternoon Session: 10U–12U

The afternoon brought a new wave of energy. For many of our 10U, 11U and 12U athletes, this was their very first club tryout.

You could see confidence grow from the first drill to the last. Players who started the session quiet were calling the ball by the end.

Our coaches spent as much time teaching as evaluating. Quick tips on footwork, hand position and where to stand gave every athlete something to take home, team or no team.

Commitment Night Recap

Athletes who received offers joined us Sunday, October 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. for Commitment Night. By the end of the night, 144 athletes had committed for the 2026–27 season. Families locked in roster spots with the $600 down payment, and athletes were sized for their two Nike uniforms, which are included with every team.

It’s always one of our favorite nights of the year: the moment tryout nerves turn into team excitement.

Meet the 2026–27 NSSC 10U–14U Teams

This season NSSC fields 15 youth teams across five ages. Levels run, highest to lowest: Nike, Black, White, Gray and Yellow.

Team	Head Coach	Assistant Coach
14 Nike	Madyson Eller	Symone Owens
14 Black	Jessica Sostillio
14 White	Cassi Schaefer
14 Gray	Emily Gray
14 Yellow	Sam Dohogne
13 Black	Liz Bolin
13 White	Kelsi Siebert
13 Gray	Lauren Kline
12 Nike	Lori Meyer	Holly Hoesli
12 Black	Lindsey Bickings
12 White	Ava Stephens
12 Gray	Bailey McCoy	Chase Schaefer
11 Black	April Burchard
11 White	Madyson Eller
10 Black	Kara Kassel

Final 14 White, Gray and Yellow rosters will be set after the first two practices. Steve Beydler also returns this season in a club assistant role.

Every NSSC coach is USA Volleyball certified. Our staff includes former college athletes, high school coaches and returning NSSC mentors.

What’s New This Season: Club and School, Without the Conflict

The 2026–27 season brings a new structure built around the junior high school season. Under the MSHSAA rule, junior high players can play club until their first school game, then must stop for the school season.

Here’s how that works at NSSC:

• 14 Nike, 14 Black and 13 Black break after the February 21 tournament and return at the beginning of April. They have no March tournaments.
• 13U and 14U White and Gray teams finish their season after the February 21 tournament.
• 12U and younger play through mid-to-late March, with 12 Nike running to the end of April or the first of May.

Athletes keep playing the sport they love for their school without choosing between teams. That means less burnout, less stress and more volleyball.

What’s Next for NSSC Families

Now the real fun begins. Here’s what’s coming up:

• First practices — teams hit the court starting Sunday, November 1. All teams practice twice a week at the Cape Sportsplex or the Osage Center, and your coach will share your team’s schedule.
• Uniforms — Nike uniforms ordered at Commitment Night will arrive ahead of the first tournaments.
• Picture Day — individual and team photos for every NSSC athlete on a Sunday in December. Date coming soon.

Didn’t land the spot you hoped for? You’re still part of the NSSC Family. Every athlete gets an honest evaluation, and our skills clinics, open gyms and private lessons are built to help her come back stronger. Check the NSSC tryouts page for upcoming opportunities.

Thank You, NSSC Family

To every athlete who stepped on the court Saturday: we’re proud of you. Showing up takes courage, and you did it.

To our parents, thank you for trusting NSSC with your daughters’ growth. And to our coaches and volunteers, thank you for a smooth, encouraging day from first check-in to last whistle.

Youth volleyball tryouts are just the beginning. Follow along on Instagram @nsscvolleyball and keep up with team news on the NSSC News page. We can’t wait to watch this group grow, compete and rise.

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