Southern Illinois Volleyball Academy

The mission of the SIVBA is to foster a love for volleyball in young women across all developmental levels

SIVBA is a premier volleyball academy in the Southern Illinois region that provides opportunities at both the elite and developmental levels. We are excited about the opportunities our academy brings to players in our area.. Under the leadership of Jessica Whitehead, Jo C Summers and Reggie Bateman, SIVBA has created a united club that will serve to develop stronger fundamentals in the developmental program and strengthen the resources to draw a larger pool of experienced players and create a truly elite volleyball program.

SIVBA Mission Statement

The mission of the SIVBA is to foster a love for volleyball in young women across all developmental levels.  SIVBA will use a developmental approach to teach, train, and empower players to excel in the sport of volleyball, while creating positive and collaborative relationships between players, coaches, families and the academy. With a range of teams and skill levels, competing at the local, regional, or national level, every player will have the opportunity to play at the level that best matches their skill level and interest.

Why SIVBA Was Created

1. Clubs are currently fragmented, so abilities vary too much on each individual club team 
2. Allows for players and families to compete at the appropriate developmental level

• More competitive players are not challenged and newer players do not get the playing time and experience to grow
• Teams are never strong enough with such a small tryout pool to compete at the levels of surrounding clubs, so we lose local player
• Strong players get to compete at higher level and in more competitive tournaments
• Newer players can learn volleyball without making a huge commitment to travel

Development Level Focus:

At the development level, our focus is on helping athletes learn the game, build foundational skills, and gain experience through local competition. We participate in local tournaments such as Cape, Perryville, Greenville, and Belleville, providing valuable opportunities for players to grow and compete in a supportive environment.

Regional Level Focus:

At the Regional level, our primary goal is to help athletes learn the game, build foundational skills, and gain valuable experience through competitive competition. We actively participate in regional tournaments and events across Cape Girardeau, Paducah, and St. Louis. These opportunities allow our players to grow their abilities and compete.

National Level Focus:

At the national level, our program emphasizes high-quality, competitive volleyball designed to push athletes to their highest potential. We challenge this group with elite-level competition, seeking out the strongest opponents to accelerate development and performance. Athletes at this level travel across the country to compete in top-tier tournaments, gaining exposure, experience, and the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of youth volleyball.