Top Select Volleyball Academy


STAFF


			German Del Valle-17VB Rags Head Coach/15VB Rags Assistant Coach
			German started playing volleyball at the age of eight and continued playing through high school. As early as middle school he was recognized as a leader, and teacher, on the court and was asked to help as an assistant coach for players his own age. He continued to help as an assistant coach throughout high school. Following high school, he coached at the high school, club, and semiprofessional volleyball levels. German was then named Athletic Director at Baptist High School in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He worked hard to build the volleyball program at the school and when he left, to move to the United States, his school had one of the top programs in Puerto Rico. After moving to the U.S., German coached for Orlando Volleyball Academy for three years. In each of those years, his teams qualified for Nationals (the Junior Olympics) with 5th place being his best finish. He then joined the Rollins College Volleyball staff as an assistant coach. That year Rollins make their first, and only, appearance (to date) to the NCAA Regional Tournament. German spent the next two years as Co-Director of Champions Volleyball Club. In addition to acting as a director for the club, he continued working as a head coach. In only his second year at Champions, he led his 15U team to the Junior Olympics. His team lost only one match during the four day tournament. They won the tournament in their division and brought home a Gold Medal!! To date, this is the only Central Florida team to ever win a National Championship. Last year German served as the founder and Director of Top Select Volleyball Academy. In the academy’s inaugural season he coached both the 14Elite and 16Elite teams. They ended the regular season ranked 6th and 7th respectively in the Florida USAV rankings. German and his assistant coaches led both of those teams to the Junior Olympics by winning the USAV Florida Regional Bid Tournament. German is currently working as a coach for Polk State College. He also works each summer with Division I college coaches serving on staff for team and individual camps. It gives him the opportunity to work with some of the top coaches in the country, in an effort to stay current with new training techniques and strategies.



				Carmelo "Melito" Eleutiza 12VB Rags Head Coach/14VB Rags Head Coach

				Carmelo “Melito” Eleutiza established Champions Volleyball Club in 2006 to 2008. In the first season, his 12 Elite team took 2nd place at the Big South National Qualifier in Atlanta, GA. In their last season his 12 Elite team won the Big South National Qualifier in Atlanta, GA, placed 2nd at the North East National Qualifier in Delaware, MD, and won the FL Regional Tournament. Ranked number one in the state of Florida, the 12 Elite qualified for the USAV Junior Olympics, and placed 13th overall. Carmelo started playing volleyball at age seven, and eventually played at the collegiate levels in his homeland of Puerto Rico. He has over 22 years experience in coaching elite youth volleyball. In his first year of coaching, Carmelo led A.R.S.E.L's 16U girls to become the first-ever Puerto Rican National Champions for there club. Carmelo has been an incredibly successful coach ever since this first win. His coaching record includes winning five U.S. Junior Olympic Championships in the 12U girls division, winning the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships in the 14U girls division, and taking third place in the boy’s 16U division at the U.S. National Junior Olympics. Carmelo became the former head coach for the City of Toa Baja professional volleyball league, where his team earned a record of 53-16 in his first two years. In his third year, his team went undefeated and won the league championship. Carmelo was also an assistant coach for the Captains of Arecibo and Llaneras of Toa Baja, a professional volleyball league in Puerto Rico. Carmelo previously coached at the Orlando Volleyball Academy for three years, where his 13U team became the Florida state champions, took 5th place at AAU National Championships, and earned a bid to the U.S. National Junior Olympics. Carmelo is the Club Technical Director for ARSEL Volleyball Club in Puerto Rico whose teams have won four medals at the AAU National Championship in Orlando 2010. His 14U team took 2nd place at the AAU National in the club division. Carmelo is currently Co- Director for Top Select Volleyball Club

				Daniel 'Danny" Eleutiza 13VB Rags Assistant Coach/16VB Rags Head Coach

				Daniel started playing volleyball at the age of 10 years old. At his young age Danny knowledge for the game was shown. His passion for the game came early in his years, at the age of 14 years Danny led his team to the Puerto Rico national championship for club. He was the setter for that team and captain also. At the age of 16’s Danny play for Arsel Eagles team and they went to New Orleans to play in the Junior Nationals for boys in the 16Open division where he’s team won the 1st place. They defeated nationally rank clubs like Sports Performance and Long Beach Volleyball Club. That year also Danny’s high school team won the National Championship Tournament for high school; he was selected in the All-American Team. He went to play college at the Universidad Del Sagrado Corazon in Puerto Rico, where his team won the National Championship for college teams in Puerto Rico. Danny finishes his playing semi-pro volleyball for his hometown in Toa Baja. Daniel started to coach volleyball at the age of 14 years old. His was coaching boys at this time for his club Arsel Eagles. The owner of the club saw something special in Danny started to work hand to hand with him to get the club to a next level. By the age of 18 years Danny had won 4 straight Puerto Rico national tournaments for club on the age of 14’s. On 3 of those seasons his team went undefeated beating every team they play. Danny won the AAU Nationals with his 12’s team at the open division. He also won the USAV Junior Nationals for girls with his 14’s team on the open division. That year his team defeated national rank clubs like KIVA, MAVA, Northern Lights and Munciana to become the champions. He also won that year every national tournament that his team won in Puerto Rico including the championship for the 16’s age group. Danny also was the assistant coach for semi-pro team in his home town Toa Baja. The year that he was assistant the team was the national champion of the puertorrican league. After that year he took over the team as the head coach and the team made it all the to the semi-finals. Danny finish his coaching at Puerto Rico when he went to Junior Nationals with his 15’s team and got the 3rd place in the 15Open division. On June 2007, Daniel Eleutiza decided to move to Orlando, Florida to coach a Champions Volleyball Club. He coach that year the 13Elite team, taking them to the USAV Nationals where he placed 15th place out of 68 teams. He also worked at camps and provide private lesson for the volleyball club. In 2008 Danny coach at Orlando Volleyball Academy where in the first year he took his Molten team to Junior Nationals finishing in 5th place. In 2010 he coached the 14Asics where his team finishes in the top 10 for the USAV Junior Nationals. In 2011 his 14Asics won the Big South Qualifier and the Show Me Qualifier and also finish at 3rd place in the Open division. Danny is currently the head coach for Winter Springs High School. At Top Select Danny will be the Director of Operations and will be helping hand to hand with the training of the club.


				Yvonne Perez 15 Select Head Coach




				Ed Dominguez 12VB Rags Assistant Coach/14VB Rags Assistant Coach




				Mayra Cuebas 12 Top Head Coach/17 Top Head Coach

				Mayra began playing volleyball in high school. She played both opposite and outside hitter. She was a stand-out player and received a scholarship to University of Puerto Rico where she played middle blocker. She played all 4 years at the University, was team captain for three of those years, and was named MVP in her sophomore year. After playing in college, she played Professional Volleyball for the Puerto Rico League for 2 years. Following her years as a professional, she began her coaching career. She coached for three years with Elite Volleyball Club, Puerto Rico and has coached at the high school level (both JV and Varsity) for twelve seasons (5 years in Puerto Rico, and 7 years in the U.S.). This is her second season coaching the JV team at East Ridge High School and her second season with Top Select







				Molly Faust 18 Top Assistant Coach

				Molly started playing volleyball when she was 12, and played for Auburndale High School in Central Florida. During her high school years, she was selected for the all-county team for three years, and was the Polk County MVP for her junior and senior years. Molly earned a full scholarship to Troy State University, and was a four year starter as middle hitter/middle blocker. Molly was team captain and selected for 1st team all conference for three years at Troy State and was nominated as an all-American in her senior year. Molly still holds the Troy State records (Division II) for most blocks and highest hitting percentage today.Molly has been playing indoor women’s club volleyball and open beach volleyball for over 20 years and coaching Junior Volleyball for 7 years. She was the assistant coach with German Del Valle for the 15U USAV American Division National Champions. Proudly, her daughter, Kristin, was 15U MVP of the USAV National Tournament in Dallas TX that year. Molly holds a B.S. in Physical Education from Troy State University and a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University. Molly has been the personal training coordinator for 14 years at the Downtown Orlando YMCA. She has trained many young athletes including several of the club teams over the years.


				John (Hans) Holtkamp 15VB Rags Head Coach/14 Select Head Coach

				Hans is a natural athlete and enjoyed playing multiple sports in high school. He lettered three years in Cross Country and four years in Track. He ran to a 2nd place finish in the State Track Meet in the 800-meter run. He was named All-Conference in both sports. He started playing volleyball in his senior year of high school and has been playing and coaching ever since. He has played both indoor and beach volleyball for 10 years. In 1998 he began coaching both high school and club volleyball. In high school he has coached at the freshman, JV, and Varsity level. He helped lead his team to an undefeated season one year, winning the Conference and District title. He went on to lead his teams to two more District Championship games finishing as the runner-up. In club volleyball he has 11 years of experience coaching girls ages 14-17 with quite a few of those years spent with the 16’s age group. He is proud to say he has led his club teams to several top 5 and top10 finishes in Florida Region. Hans comes to us from Brevard County where he lives with his wife of 14 years, Tammy.


				Kerry Mason 13 Top Head Coach

				Starting her volleyball career at the age of 12, Kerry played for South Florida Volleyball Club on a team with her sister. It started as something to do with her big sis, but turned into a one of her great loves. She played at Miami Palmetto Sr. High School, where she was a key member of the team. She went on to play at St. John’s River Community College in 2003-2004. She then transferred to UCF and played intramural volleyball. She coached at Power Volleyball Academy in Deland, Florida for the 2008-09 club season. She then coached the JV team for Circle Christian School for 2009. This year Kerry started as head coach at Tavares High School in 2010. As much as Kerry likes to play volleyball, she loves coaching. Coach Mason cannot wait to teach her girls and watch them grow as athletes, teammates, and women.


				Lauren Jernigan
				15 Top Assitant Coach



				Hector Ramirez 13 Top Assistant Coach/14 Top Head Coach

				Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Hector started playing volleyball at 7 years of old. By the age of 12, he was presented with the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico at the Junior Olympics. He then moved to Orlando and played club volleyball for Orlando Gold. In his freshman year at Freedom High School he became the Varsity Captain and met German del Valle. Hector began mentoring under German at 16 at Champions and now at Top Select. Currently, he is coaching the Elementary and Middle School teams at Foundation Academy in Winter Garden. “Volleyball is not just a sport, it’s my life”


				Marcia Anderson Clark 10VB Rags Head Coach
				A graduate from The Pennsylvania State University, Marcia began coaching at Erie Central High School in 1996 as the JV Head Coach and the Assistant Varsity. After graduation, she accepted a teaching position at Fort Bend Baptist Academy in Sugarland, Texas and became the Freshmen Girls Volleyball Coach. In 1999, she then moved to Orlando, Florida where she became involved with Holy Family Catholic Middle School. Marcia was instrumental in developing a championship winning program for the boys’ and the girls’ teams, both varsity and junior varsity levels, winning 5 championship titles in 4 years. In 2003, Marcia accepted a position at Bishop Moore Catholic High School (BMCHS), coaching the JV girls volleyball team; leading them into a great 22-3 season and second place win at the Tampa Prep JV Tournament. In 2005, she became the Assistant Varsity Coach, in which the team won both district and regional finals, and went on to become a state final four runner-up. This is Marcia’s second season with Top Select.



				Blake Rawlins 18VB Rags Head Coach/16 Top Assistant Coach
				This is Blake Rawlins first season with Top Select Volleyball Academy. Prior to Top Select, Blake spent 5 years from 2005-2009 as the Assistant Coach for Embry Riddle University. While with the Eagles, they complied a record of 109 wins and 56 losses and 2 Sun Conference Championship. Blake's primary duties at ERU were developing the skills of outside hitters and setters, running the teams offense, scouting reports on opponents, and recruiting coordinator. In 2008, Rawlins helped develop Atlantic Coast Juniors Volleyball Club where he was the Co-Director and head coach for the national teams. While at ACJ, Blake's teams consistently finished top ten in the USAV Florida Region Rankings from 2009-2011. Along with a top ten finish, his 18's team finished 3rd at Big South and Lone Star National Qualifiers in 2011. Blake was selected as a first assistant for USA's High Performance Florida Region Team in 2007 where the finishe 8th in the country fr the Select age group. In 2009, he was selected again as a first assistant to help lead the USA's High Performance Florida Region Youth Team to a 4th place finish in the International Division. Blake Rawlins currently holds a Level 1 Cap certification from USA Volleyball. In his summers he is busy running volleyball camps and working for some of the top colleges in the country as a staff member. Blake has been playing and coaching volleyball for the last 20 years.



				Heather Hansen- 15 Top Head Coach Heather Hansen has been around the game of volleyball most of her life. She began playing volleyball for Orlando Volleyball Academy at the age of 11. She played on the top OVA teams for 6 years. While playing club she played three years in middle school and all four years in high school as a varsity starter. Heather made 1st team all conference in high school for two consecutive years, and made 2nd team all state for one year. Heather played outside in high school and quickly progressed to Libero in club. She played at Cape Coast Volleyball club her 18s year receiving a full volleyball scholarship to Pasco-Hernando Junior College. At Pasco she experienced playing Libero in two Junior College National Championships. After PHCC she began her coaching career. She started helping middle school programs while coaching club at OVA for 4 years. In 2007 she coached the freshman team and was the varsity assistant at Osceola High School. In 2008 she coached the freshman and was the varsity assistant at Winter Park High School. In 2009 she started the girl’s volleyball program at Lake Nona High School. Heather just completed her 3rd year as the head coach at Lake Nona and will be entering her 5th year of coaching club. She will be taking over the boy’s volleyball program this year at Lake Nona High School. Heather can’t wait to be a part of the Top Select family and continue to help teenage girls learn the game that she is so passionate about.

				Ross Usie 16 Top Head Coach Ross is a Louisiana native that moved to Central Florida at the beginning of August. With boy's/men's volleyball being virtually nonexsistant in the state of Louisiana, Ross started playing beach volleyball at the age of 15 and taught himself the skills of volleyball, with his best friend, in his back yard. His senior year of High School brought on the new challenge of being the student assistant of the girls varisty squad. Learning the rules and orginazation of indoor volleyball made him fall in love with coaching. He coached for Louisiana Volleyball: Southern Spikers ever since he graduated from high school. Coach Ross had the oppurtunity to coach ages 14-18 with one of his 14's teams being nationally ranked in the top 25 in the country. He has the been the Director of 4 Vball Academies put on by LVSS and has been giving private lessons for 3 years. While attending college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ross (a setter), led his co-ed volleyball team to 2nd in state in the Louisiana Intramural Championships in 2008. In 2009, his men's team came out 1st in state at the same tournament, and then repeated the following, year in 2010, defeating such teams as LSU, Tulane, and ULMonroe. Ross is now the head girls and boys volleyball coach at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, FL and plans on taking his skills and knowledge of the game of volleyball (and sports in general) to the Florida volleyball scene.


				Giovanni Velez 10VB Rags Assistant Coach

				Giovanni began his career as a volleyball player at 10 years old, in the little league Arrevica Volleyball Association. He then played high school volleyball at Colegio Maria Auxilliadora in Puerto Rico, and received the multiple MVP awards. Giovanni received a scholarship for volleyball from the Univesity of Sagrado Corazon and placed for 5 years with that team as the Captain. At the same time he placed at the university, he also placed professional volleyball. Afterwards, Giovanni became a volleyball coach in 1988 for the Arrevica Volleyball Club; taking many teams to the Championship of the Metropolitan League.



				Eric Trowbridge 13VB Rags Head Coach/18 Top Head Coach
				Eric moved to Florida with his family in 2000 from Kentucky. He began his coaching career in 2002 at Celebration High School as the Junior Varsity Head Coach. He led the Storm to two winning seasons and a tournament championship held at Gateway High school. Eric is currently in his second season as the Varsity Head Coach at Harmony High School in Osceola County. He is entering his third year coaching club volleyball. Eric coached Top Select’s 15 Elite team last season and ended the year strong. His team finished 5th in the state in the USAV rankings. He also worked as an assistant coach with German Del Valle and accompanied his team to the Junior Olympics in July 2008 in which they won the national championship and returned the following year to the Junior Olympics in 2009. Eric’s daughter, Alexis, is entering her fourth year as a club player at the age of twelve.





				Neal Stanley 16 VB Rags Assitant Coach


				Daniel "Danny" Gruzczyk 16 Select Head Coach