2009 Leader in Volleyball Award - Chris Clauss

Chris Clauss
2009 George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award

Chris Clauss was born in St Louis, Missouri on October 24, 1951 (yep, she will be 58 years old this fall). She played Volleyball at Fox Senior High School during her junior and senior years.  While Clauss felt she wasn't good enough to play much, she enjoyed the dynamics and development of the team spirit. Softball, however, was her first love and was an avid softball player in grade school, high school and throughout most of her adult life, playing on women's and co-ed teams.  As a younger adult she played three times a week for many years.

Clauss started playing adult volleyball in 1988 on a USVBA Women's team and played competitively until 1991 when she began coaching and working as the registrar for the Heart of America Region in the St. Louis area.  Her goal as a coach has been to make a difference in just one player's life. Whether it be helping a player reach a volleyball goal or teaching a life skill, Claus felt if she could touch one young player's life and make a difference, it was a worthwhile effort.

Clauss was very committed to promoting boys' volleyball throughout the country.  She worked as an arbitrator at the USA Junior Olympic Boys' Volleyball Championships for the past four years and observed that much could be done to enhance boys' volleyball on a national basis. 

In 1993 Clauss became the Junior Development Coordinator for the newly established Gateway Region. She always attempts to get involved in new issues, which at times has gotten her into trouble, but embraces these types of experiences.  If a volunteer is needed, she is always willing to step forward and take on an added responsibility.  That is how she became involved in the Service Awards Committee, the All-Tournament Committee, MRHR Committee, Grassroots Committee, YJOVD Boys' Committee and the Arbitrator Cadre.  When Jackie Wilde retired, she became the Chair of the Service Awards and the Boys' All Tournament Committee.

Clauss served as an appointed member of the USAV Board of Directors for five years, lending her extensive experience to the advancement of junior volleyball in this country.

Clauss married Lee Clauss, a recently retired State Senator who is still an active volleyball player and former coach of the Midwest Select VBC and Meramec Women's Volleyball team.  They have two daughters, Tara and Karin.

Clauss has been a dental hygienist for the past 35 years, working two days a week, but may semi-retire to pursue volunteer work at a local large animal ranch. Currently, she is an Alderwoman for the City of Fenton, Mo.  Elected in 2005, she ran in this April's election unopposed.  She serves as the Committee Chair of Public Works and the Forestry Commission in her political capacity.

Clauss's significant accomplishments to USA Volleyball include being one of the founding members of the Gateway Region, developing the regional tryout system, designing the original curriculum for IMPACT Clinics in the new region, formed the inner-city girls Starlings Club in the St Louis area, creating the initial Junior Regional Handbook , assuming the role of overall regional tournament director for the adult and junior championships, and creating the manual entitled A Parent's Guide to Choosing a Volleyball Club.
 
Boys Committee Chair 2006-present
Competition Committee 2006-present
USA Volleyball Board of Directors 2004-2008
Qualifier and Boys JOVC Arbitrator, 2002-present
USA Volleyball, Administrative Council, 2000-present
Grassroots Commission Chair, 2000-present
Service Awards and Boys All-Tournament Committee Chair 2000-present
Starlings Administrator, 1998-1999
Seeding Committee-Boys, Central Zone, 1997-1999.
Service Awards& Boys All-Tournament Committee, 1997-present
Boys Committee 1996-2004 (ad hoc)
IMPACT Clinician 1995- present
Junior Development Coordinator-Gateway Region, 1994-present
Executive Board of Directors-Gateway Region 1993-present
Cap I 1994
Registrar for Gateway Region 1993-1995
Club Director, 1992-2008
Club coach 1992-2001
Registrar for Heart of America Region-St. Louis district, 1992
CYC Volleyball coach, 1988-1996