USA Volleyball Region Spotlight: Badger Region

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 11, 2010) – While Wisconsin might be better known for a certain football team, volleyball has found a home there as well.

Badger Region Commissioner Julie Voeck is proud of the work her region has done to promote the sport.

“I think one of the things that is unique about our region is we’ve embraced a lot of the programs that USAV has developed,” Voeck said. “We really think high performance is a great program. We’ve also been very supportive of beach and have a lot of beach events, even though we are a northern region with limited summer weather.”

The Badger Region hosted the 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in Wisconsin Dells. It also held the Central Open, part of the 2010 USAV Beach Junior Tour, in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Volleyball Conference, a men’s college club league, is also sanctioned through the region.

In the past, Green Bay has hosted FIVB World League matches, bringing international men’s volleyball to the region to the city known for the Packers NFL team.

“We loved being a partner for those events,” Voeck said.

The Badger Region staff, including Operations Manager Wayne Schultz, Tournament Director Terry Paulson and Assistant Director Jennifer Armson-Dyer, is helping the region move forward with its goals, including introducing younger children to volleyball with a volley-tots program and encouraging adults to get involved with USAV and its Web Point registration system at tournaments and through scorekeeping and officiating clinics.

Voeck herself is one of five female international officials in the United States. She was encouraged to become an international official by Tom Blue, who is currently the chairman of international referees for USA Volleyball.

“That year, in 2004, the United States hosted a clinic for international officials. I love it. It was fantastic,” Voeck said. “An opportunity came and I was in the right place at the right time.”

Voeck also officiates for college matches and USA Volleyball events.

Fast Facts

Badger Region (est. 1994)
Headquarters: 7001 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, Wis.
Web Site: www.badgervolleyball.org
Key Staff: Commissioner, Julie Voeck; Operations Manager Wayne Schultz, Tournament Director Terry Paulson and Assistant Director Jennifer Armson-Dyer
Members and Clubs: 8,400 members in 2009-10, largest number ever; 10th largest region in the country; 723 total teams including 636 junior girls, 52 junior boys, 35 adults/collegiate.
Famous Alums: Jeff Nygaard (indoor Olympian in 2000, beach Olympian in 2004); Tom Sorensen (1996 Olympian); Greg Romano (U.S. Men’s National Team member); Jeremy Dejno (2010 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team)
Major Events: Badger Region Championship; Molten Boys’ Fest qualifier; Badger Region qualifier; Badger Power League; Prep Volleyball Classic

Tags: Badger Region, region, Region Spotlight