From staff reports
Beaufort Elite Volleyball Club, formerly known as Beaufort Volleyball Club, will be holding tryouts for the 2022 season in the coming days for girls, ages 12 to 18.
Ages 12 to 14 will try out from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 30 ay Beaufort High School. Ages 15 to 18 will try out from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6 at Beaufort High School.
The name isn’t the only change for the club, founded in 2007 by Katie Cox and the longest running club in Northern Beaufort County.
After a one year sabbatical, Mike Dixon has returned as executive director of the club that he had run since 2013. John Eklund, who filled in last year, will be the assistant director for the 2022 season.
The club, soon to be run as a non-profit, has a new President of the Board of Directors in Christy McCullough. Long range plans include construct of an indoor facility, along with four sand volleyball courts.
Joining the coaching staff for Beaufort Elite this season is Torri McCullough, the longtime head coach at Battery Creek High School. In addition to his coaching experience, McCullough also brings first-hand knowledge of the college recruiting process. He and his wife, Christy, navigated the recruiting scene with their daughter, Laiani, who is in her first year of volleyball at Fort Valley State.
Returning coaches include:
Roger Wilson, who is in his first year as head coach at Bridges Prep, after coaching stints at Beaufort Academy and Beaufort High School;
Daniel Kline, the current head coach at Whale Branch Early College High School; and
John Eklund and his wife, Jillian Eklund.
New coaches include several club alumni – Madison Gallion, Hayley Trader, Megan Schoener (JV coach at Bridges Prep) and Peyton Polk – as well as hitting coach Lexi Erwin, a former Under Armour High School All American who still holds the record at Michigan for most kills in a match. Katherine Holofchak, a former assistant coach at Randolph College in Virginia, is a volunteer assistant.
For more information about tryouts, visit Beaufort Elite’s website at beaufortvolleyballclub.sportsengine-prelive.com, on their Facebook page or call Mike Dixon at 843-263-3745.
