More than a club, we're family!!!
Welcome to the home of 417 Juniors Columbia Branch
Bringing a new level of success and instruction to the mid-Missouri area!!!
At 417 Juniors Columbia, we’re devoted to providing our athletes with the highest possible level of instruction while maximizing touches and reps in the gym. We are lucky enough to have SEVEN collegiate programs represented on our staff (Missouri Valley, Central Methodist, William Woods, Columbia College, Evangel, Missouri State, and Drury). People always ask what makes a club different from any other. Our answer is this...on top of our practices we are the first club in the area to provide positional training sessions. This year those sessions will be ran by former Head Coach at Avila Loretta Jones and current Assistant Coach at Central Methodist Garrett Case. On top of that, we provide our athletes with free recruiting profiles managed by Club Director Coleman Lee as well as either a team or individual highlight video dependent on player's age division. This season each of our players will also have the opportunity to participate in college clinics ran by some of our favorite coaches in Missouri and bordering states. Formerly H2 Columbia, our staff has helped every single senior involved in our program receive a college scholarship offer for seven straight seasons. While we are more than happy to provide athletes with a chance to grow in the game and compete at the highest level possible during club season, our main goal is to provide the instruction and opportunities to make sure each of our girls can play at the college level if they have the desire to continue in the game. Our 2021 class landed 7 more athletic scholarships and we are extremely proud of Addison Davis (Avila University), Rhakala Blackmon (Central Methodist), Hannah Marcee (Central Methodist), Sam Doisy (Central Methodist), Emma Roush (Columbia College), Cassie Gray (Webster University), Aldon Pilz (Christian Brothers), as well as our athletes who have chosen an academic path Abby Reuschel (Loyola) and Abi Frerking (Missouri S and T). Huge congrats to our 2022 signees Jerica Jackson (Pitt State), Emma Lea Benney (William Jewell), and Mary Henry (Columbia College), Emma Spillman (Webster), Clancy Crawford (John Wood CC), Mackenzie Daniels (Jefferson College), Ella Lewis (William Woods), Kennedy Flanner (William Woods), Abby Blake (Avila), Myah Hough (Lindenwood), and Tatum Frank (Stephens).
About 417 Juniors Columbia
Experience the DIFFERENCE!!!
At 417 Columbia we are a family and we plan to keep it that way. Our athletes have a direct line to our entire staff and we make it a priority to build relationships with every single one of our players and parents. Although we provide opportunities and a level of training that is unmatched in the area, our club fees are very affordable and comparable to other options in the area. Our National Teams participate in 8 to 10 tournaments for $1750. Our Regional Teams compete in 8 to 10 tournaments as well with more of a local mix for $1550 . Tournament travel spans from Springfield to St. Louis with most being held in the Kansas City area. We also offer a wide variety of college clinics and showcases available to ALL 417 athletes. All of our teams practice twice per week with opportunities each week and every month to participate in positional training and extra instruction from one of our Master Coaches Garrett Case or Loretta Jones.
Tim Notke
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Our Coaches
Club Director Coleman Lee
Team Manager
Coleman Lee has led the charge to improve the level of volleyball in mid Missouri for 7 seasons now. He is currently the Head Coach at Central Methodist University and was named Conference Coach of the Year in his first season after winning the Heart of America Conference Championship and securing a top 10 finish the National Poll for the first time ever in CMU history. In his most recent season at CMU, Coleman helped secure the team's 4th straight trip to nationals. He is currently the only coach in CMU history to take multiple teams to the National Tournament as well as the only coach to win more than one opening round site.
Assistant Director Loretta Jones
Head Coach
Loretta Jones begins her fourth season with 417 Columbia. Loretta serves as both the Assistant Director and the Lead in positionals and extra practices. Before coming to 417 Columbia Loretta served as a Head Coach at Avila and assisted at both Rockhurst and Johnson County. She also played collegiately at both the Division 1 and Division 2 level.
Mckenzie Wagner-Bennett
Head Coach 12UA
Mckenzie is back this season after most recently training our newly formed 12UA squad. Mckenzie jump started our younger program last season and propelled 12UA to the highest finishing team in mid Missouri. Mckenzie has experienced great success at the high school level as an Assistant at Fatima and a Head Coach at Blair Oaks. She currently works alongside the staff at Capital City in Jefferson City.
Kandace Cook
Head 14 and 17UA
Coach Kandace has been on staff with us for several seasons most recently taking both 13 and 16UA to Gold Bracket finishes at National Qualifiers. Kandace has served as the Assistant Coach at Stephen's College and most recently Columbia College as well as taking her Calvary Lutheran team to the state tournament last season. She also played collegiately as a junior college athlete before finishing her career at Stephen's. In her off time, Kandace runs a successful sand program in the Columbia area and has already qualified multiple teams for Nationals in her first season.
Sarah Schwentker
Head Coach 13UA
Sarah begins her second year with 417 Columbia. Most recently Sarah assisted with our 18UA squad. She has coaching experience both with another local club and at Rock Bridge High School. Sarah was a very successful college player at Columbia College before joining the coaching ranks and has experience training and playing multiple positions. Sarah will take over 13UA this season.
Garrett Case
Head Coach 16UA
Coach Case starts his 8th season with us leading the charge as one of the most successful club coaches in the area. He has two power league bids, 3 top 10 finishes at Regionals, a bid to junior nationals, and numerous top 8 finishes at qualifiers. This season he will lead 16UA coming off Gold Bracket finishes at two different qualifiers last season. Garrett is currently the Head Coach at William Woods University and was previously on staff at Central Methodist, Seward County and Missouri State.
Nicole Murphy
Head Coach 15UA and 17 Blue
Nicole has a highly decorated playing and coaching career. She made trips to the national tournament with her Columbia College squad as a middle blocker before leading Calvary Lutheran to the state tournament as a coach. Most recently she picked up a District Championship at Rock Bridge and was named Coach of the Year. Nicole now serves as the Head Coach at Fulton High School and most recently helped 14UA earn a bid to Nationals.
Caleb Bonaventure
Head Coach 15 Blue and 18UA
Caleb returns for his second season at 417 Columbia. Before moving to the area Caleb played at Emmanuel College and had stints on the coaching staff at Greenville College and the Cumberlands. He is now the Assistant Coach at Central Methodist University. Last season Caleb coached 14 and 15 Blue.
Cameryn Campbell
Head Coach 14 Blue
417 Columbia is happy to add Cameryn Campbell to our coaching staff this season. Cameryn is an alum of our organization and spent her playing career at Cowley College before transferring and finishing at William Penn. Cam brings a wealth of knowledge to our staff experiencing playing stints under both Garrett Case and Coleman Lee. She will also join the staff at Capital City this Fall.
On top of these great coaches, our staff also includes current collegiate athletes and stand outs Krystal Brauner, Avery Hays and Annabelle Maassen. We will also add substitute coach Jaime Nelson who was formerly the Head Coach of 17UA and at Southern Boone, sub coach Craig Cunningham who brings a wealth of coaching experience from the high school, club, and college level and two current Graduate Assistant Coaches serving at both William Woods and Central Methodist.
Upcoming Events
We are hosting open gyms every Wednesday and Sunday in June for $8 at Calvary Lutheran. Athletes who will be trying out for 13s and 14s next season are welcome to join us from 5:00-6:15 on Wednesdays followed by 15s and 16s from 6:15-7:45 and 17s and 18s from 7:45 until 9:00 pm . On Sundays we will offer open gyms for incoming 12s from 1:00-2:00, incoming 13s and 14s from 2:00-3:15, incoming 15s and 16s from 3:15-4:45 and incoming 17s and 18s from 4:45-6:00 pm. Payment will be accepted on the day of open gym through cash or venmo. We also have several dates already on the books for July. July 3rd will be the Midwest College Showcase hosted by Coleman Lee at the Columbia Fieldhouse. On July 8th, we will host our final open gym at the Fulton Rec Plex before tryouts from 5:00-9:00 pm using the following schedule.
5:00-6:15 13s and 14s
6:15-7:30 15s and 16s
7:30-8:45 17s and 18s
Tryouts are almost here!!! We will host tryouts for all age groups at the Fulton Rec Plex (808 State Street Fulton, MO 65251) this season on July 9th. The tryout schedule is as follows...
8:00-9:30 15s
9:30-11:00 14s
11:00-12:30 16s
12:30-2:00 17s/18s
2:00-3:30 12s/13s
FAQ
What are your club fees?
Our club fees range between $1600 for Regional teams and $1750 for our National/Qualifier teams.
How does my athlete get recruited?
At 417 we take care of everything. Our Club Director Coleman Lee manages each players recruiting website and remains in contact with a large number of college coaches throughout the season. Our home base in Springfield, Missouri also provides athletes with numerous opportunities to get in front of college athletes.
How many tournaments and practices are included in fees?
All of our teams play in AT LEAST 8 tournaments. Our teams all practice twice per week. Additionally, athletes will have the opportunity to participate in satellite clinics, free positional training sessions, and extra practices for our younger groups with Master Coach Loretta Jones.
Where are practices and tournaments held?
We utilize facilities in Jefferson City, Fulton and Columbia for practices and positional training. Most of our tournaments are held in the Kansas City area with some being hosted in Springfield or St. Louis.
For more information about 417 Juniors Columbia, contact us today.
Testimonials
Cindy Benney
"Leaving a team you have played with for 3 years is a difficult choice for any teen. However our experience this season has been incredible from the coaches, players, parents and Director. The Director is constantly communicating and praising the girls. The level of feedback is amazing! The club is very organized with a focus on improving each girls skills, and playing high level teams. Our daughter has participated in many practices, skills clinics, and played in two well run scrimmages all before January, way more than other clubs. There is no doubt that our daughter made the BEST choice for her personal development."
Angela Stone
"I am on child number two playing club volleyball. My older daughter was lucky enough to get one club season and a trip to AAU's with Coleman and H2 while he was still coaching. Coleman was new to the area at that time. She had played for two other clubs and there was no comparison. When it was time for Ava to play, she wasn't interested in playing for anyone else. The organization and communication that the club is run with is amazing. I would never be afraid to ask questions and I know they will be promptly answered. The level of coaching is second to none. Probably the most important thing to me is how much Coleman and the other coaches care about these girls. He really has their best interest in mind and makes decisions based on that. We love 417 Columbia and look forward to many more years."
Gretta Clapp
"Mya has been playing club volleyball since 3rd grade and has had some great coaches over the years and also great experiences. This past year, we were fortunate enough to find this club and she was even more fortunate to be offered a spot on the 14UA team. From the beginning, not only did she form a relationship with both her coach and assistant coach, but Coleman and Loretta were always there for her and some of her biggest cheerleaders! We have never been with a club that has felt so much like a family. Not only with the club directors and coaches but the other teams within the club that are always supporting each other! It’s a dream come true for Mya and our family and she has finally found her second family!!!"
Kathy Doisy
"My daughter has played club for 7 seasons. The last 2 have been with this club. I cannot believe the difference in her as an athlete, player, and person. Her confidence has SOARED and her game has really risen to the next level. She loves this team, her coaches, other team's coaches, and her directors so much!! As a new parent, I have felt so welcomed from the beginning. No other club has felt like home the way this one has. I adore our new club family! My kid has multiple college coaches communicating frequently with her, and I am sure that she WILL find a school that suits her both academically AND athletically!! We have absolutely no regrets making the switch!"
Julie Flanner
"This was my daughters first year to play with this club. She was a little nervous playing with new people and a new club. The parents and girls on the team were nothing but welcoming to her and us. The club is very well organized. Anytime, I had a question or concern it was answered almost immediately! Coleman and Garrett also did a great job welcoming us to the club and it truly did feel like they were really pulling for Kennedy. I saw them do this with all of the girls! They are not shy about praise which I think is great and builds confidence!! They also are always looking for ways for the girls to improve both individually and as a team. Kennedy made some great memories and some new friends this season. We made some great memories and met new friends as well! They call it a family, and Coleman and Garett really do make it feel like one."
Jennifer Hecht
"This is our daughter's third year playing competitive volleyball and her first with 417 Columbia. In spite of all the challenges with COVID, Coleman/417 found ways to make sure that the girls had a full compliment of practices and tournaments. We love how 417 invested in our girls by providing excellent training opportunities and a positive environment for the players. We were overly impressed with their emphasis on developing players with the skill, technique, character, and passion for the game. The level of coaching by Garrett showed the true commitment of the club to player and team development. Danielle was unsure at first whether to make the leap to a new team, but is 100% sure this is the place she wants and needs to be. The bond she has formed with her teammates is so fun to watch as a parent. 417 has helped her to take her skills to the next level and we are so excited to see what her future looks like with our new 417 family."
Madison Mckim (current player)
"Playing for this club has literally been on my wish list since I started working one-on-one with one of the club's coaches. After the first open gym, I knew this is where I wanted to play after seeing how the coaches and Coleman interacted with us. Every time they would tell me something I needed to correct, they always gave me positives right back, which is very encouraging. Coleman is very hands on and involved with every team. He even goes to all the tournaments ready to cheer on his players. This club has top-notch coaches who are trying to up our skill level. With practices 3 days a week, including a skills practice, it has made me become a better player. I can honestly say that this is not only a club, but truly a family."
Lanie Lowry (former player)
"My experience with this club has never failed to amaze me. This club has helped me to build upon my volleyball skills, get seen by college coaches, and meet some of my best friends at the same time. The staff of is this club is unbelievable! When playing for this club, you get the opportunity to be coached by some of the best in the area and they bring in college coaches and other specialists to help them along the way. Whenever I need help both on and off the court, they are there for me. When I step on the court in my jersey a sense of pride comes over me. We are more than just a club, they have became like family to me and I couldn’t imagine my life without all the players and coaches that make this club what it is."
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