Nowadays, high school sports have become more competitive than ever. Luckily, a new volleyball club called Team Pineapple has started up in the Joliet area with a mission to providing top notch coaching at a lower expense.

Head Coach and founder of Team Pineapple, Rhyen Staley, created the club in 2009 and has dedicated his time to providing volleyball to teens in the Joliet area. Staley has trained with some of the top coaches in the United States. He has taken the knowledge of these coaches and brought it to Team Pineapple. “While Team Pineapple strives to train athletes at the highest level, our mission is to offer these opportunities to young athletes without the costs seen in the club volleyball atmosphere,” says Staley.

Team Pineapple not only focuses on the game of volleyball and strategy, but also trains athletes to master the skills and fundamentals needed to be a better player. “Team Pineapple is focused on the total athlete –physical, emotional, social and intellectual- and strives to put the athletes first; while teaching all the skills and attributes that make top-level athletes,” says Staley.

Staley built a reputation with boys teams at the 14, 16, and 18 age levels and has a seen much success in the 2012 Nike elite season, placing second at a local SYNC tournament. Staley has now expanded the club by adding two girls’ teams to the 14 and 16 age levels.

As fall tryouts for boys and girls are under way, Team Pineapple plans on offering open gyms for girls badminton. If interested, visit teampineapplevc.com for more details.