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The Future For Howard Volleyball

2/6/2020

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“I believe we can be a top 50 division 1 volleyball program,” exclaimed Howard Head Coach Shaun Kupferberg. “The combination of our academics joined with what we are building athletically is making this a place many of the top African-American playing volleyball players will take a hard look at.” There are many positive check marks when you consider the culture aspect coined with the network available. 

“We preach to our recruits and players, you are not making a 4 year decision but a 40 year decision with what Howard offers and the network that exists around the world,” stated Kupferberg. “We will never match the nutrition bars and decked out lounges but the kids coming to Howard are coming for a different experience and one we are happy to provide.” 

The television show A Different World was an introduction to many to the world of Historically Black Colleges and University in the 80’s and 90’s. The fictional college “Hilman” created a visual on the television screen that inspired many black families. A college where you can find students who look like them. A college where students share similar backgrounds and experiences was vital during this time span. The volleyball program at Howard can be equally inspiring to young black girls. 

“We feel very strong about using our platform to grow the game in the African-American community,” shared Kupferberg. “The younger girls are excited to see girls who look like them being successful in the sport and our girls really find pride in that.” The Howard volleyball camps have sold out for the last three years and end up with a waiting list of over a hundred kids. “It’s unfortunate we have to turn kids away due to space limitations but it goes to show how excited kids and their families are about our program,” added the Bison Head Coach.

The program has grown leaps and bounds since Kupferberg took over in 2012. He is mindful the first couple of teams were crucial. “I stated it would take one group of athletes to make the difference and that would lead to the direction of this program. They laid a foundation and now it’s expected the next group takes the reign in not only creating a successful volleyball program but also successful careers.

“Our main goal is to ensure our young ladies are put in the position to be successful and have opportunities to do whatever they want…that’s the Howard way,” chimed Kupferberg. “If they want to play volleyball, great! We’ve had Jessica Young go to USNT tryouts and Tamia (Dockery) just returned from this year's tryouts.”

If they don’t want to play volleyball after college, success still awaits them. You will find 2017 MEAC player of the year Khaila Donaldson working in Manhattan for J.P. Morgan Chase as a Global Treasury Management Analyst, after graduating Summa Cum Laude last spring. You can also look at Johnson and Johnson and find 2016 graduate and former volleyball player Jaleeza Stoudemire working as a research engineer. 
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“We are excited about our program and what we have to offer,” Kupferberg started. “Our volleyball team has been successful. Our players have been successful once they graduated. These two ingredients give us much to look forward to in the future of Howard Volleyball.

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Some of the faces of Howard Volleyball

2/6/2020

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An introduction to some of the members of the volleyball program.


Kira Porter
Junior; Lake Tahoe, NV, 
Major: Marketing

Why did you choose Howard?
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It was really important for me to be part of a winning program and that was something I found in Howard. It is a popular school for my family as I have a lot of family from the south in which HBCUs are a big deal.  

How did you learn of Howard? 
I really didn’t know much about the school originally living on the west coast. Coach Shaun came to a qualifier in Las Vegas and passed on his card. My dad being from Atlanta was familiar with Howard so I decided to take a hard look at the school. I was dead set on going to school in California but once I learned more about the volleyball program, the prestige of the school, and the alumni influence it became a serious option.

What were your first Impressions? 
Seriously, don’t laugh but my first impression was the movie, Stomp the Yard and thinking I didn’t know something like this really existed. I was immediately turned on by the culture and seeing a campus full of black students supporting and motivating each other to succeed.

What is your volleyball playing background?
I was exposed to the sport from an early age. My mom played at the same high school and won a state championship. I started playing competitively in the 7th grade but was around the sport basically my whole life.

What are some of the demographic differences between your high school/club teams in comparison to Howard? 
I was one of three African-American girls in my whole school and the only one on my high school team. There were two of us on my club team. The cool thing about playing at Howard is not only do we have a team of girls who look like me but girls from all over the country who bring different experiences.

What are your thoughts on the Howard program?
I love our team. Each year is interesting because we are adding new girls into the fold so we have to adjust. It’s a clean slate but the goal is the same, get rings! I really like our coaches. They are consistent and they challenge and push us to be our best. 

What misconceptions have you heard about HBCU volleyball? 
That we can’t compete against the top teams in the country. We were able to take a set off of Penn State last year and held Stanford to one of their lowest hitting percentages this year.

Why should others consider Howard or other HBCUs? 
We maybe don’t have all the resources as some of the larger schools but would like to see more African-American girls take a serious look at what they have to offer. It is a different experience but a positive one.  

What is your greatest memory outside of the Africa trip?
Probably a combination of all the championship tournament wins, being the most outstanding players of conference tournament, and winning the tournament on our home court this past season. 


Courtney Dalton
Senior; Piscataway, New Jersey
Major: Chemistry, Pre-Med emphasis

Why did you choose Howard?
I knew I really wanted to play volleyball in college but was dead set against going to a HBCU. I was familiar with Howard because it’s a household name but didn’t know too much about it. I visited and it was better than I expected.  I loved the culture and I knew it was something I wouldn’t find anywhere else. 

How did you learn of Howard?
Shaun saw me play at the Capitol Hill Classic here in DC. After watching us play he shared his information with my coach and that started my recruitment. 

What were your first Impressions? 
My first impression was man there are a lot of bricks on campus when looking at the buildings! I also noticed how the students on campus were a true community. Everyone was so willing to help out. It wasn’t a competition, people were really about making sure everyone would succeed. 

What is your volleyball playing background?
I started playing volleyball late. I was primarily a cheerleader then fell into it and started playing the first time during the club season of my freshman year. There was a club that had a name that reminded me of a cheer team so I tried out for it. I wasn’t very good at first but as I learned I got much better and really fell in love with the sport.

What are your thoughts on the Howard program? 
We are building something special at Howard. We have broken down barriers with a progressive attitude of nothing can stop us when we put our mind towards a goal. This not only helps on the court but applies to life. 

What misconceptions have you heard about HBCU volleyball?
A misconception we hear is the idea HBCU teams are teams who are full of raw athletes but don’t have the most skill. Howard volleyball is a team full of athletes that are skillful at their craft and great athletes on top of that and you can say that about other HBCUs too.

Why should others consider Howard or other HBCUs? 
It’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else. Just because it’s not the largest school doesn’t mean it’s a lesser school.  

What is your greatest memory outside of the Africa trip? The last MEAC championship. It was my 4th ring and it was on our home court and I got to share it with my favorite people in the world. I actually cried and I normally don’t cry. 

Indira Dandridge
Sophomore, Miami, FL
Major: Marketing

Why did you choose Howard?
I really wanted a new and different experience. I sought out a program that would have team success and girls who look like me. I knew my sophomore year of high school I wanted to attend a HBCU. My aunt attended Howard, my great grandparents were Howard alum. It had a strong legacy and history.

How did you learn of Howard?
 I reached out to Shaun and expressed my interest in the program via email. It was my dream school. He came to watch me play at a tournament and that started my recruitment.

What were your first Impressions? 
The climate is much different than Florida! Also just walking out on the yard (outside public gathering space) and seeing the students hanging out. It felt right and felt like home. 

What is your volleyball playing background?
I started playing volleyball at eleven then got really serious about the sport my sophomore year in sense of knowing I wanted to play in college someday.

What are some of the demographic differences between your high school/club teams and Howard? 
There were four total black girls in the high school volleyball program and two in my club team my last year. Prior to that I was always the only black girl on my club team.
 

What are your thoughts on the program? 
We are a true definition of a family. We hang out together all the time even outside of the season. The coaching staff is great. They are all open and honest which allows us to know where we can get better. 

What misconceptions have you heard about HBCU volleyball?
That we can’t play against the big schools. We were able to win a set against Penn State which showed we can play good volleyball.

Why should others consider Howard or other HBCUs?
They have much to offer. Outside of volleyball the network I get at Howard will help me with my future. I have access to advertising and entertainment businesses to intern with and a radio station on campus. The volleyball side is great but my resources available to help with my future is a great addition. 

What is your greatest memory outside of the Africa trip?
Winning the MEAC championship in my first year and playing on national television. 

Julian Welsh-White
Assistant Coach
Duties: Working with middle blockers, team travel, technical and electronic guru
Alma Mater: Springfield College

How did you find your way to Howard?
I was in the process of applying to different colleges for coaching jobs when Ciara (Asst. Coach) reached out sharing they were hiring for the position of assistant coach. I knew the history of the institution. I also was aware they had won the last three MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championships. Once I talked to Shaun and heard more about his vision I knew this was where I wanted to be.

What are some of the biggest differences/challenges you’ve noticed between coaching at Howard in comparison to a Power 5?
It is easily the amount of resources. In regards to staff it’s night and day. We have three full time members of the staff. We had upward of seven to eight at South Carolina with coaches, trainers, and academics. Here at Howard we just hired our second assistant last season.  We have learned to work with what we have. We are fortunate to be in a community in which we have people who volunteer their time and resources to help our players on and off the court. 

Another difference you will see is the type of athletes at the two schools. Our roster typically doesn’t have many “top ____” lists and though we would like to have some of those on day. We get very talented players who may be overshadowed due to location, size of their club team, or not from a big name club. We get some raw athletes who are very talented and we work hard to continue their development and skill. 

What is your role within the coaching staff?
One thing I enjoy is how involved I’m able to be with the whole program and learning some of the things it takes for us to be successful. On the court I help coach our middle blockers. I am also responsible for the technical side like the Data Volley (statistics software) and Vert (jump statistics software) apps. Off the court I take care of the logistical aspects of the program which includes reserving the means of travel, booking hotels, and ordering food.
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What is your greatest memory so far as a member of the Howard volleyball program?
Easily first and foremost getting hired to the staff of the Howard volleyball program. For one, it was my first hired position which was a big deal for me. But also the Howard experience is one that can’t be replicated anywhere else. The history and being on campus is unique. The founder’s library, the Obama’s visiting, to Nick Cannon on campus taking classes; it’s a cool place to be. Also a memory I will never forget is our trip to Africa. The fact I was hired then three months later traveling to Africa with our team was pretty cool.

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Recruitment at Howard

2/6/2020

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“Our budget typically allows us to only send one coach to any qualifier (USAV National Qualifiers) but we choose wisely which qualifiers those are,” shared Kupferberg. In an era in which if you glanced at University Athlete (database used by schools and athletes for recruitment) and the tournaments listed on a given weekend you will find numerous colleges and universities listed. It doesn’t come as a surprise to see two or three coaches from a school at some tournaments. You may even have tournaments going on in different cities at the same time in which coaches divide and conquer. This is rarely the case at Howard. “We have to recruit a little differently considering some of the limitations that exist,” Kupferberg added. “We believe in what we have to offer but we are in a numbers game as well.  We also are attempting to educate club coaches and directors on what makes Howard special.”

Howard will send a coach to specific qualifiers or tournaments that allows them to see a large population of athletes who fit their demographics. The recruitment budget was small when Kupferberg arrived at Howard, however one of his first requests was the flexibility to move some budget allotments to recruitment. “It was very important for us to be able to get out and find the athletes who would help make Howard the program we envisioned,” said Kupferberg. 

The largest volleyball playing population for African-Americans appears to be Texas, so Texas qualifiers and tournaments are promising for the Bison. The program early on also found success in Louisiana. “Of course we are evaluating talents and athleticism as quick as possible to determine if these young ladies would be a good fit for our program,” shared Kupferberg. There is another important piece that comes into play when discussing Howard and volleyball; the large academic component. 

As mentioned in the first feature, the university is one of the top 100 academic universities in the country. “It’s a numbers game we are playing”, started Kupferberg. “Not only is the percentages small for the girls who will be able to go from playing high school to college, we are also targeting the top 5 to 10% academically African-American players so the percentage goes down to about 2-3%.” 

Howard is a private, selective university so there are academic realities which include getting accepted to the institution. That is where much of the education comes into play. “We have to convey and introduce to many the Howard experience; from explaining what a HBCU is, to the prestige of our alumni, to the success our volleyball program has achieved,” mentioned Kupferberg. 

The Howard experience can be important and powerful for these young ladies. For most, they are often the only young lady of color on their teams in both club and high school. Not only at Howard will they find fourteen or fifteen girls who play volleyball and look like them but other young adults who look like them that are pursuing careers in medicine, law, or business to name a few of their highly recognized programs. 

Like almost all programs a key is getting prospective prospects to campus. Once they get there it really does a good job of selling itself. “It’s powerful for a recruit to see kids who look like them walking around in lab coats or in a business suit heading to an internship. There is a sense of empowerment you will find on the campus from the accomplishments of an enormous alumni base from presidential candidate Kamala Harris, actor of the hit television show Blackish Anthony Anderson, and music and fashion mogul Sean Combs.

The volleyball program is able to offer twelve scholarships. That is in line with Division 1 volleyball and being a headcount sport. This was not always the case at Howard and something that’s progressed over time and again shows the progression of the program and support of the administration.
Howard’s budget does allow for official visits but they have to be a little pickier on how to utilize those compared to some schools due to budget but they understand the importance of getting athletes on campus to see it for themselves. The beauty of Howard is the amount of learning you can obtain off of campus by just being in the nation’s capital. 

“We’ve done well in recruitment over the years and get young ladies from many different states,” said Kupferberg. “Of course, winning games and getting to the NCAA tournament has helped us. The opportunity to go on an international trip is appealing. The fact with us being a HBCU and hosting teams like Stanford, Penn State, and others make people more aware of what we are doing,” he added. “The true beauty is we find kids on the main courts, we find kids playing in the basements and far corners at qualifiers. These are girls from the smaller teams and clubs some may never have heard of but we find the perfect kids for Howard University and once they arrive they begin the path to a successful future.”
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Howard Bison 2018 roster by state
Texas – 6
Michigan – 2
California - 1
Nevada – 1
Colorado – 1
Minnesota – 1
Georgia – 1
Florida – 1
South Carolina – 1
North Carolina – 1
New Jersey – 1

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Behind of the scenes of Howard Volleyball

2/6/2020

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A Look inside the Howard program.
 
One of the largest differences between Howard and other HBCUs in comparison to other Division 1 volleyball programs is resources. This could range from budget allocations to equipment and space. Today we take a look into the Bison volleyball program. 
 
Staff
Like many Division I volleyball programs Howard has a volunteer assistant and two full time assistant coaches on Shaun Kupferberg’s staff. The shocking thing is this was not always the case. “I didn’t have any assistants when I first came to Howard,” shared Kupferberg. “We were able to start having a little success which eventually led us to the opportunity to hire a full time assistant, then finally a second assistant.” The program does not have a director of operations. They are fortunate to have a team manager in Courtney Blanton, who has been very valuable to the program. Here is the Howard Volleyball staff
 
Shaun Kupferberg
Entering 8th season at Howard University.
Overall record of 122-89
Interesting Fact: In his first season at Howard the team had a record of 1-22, the following season they went 21-11. He has now won 4 consecutive MEAC championships
Previous Coaching Jobs: 
Head Coach Jacksonville University; Jacksonville, FL
Head Coach Northwest University; Kirkland, WA
 
Ciara Jones
Entering 2nd season at Howard University.
Also serves as the recruiting coordinator
Interesting Fact: Jones was a 4 year letter winner at Marquette University and was a member of the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 2011. She is also a member of the school’s hall of fame.
Previous Coaching Jobs:
Served as Director of Operations at Clemson University
Coached at Top Select Volleyball in Orlando, FL
Head Coach Edgewater High School in Orlando, FL
 
Julian Welsh-White
Entering 2nd season at Howard University
Interesting Fact: Won national championship as a member of the coaching staff at his alma mater, Springfield College.
Previous Coaching and Volleyball Positions:
Volunteer Assistant Coach at University of South Carolina
Volunteer Assistant Coach at Springfield College
Volunteer Assistant Coach at Cowan High School
 
“It has been very helpful to have two full time assistants in our program,” Kupferberg said in our conversation. “Just having coaches who have coached and/or played at high level programs has been great. It was a little of an eye opener to them early on considering where they came from but they adjusted and have proven to be valued assets to our program.”
Unlike most D1 schools, the coaches have to wear numerous hats. The coaches are the individuals responsible for supervising study hall at home and on the road. “We don’t have an academic support staff member assigned specifically to volleyball. We don’t have anyone that travels with us on the road, it is up to us to ensure they stay on track and are taking care of their studies,” added Kupferberg.
 
Academic Support
Small academic staff that covers all HU programs. They are hiring two additional full time staff members. Tutoring for the athletes is supervised through the university tutoring services.  There are not any assigned to the athletic department specifically, the whole school utilizes the same tutors.
 
Strength/Conditioning and Athletic Training.
These services are also shared program wide however this summer the volleyball program will have their own trainer assigned to the volleyball program. There is one main training room utilized by all athletic teams with some “off shot” rooms located around the athletic facilities. The volleyball team tends to use the one closes to their locker room. The weight room used by all programs would be described as “small” to observers and the football team may echo those sentiments but according to Kupferberg it is great for the volleyball program.
 
Facilities
The volleyball team plays in Burr Gymnasium on the campus of Howard University. The facility seats just over 2000 and can be found next to the football field. It is an older building but perfect for the volleyball environment. “We love the fact there are seats right next to the court which provides a level of intensity to our home matches,” Kupferberg said.  

Like larger D1 programs you won’t find a large facilities team to ensure everything is set up and in order for the team. “We have a couple of amazing individuals who work hard to make sure we have what we need and we also have to do much of the heavy lifting ourselves,” noted Kupferberg. Associate Athletics Director for Operations Nicholas Latham and Assistant Director of Operations TaBrian “TB” Arnold can be found dry mopping floors, helping with chairs, or whatever is necessary on game days. Prior to the MEAC championship match hosted at Burr this past season, the ESPN producers were shocked but amused to find Shaun and Julian setting up their own nets prior to the televised match. “It’s just one of the many hats we wear at our program,” exclaimed Kupferberg. 

The way Burr gymnasium is set up there is one large locker room that is split into different sections between the different sports to ensure everyone has their own space. You won’t find a nutrition bar or a huge team lounge now accustomed at many places but they have what works for them. “Our locker room is what you would describe as basic but it’s newer. We have a film area which is important and our definition of a team room is available to the girls,” Kupferberg mentioned. 
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The team also practices in Burr and rotates between the main courts and bottom court depending on what time of the year it is. Early on when basketball season started the volleyball team was often regulated to the bottom gym but with success it’s been a little easier to jockey some gym space on the main court. Regardless of court, they can set up one court unlike the two or more you may find at many other Division 1 programs.
 
Travel
Chartered flights have become the norm for Power 5s and even some mid-majors. “We will take a flight typically once a year in which we have to raise money for,” Kupferberg shared as we talked. “Early on, vans were the primary means of transportation for most of our trips but as we encountered some success it has provided for the opportunity to utilize buses now,” he added. 

​Until this year, Coach Kupferberg has handled a large majority of the travel plans. If it’s reserving the vans or buses, taking care of lodging, meals, or etc., he was the man. The other benefit of being able to add staff was now Julian handles most of those responsibilities. “We’ve made big strides in the area of travel over the years and that is a great testament to the work our young ladies have put in,” shared the Bison Head Coach.
 
Our next feature will look at the recruitment side of Howard volleyball.
 


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Introduction to Howard Volleyball

2/6/2020

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This acronym now formally introduced to some has been around for decades. February was Black History Month, a month dedicated to highlighting the achievements of black Americans due to their achievements often neglected in American history books.  This creates the perfect opportunity to learn about a HBCU and in the sport of volleyball. 

In case you didn’t already take the time to google HBCU, it stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines a HBCU as, “any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education.” One of the many misconceptions is the idea these schools are only for black students but HBCUs are open to all students regardless of race. 

There are presently 102 institutions that fall under the defined criteria. HBCUs were instituted due to a large majority of predominantly white institutions (PWI) of higher education would not accept black students during segregation. While most HBCUs were established after the Civil War, the first was established in 1837 in Pennsylvania. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, originally called the Institute of Colored Youth was started by Richard Humphrey, a philanthropist who dedicated an amount of his wealth to start a school to help African-Americans develop trade skills to help enter the job market. 

In the early decades of the 1900s sports became an important addition to many institutions. Sports would grow into a popular activity at many schools however the top black athletes were not recruited and given the opportunity to showcase their abilities. Today a large number of HBCUs participate in intercollegiate athletics across many divisions. 

The NCAA Division 1 has two historically black athletic conferences in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Except for Hampton University and Tennessee State University, these conferences host all Division I HBCUs, though some sports at these schools crossover to different conferences. As captured in the fictional film Drumline, the bands are even viewed as a sport in itself. The halftime competition at many of the football games  are often labeled as the main event.

While most national sports platforms focus on the larger universities many HBCUs have made notable headlines in the past for their athletic endeavors. In 1997, Coppin State College of the MEAC entered the NCAA basketball tournament as the 15 seed and knocked off 2nd seeded South Carolina. Most recently in 2017, the Howard Bison would beat the UNLV Rebels in what many would call the biggest win in HBCU football history. While Howard was in the news for football, the volleyball team had just completed a west coast trip preparing them for a season in which they would earn their 3rd consecutive MEAC title and trip to the NCAA tournament. Welcome to Howard Volleyball.

“One of the things often not discussed is Howard University is one of the top academic institutions in America,” stated Howard Head Volleyball Coach Shaun Kupferberg, who just completed his 7th year leading the Bison program. Howard University (HU) is located in the heart of the District of Columbia not far from historic Ben’s Chili Bowl, the famous eatery known for playing an important role in the race riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..

The latest US News Report on universities list Howard as the 89th ranked university in the United States. Its extensive alumni list features names like the star of the hit movie
Black Panther; Chadwick Boseman, author Toni Morrison, and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. “One of my main goals was getting some of the smartest, best volleyball playing African-American girls to consider making Howard their destination and we’ve done a pretty good job of making that happen and the Howard legacy has helped,” shared Kupferberg.

Few can argue with that statement considering the success Howard has obtained in his tenure. Fresh off of its 4th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, Howard is primed to continue its growth into a nationally respected program. “On the bus ride after the game my immediate thoughts were getting our girls ready for finals then already looking at next season and how we can improve,” Kupferberg said. 

The 2018 season produced many highs for the program. In May they became the first HBCU program to take an international tour. It has become accustomed for many programs to embark on such a trip every four years to not only play volleyball but immerse in the culture of the chosen destination. Many programs visit European locations but Howard, known for making history decided to visit Africa. While in the country they played matches against opponents from Botswana and Zimbabwe. They also visited rural communities and spent time with the locals learning about their customs.

If that wasn’t enough, in August Kupferberg’s program would have a packed gym as the eventual 2018 national champion Stanford Cardinal would trek across the country to battle in Burr Gymnasium. Yes, the national champion traveled across the country to play at a HBCU. “It was a great opportunity for our team as we always look for chances to elevate our play. We actually had a close 2nd set and held them (Stanford) to one of their lowest hitting percentages in three years,” Kupferberg said. 

What was also apparent was the interest piqued by the campus community to have such a large program venture to the nation’s capital. “When we arrived it was important to reintroduce the fans and campus community to volleyball. I remember vividly when I took the job one of the returning players shared with me one of her goals was to start the season without having the feeling we were going to lose every game when we stepped on the court.” Coach Kupferberg went on, “We won one game that year but today we are a program that in 2018 not only hosted Stanford but teams like Penn State and America University, which shows our program has come a long way.”

Howard University may not be on some volleyball coaches’ potential job radar. Howard is a school not known to all. The hit television show This Is Us introduces Howard University to a new demographic as it highlights the school as Randall’s preferred choice in many episodes. Shaun Kupferberg knew in 2012 Howard was a place that would become a successful program. “I strongly believed we could win here,” he proclaimed. “It would take time but like any program it’s about having the support of your administrators, getting buy-in from your athletes, resources, and working towards a common goal and we’ve gotten that. There are a lot of very good volleyball players who often are introduced to the sport later than most so once we worked to continue their development as players, the program would develop itself.” 
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Over the course of the five segments, we give you an in-depth look inside the Howard University volleyball program.



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PTE prepares for District Qualifiers

6/3/2015

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Team Believe Developmental

5/17/2015

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The athletes of PTE battled through another long day at this weekends Team Believe Developmental Meet. After a long delay with technical difficulties the athletes performed well. In the field events numerous athletes earn personal best led by Kolby Heinerikson in the shot put and discuss. Konnor Miles putted his longest throw of the year. Lanicia Parker wins her 4th long jump meet in as many tries again clearing 11 feet. One age up, Katelynn Young leaped to a new personal best. Kristen Birmingham remained steady winning another high jump competition clearing 4 feet 10 inches.

In the running events, Logan Arrelano continues to shine winning the 400m going away along with the 200m. Hannah Graves showed continued strides in the 80m Hurdles with a strong 2nd place finish.  Jayden Henry won a close race in the 9 year old 100m dash. Anderson Dial ran a great 800m race to finish second.

PTE returns to action this weekend with a split squad. Athletes will compete in three different locations, Saturday in Grandview, Sunday in Omaha, and Monday in Garden Plains, KS.
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Stride Ryte Developmental

5/7/2015

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The Pure Talent Elite Track and Field team had a great showing in their second meet last weekend at Ruskin High School. The meet, hosted by Stride Ryte Track Club was very competitive with over 500 athletes in attendance. Numerous athletes earned personal best and many others took home medals. Some of the highlights of the day include Augustine Morgan winning three golds in the 14 year old 1500m, 800m, and Triple Jump. Orion Bowers won the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Lanicia Parker won her second consecutive long jump competition in the early season. Hannah Graves would win the 12 year old 400. Shelby Birmingham took home gold in the 13 year old 200m. All three 4x100m relays would take home first place in their respective races.
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Meet PTE Athlete Caleia Johnson

4/8/2015

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2015 Team Captain Caleia Johnson enters her 3rd season with Pure Talent Elite. Another one of the original members of the club she displays a tremendous work ethic. As a 6th grader at Plaza Middle School, she participates in long sprints and mid distance and plans to add the long jump to her list of events. A three time Junior Olympic participant she qualified last season in the 800, 4x400m relay, and the 4x800m relay. She expects a big season from herself in 2015!


* Fun Fact: Caleia's father, Clay Johnson was a member of the 1982 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

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Meet PTE Athlete Kolby Heinerikson

4/5/2015

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2015 team captain Kolby Heinerikson begins his 3rd season with Pure Talent Elite Track and Field. Kolby is one of the most decorated athletes in the short history of PTE, being named All-American 5 times. Kolby participates in the multi-events, currently being the Pentathlon (100m Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump, 1500m). His primary expertise lies in the throws arena where he has thrown the javelin, discus and the shot put. At the 2014 Junior Olympics Heinerikson captured medals in the pentathlon and javelin. He looks forward to continuing his success in 2015. 

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