Team 27 Volleyball Club has cemented its status as a premier developmental program in the Michigan region, continuing its trajectory of excellence into the 2025-2026 club season. As of December 2025, the club, which operates primarily out of the New Baltimore and Port Huron areas, is gearing up for another intense season of competitive play, with its athletes already making waves in high school and college recruiting circles. The club’s consistent focus on holistic player development, combined with a demanding tournament schedule, positions its teams to compete at the highest levels, including major regional and national events.
The program is renowned for its commitment to transforming promising young athletes into college-ready volleyball players, emphasizing technical skill mastery and mental toughness. This dedication is evident in the club's impressive track record of college placements, a key metric for any elite club program in the competitive landscape of Michigan club volleyball. The recent announcement of a specialized Skills & Development Clinic further underscores their commitment to continuous improvement and nurturing the next generation of talent in the area.
Team 27 Volleyball Club: Program Profile and Key Personnel
While the club maintains a focused, athlete-centric approach, its success is built on a structured program that spans multiple age groups and a dedicated coaching staff. This section provides a snapshot of the structure and the key individuals shaping the club’s future.
- Primary Locations: New Baltimore, MI and Port Huron, Michigan.
- Age Divisions: The program caters to a wide range of developmental stages, offering competitive teams from 11U through 17U.
- Program Focus: Club/Travel Women's Volleyball, emphasizing college recruitment and high-level tournament play.
- Key Coach Spotlight (18u): Piper, a 2023 Richmond High School graduate, serves as a coach for the 18u team. Her recent experience as a standout athlete at SC4, where she earned All-Conference, All-Tournament, All-Region honors, and was named Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in 2023, provides current athletes with a direct, high-level role model.
- Notable Emerging Athletes (2025-2028 HS Classes):
- Makayla Bruman: HS 2026, from Attica, MI (OH, OPP, S, 5' 11").
- Abigail Kautz: HS 2026, from Croswell, MI (OH, MB, 5' 11").
- Kylee Strozeski: HS 2027, from Pearl Beach, MI (OH, MB, DS, 5' 7").
- Payton Vernarsky: HS 2028, from Marysville, MI (OPP, L, DS, 5' 2").
The College Placement Powerhouse: A Proven Recruiting Pipeline
One of the most compelling aspects of Team 27 Volleyball Club is its undeniable success in guiding athletes to the collegiate level. The club's recruiting pipeline is robust, demonstrating its ability to prepare players for various college divisions, from NJCAA to NCAA D3 and NAIA programs. This success is not accidental; it is the result of a dedicated college recruiting coordinator and a philosophy focused on making athletes "recruitable."
Since 2021, the club has successfully placed 12 athletes into college volleyball programs. This consistent placement rate highlights the effectiveness of their training and the visibility the club provides through its demanding travel schedule and participation in key recruiting tournaments. The club understands that the recruiting process is a marathon, not a sprint, and provides the necessary resources for athletes to build their profiles on platforms like FieldLevel and Hudl.
The commitment to player exposure is evident in the diversity of the programs its athletes have committed to. These include:
- St. Clair County Community College (NJCAA D2 in Port Huron, MI)
- Albion College (NCAA D3 in Albion, MI)
- Aquinas College (NAIA in Grand Rapids, MI)
This list showcases the club's ability to match players with institutions that fit both their athletic and academic aspirations, creating successful student-athletes. The focus is on finding the right fit, whether it’s a high-level NCAA program or a strong regional junior college.
5 Pillars of Team 27's Training Philosophy
Team 27 Volleyball Club's reputation is built on a distinct training methodology that goes beyond basic drills. While specific details of their proprietary training are closely guarded, the results and general structure align with the best practices of elite Michigan-based clubs, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to skill and character development. This philosophy is the foundation of their success in the competitive AAU Volleyball and MJVBA circuits.
1. Position-Specific and Personalized Training
Unlike programs that rely solely on team practices, Team 27 incorporates dedicated, position-specific training sessions. This ensures that setters, outside hitters (OH), middle blockers (MB), opposites (OPP), and defensive specialists/liberos (DS/L) receive specialized instruction tailored to the nuances of their roles. Coach Piper’s experience as a high-level athlete directly informs the practical application of these skills, focusing on advanced footwork, platform angles, and arm swing mechanics for maximum efficiency.
2. The Student-Athlete First Mentality
The club maintains a strict "student first, athlete second" philosophy, a common thread in successful college-prep programs. This emphasis on academic integrity is crucial for college recruitment, as coaches prioritize players who can manage the dual demands of a rigorous academic schedule and a competitive athletic career. The club helps athletes develop time management and responsibility, which are essential life skills.
3. Mental Toughness and Resilience Training
Playing competitive club volleyball, especially on the travel circuit, requires significant mental fortitude. Team 27 focuses on developing resilience, communication, and leadership qualities. By exposing teams to high-pressure situations in tournaments, the coaches cultivate players who can "Play Fearlessly," trust the process, and overcome adversity, a core value for any successful athlete.
4. Comprehensive Age-Group Development
The club’s structure from 11U to 17U ensures a vertically integrated curriculum. Younger athletes (11U-13U) focus on the FUNdamentals—passing, serving, setting, and hitting—with an emphasis on proper form and functional movement. As players progress to the 15U-17U elite teams, the focus shifts to advanced strategy, systems, and the competitive application of skills required to succeed in National Qualifiers and regional championships.
5. High-Level Competition Exposure
The club ensures its teams compete against the best talent in the region and nation. By participating in a demanding travel schedule that includes major events, the athletes gain critical exposure to college coaches and experience the intensity of national-level play. This commitment to high-level competition is the final, crucial step in their development, preparing them not just for a college roster spot, but for success once they get there.
In the competitive world of junior volleyball, Team 27 Volleyball Club stands out as a program that delivers measurable results. Their combination of expert coaching, a strong focus on college recruiting, and a comprehensive developmental philosophy makes them a key player in the Michigan volleyball landscape and a top choice for aspiring collegiate athletes in the New Baltimore and Port Huron communities.
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