Many young athletes hope to one day have a coach who understands the importance of dedication and work ethic.
When it comes to Hoggard’s volleyball players and dozens of club volleyball players in the community, they know Ron Strickland is willing to put in the extra time to be successful on the court.
Now retired from teaching, Strickland has been focused on the success of Hoggard’s volleyball program and the success of others in the volleyball community. His success at Hoggard has been unprecedented when it comes to high school coaching. In 27 seasons, he has led the Vikings to 23 Conference titles, 5 State 4A title appearances, and is currently No. 2 on the All-Time Wins list for North Carolina High Schools.
Strickland started the Cape Fear Volleyball club in 1979. Since then, it’s grown from seven players to an entire league. Strickland got the idea to start Cape Fear Volleyball Club from a good friend and N.C. State’s first full-time volleyball coach, Pat Hielscher.
Over the years, the program has grown into one of the most well-known club volleyball leagues across the state. It’s expanded from six teams over the last decade to between eight and 12 teams this year.
Space is limited since Cape Fear Volleyball Club practices in area facilities. Strickland hopes to expand in the near future
“We’re currently negotiating for a building. We have a few in mind, but if anybody knows of a facility, please let us know,” Strickland said.
The ideal space for Cape Fear Volleyball Club would be a structure that has at least a 22-foot ceiling, with roughly 15,000- 20,000 square feet of additional room.
Strickland knows the program will be unable to grow further unless they have the space to grow.
While volleyball has grown into a popular sport for many younger female athletes, Strickland said playing at the club level is essential in getting players ready for the next level.
“The reality is, the more touches you get the better you’ll be,” said Strickland. “It’s a huge difference-maker if you participate in club rather than just playing during the school year.”
Cape Fear Volleyball Club will host tryouts Oct. 21. Age groups within the club program range from 7-18 years old.
For details visit www.capefearvolleyball.com.
