Saturday’s Rogue330 Preview at Malone! (1/11/25)

Club season is FINALLY here. This Saturday, all four of our Rogue330 teams will participate in the first-annual Rogue330 Malone University Invitational. From 12-3pm, we’ll have non-stop volleyball with challenges between our 16BLAZE, 17FIRE, 17HEAT, and 18FLAME teams. “We wanted to do a fun season kickoff event for all of our players and families, and Malone’s program has been a terrific partner for this,” said Rogue330 Club Director, Gary Underwood. “With several new coaches and connections at Malone, it made a ton of sense to work with them on this!”

Last season, Rogue330 appreciated the example and coaching of several Walsh University students, including Bitsy Bauer, Bella Mungo, and Kendra Courtock. In late 2024, Rogue330 announced the addition of three Malone Pioneers who are excited and ready to invest in young players and their development. Graduate Assistant Coach Paige Bogue is working with Rogue330 setters for position training and drills on Monday nights. Senior Libero and North Canton Hoover alum Macy McCauley is off and running as Head Coach for Rogue’s 17-American Heat team. Annabelle Kegley, a Malone Freshman and Fairless alum, adds her energy and experience to Macy’s Heat team. “As a Club Director, I can see the difference it makes to have multiple coaches who recently played at a high level or are still playing,” Underwood observed. “Our players look up to them, and so do our coaches and parents!”

McCauley and Kegley are excited about the potential of their 17A Heat team, with players from all around Stark and Summit Counties. The 18R team is led by new Head Coach Stacie Kucalaba, the Head Coach at Woodridge High School and recently-named District Coach of the Year. Rogue’s 17A Fire returns with coaches Jennie Underwood, Bella Mungo, and Megan Raber. The “youngest” of the Rogue330 teams, the 16-Regional Blaze, welcome back coaches Kaleigh Courtock, Kendra Courtock, and a Rogue330 alum – Jenna Eddy from Kent State.

In just its second full season as a JO Volleyball Club, Rogue330 appears to place a high priority on developing setters. Position Coach Paige Bogue enjoyed working with all four teams’ setters during this past Monday’s conditioning and skills night at SPIKE in Canal Fulton. Four of their setters will look familiar to Federal League volleyball enthusiasts, starting with North Canton Hoover’s Abby Auman, who returns to Rogue330 for her Senior club season. Alexa Pablo (Hoover), Taeko Thompson (McKinley), and Ruthie Weimer (GlenOak) are three sophomores with tremendous experience and potential.

This Saturday’s season kickoff could feel like a legit four-team friendly OVR tournament to help players and families ramp up for the season. With high school referees, player intros, music, door prizes, line judges, and Rogue’s newly-arrived Nike Club Ace game jerseys, Underwood hopes to give fans an afternoon to remember. “We’ll do the fun stuff,” he assures, “but of course we are most excited about the game. We are here for these kids and their families. Volleyball rules, and we are here for every second of it!”

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Next Week at Rogue330 — (Jan 13) All-teams practice and conditioning at SPIKE from 6-8pm. (Jan 16) 18R Flame practice at GentleBrook Hartville from 530-730pm. (Jan 16) 17s and 16s practice at SPIKE from 645-830pm. (Jan 18) 17A FIRE and 17A Heat play in the one-day 17 Select OVR tournament at Elite Sports Ohio in Uniontown. (Jan 19) 18R FLAME plays in the one-day OVR tournament for 18 Regional OVR at Elite Sports.

Online Fundraiser Auction – Rogue330 wants to thank some tremendous community partners for participating in our online gift donations for the auction (link here): Pancho’s Southwestern Restaurant, Swenson’s, Cane’s Chicken, Cleveland Cavaliers, Carlo’s Trattoria, Town Tavern, RainTree Country Club, Shannon Leigh Salon, Romeo’s Pizza, Crumbl Cookies, Aladdin’s Mediterranean Eatery, and many more!!

BallerTV Capture to host LiveStreams of Rogue330 Games! – BallerTV was recently announced as the official broadcast partner for Rogue330 Volleyball, unleashing their new app for livestreams, player highlights, and parent/player video storage via the BTVCapture app. Download the App and follow Rogue330 this season for free!