About Us

Avalanche, Club Fusion's newest addition, located in the Naperville area, is part of an elite junior volleyball club sanctioned through USA Volleyball and the Great Lakes Region.

This program is looking for junior girls volleyball players who want to compete in high level competition for the 2008-2009 club volleyball season. As a member of the Club Fusion family, Avalanche will compete with the top volleyball programs in the country. Our training directs and prepares athletes to compete in this atmosphere. Club Fusion's past experiences allows Avalanche the ability to utilize proven methods in training their athletes.

History of Avalanche

The 2007-2008 season was full of adventure and success from the very youngest teams to the oldest teams in AVC. Avalanche became a proud member of the Nationally recognized JVDA. There all travel teams made a HUGE impact in their finishes at our zonal tournaments and at the end of the season at JVDA Nationals.

The 16 Black team led by Kerri & Tim McCastland had the most winning season of all AVC teams in 2007-2008 season. 16 Black team finished 5th in the country at JVDA Nationals. In their season they had many successes. Some of those successes:
They finished in the top of power league
They were Fusion Tournament Champions.
They took 2nd in the gold at Presidents' Day Tournament.
They took 2nd in the gold at Diggin in the Dells.

The other AVC teams had very winning seasons as well. The 18 Black team that is led by Nicole Anderson and an all Jr. 2009 class with the exception of 2 Seniors were Palos Court Champions, top finishes in all other tourneys as well as ending their winning season with a National Ranking of 11th in country!

The 14 Black team led by Katie Johnson finished in the top of power league and ended their winning season with a National Ranking of 15th in the country!

13 Black finished in the top of power league and National ranking of 37th in the country. 15 Black finished with a National ranking of 45th. 16 Silver finished 67th in the country and 18 Silver finished with a National Ranking of 26th in the country.

Every senior seeking to play in the collegiate game was recruited in 2008 to an NCAA school of their choice.

We were happy to have secured a home practice site that ensured same day and same time practice opportunities for every AVC team that I know families appreciated. Many teams received good travel experiences to play other national competition and for the younger teams, provided the much needed exposure to be recruited in the future.

Practice Facility

One more positive improvement to AVC in 2008-2009 is the consistency of our practice facility. All AVC teams will practice at IBA this season. Our facility at IBA will move from 4 courts to 5 courts to better serve the total number of AVC athletes and families. YEA! So MapQuest your way and learn the back roads because your team's site, day and time will remain consistent. Go AVC!

Illinois Basketball Academy (IBA)
460 Industrial Drive
Naperville, IL 60563

Tournaments/Competition

Avalanche teams will compete in many high level tournaments. Teams will play a combination of tournaments in the following events: Fusion Fests, Elite Challenge Series, Zonal JVDA Tournaments as well as other National JVDA tournaments.   Click here.

Coaching Staff

The Avalanche proudly introduces you to your 2008-2009 coaches. All staff is comprised of current/former collegiate players, high school coaches and club coaches.  Click here.

Club Costs

All club costs in dues and travel will be presented at the Parent Information meetings which will be held during Tryouts and then again specifically at the Parent Night Event.

Meet the Director...

Kerri McCastland
Kerri is currently the head coach at Plainfield North High School. She has been a head coach for 18 years in both high school and Junior Olympic volleyball.

In 2008, Kerri finished 5th at JVDA Nationals with her 16's team at Avalanche VBC while maintaining top finishes In every tournament played in for the year.

In 2007's high school season, as a second year varsity program, the Tigers overall record was 29-6 for the year. The milestone marked the most wins in any sport in Plainfield High School's 117 year history. The Tigers finished top in every tournament played in for the season. The Tigers also represented the All-Area and All-State teams. In 2006, as a first year varsity program, Kerri's PNHS Tigers finished 24-12. The Tigers won the Suburban Southwest Prairie Conference Championship with a 12-2 record. She also led her team last year to top 4 tournament win/finishes in every tournament played in. This is the farthest any Plainfield school had been since 2001.

In 2007, the Tigers ROARED through the southwest suburbs and through the SPC Conference at ALL levels. Freshman had a VERY winning season going: 17-8 overall and finishing top in their tournaments played. Sophomores finished 23-5 and finished in the top 3 of every tournament played in during the 2007 season the varsity team finished as the SPC Conference Champions for the second year in a row and ended with a dominating conference record of 13-1. Varsity's overall record was 29-6 for the year. The Tigers finished 2nd at the PNHS tourney losing to Naperville North H.S. The Tigers were Tournament Champions in Yorkville. The Tigers finished 1st in the Lincoln-Way Tournament and the top in Downers Grove tournament. The Tigers proudly represented the SPC All-Conference with 3 All-Conference Players: Kylee Baker, Amber DeWeerdt and Jessica Guerrieri. The Tigers also represented the All-Area and All-State teams. In the All-Area category,Amber DeWeerdt, Kylee Baker, Jessica Guerrieri and Sarah Scott were represented.And, on the ALL-State teams: Amber DeWeerdt and Kylee Baker were honored. Kerri and the Tigers beat Lockport H.S. in the regionals and lost in the regional final to the 2007 State Champion Naperville Central H.S.

In 2006, as a first year varsity program, she won the Suburban Southwest Prairie Conference Championship with a 12-2 record. She also led her team last year to top 4 tournament win/finishes in every tournament played in. She succeeded all of that with 2 freshman, 5 sophomores and 3 juniors. 3 of these players earned all-area honors, all tournament team honors and one was District 202 Player of the Year. In the same year, Kerri lost in the regional championship to Waubonsie Valley. This is the farthest any Plainfield school had been since 2001.

In 2005, Kerri coached only freshman/sophomores as Plainfield North H.S. just opened its doors to the community of Plainfield with sophomores and freshman. That year, we won 3rd place in the Adidas Varsity Invite. We also produced one all-tournament team player: Kiersten O'Leary in the Bourbonnais Varsity Tourney.

In 2004, Kerri holds the most wins in school history and sent the 1st two female athletes into the NCAA with scholarships in school history and produced 3 all-area players & one Fox prep athlete of the week. That same year in club- all 7 of her seniors finished with a 98-11 season and all are active scholarship athletes in the NCAA.

In 2004, Kerri holds the most wins in school history and sent the 1st two female athletes into the NCAA with scholarships in school history and produced 3 all-area players & one Fox News prep athlete of the week. That same year in club- all 7 of her seniors finished with a 98-11 season and all are active scholarship athletes in the NCAA.

In 2003, Kerri led Andrew High School to a regional championship, sectional championship and a super-sectional appearance vs. then state winner JCA in a 3 game battle. She had similar success at Andrew in 2002. In 2001 and 2000 she took Oak Forest to back to back conference championships. In addition, she lead Oak Forest to its first regional championship win in 9 years and its first sectional final appearance in 14 years.