By Cindy Vodopich
Thunder Bay Volleyball Academy opened its doors three years ago with a mission of providing the highest possible caliber of volleyball training to young players in the Brandon area, including Riverview, Valrico, Plant City, Lithia, Southshore, and beyond. In three short years, Thunder Bay, a Florida 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has accomplished its mission and has experienced unprecedented growth in the process, more than tripling in size since its inaugural year.
The club’s offerings have expanded to include not only indoor club volleyball and developmental training for both new and experienced players, but also diverse skills camps, middle school and high school prep sessions, private and small group lessons, a boy’s volleyball program, and a beach volleyball program.
Thunder Bay Volleyball Academy has become the full-service source for volleyball in the Brandon area and beyond. That is no surprise given the caliber of coaches, starting with Magaly Carvajal, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, and Volleyball Hall of Famer. The senior coaching staff is internationally known and all of them have coached and/or played at the highest levels of the sport. Magaly Carvajal is considered by many to be “the greatest middle blocker to ever play the game of women’s volleyball.”
New Club Director, Curtis Flowers, is proud of what the organization offers to young athletes in this community. “Thunder Bay’s unprecedented growth is directly related to our incredible coaching staff and our owners’ vision of providing the most comprehensive, highest level volleyball training available in all of Tampa Bay. We are excited to continue our mission of excellence with new and ever-expanding programs,” he said.
Thunder Bay is especially excited about this year’s return of its popular “Summer Explosion” camp, and is proud to be among the first in the Tampa Bay area to offer boys volleyball training.
Thunder Bay offers affordable beach volleyball training at local sand courts in Brandon and Valrico giving players the skills they need to compete in the beach tournaments offered all around the state, including nearby Clearwater Beach and Siesta Key. Whether a player is completely new to the sport and or is an experienced superstar, Thunder Bay is certain it has what it takes to get them there. Visit TBVAclub.com or call 331-5388.
