2014 girls volleyball registration tips off at Faith Christian Academy

Registration for the exciting 20th season of Faith Christian Academy's girls volleyball program has arrived. Signup forms will be distributed the week of May 12 to girls entering eighth to fourth grades this fall at FCA.

The Falcons are coming off a school record-setting 2013 season while playing under the theme of "Time to Shine." Among the team's highlights, FCA won 39 matches with 8 defeats while capturing the championship at the Aurora Central Catholic 8th-grade Invitational, sharing first place at the Aurora Christian Invitational, finishing in third place at the St. John Lutheran Invitational and earning seventh place out of 24 schools at the Lutheran Sports Association state tournament in Springfield. The girls played outstanding team volleyball while letting the light of Christ shine in their performances, effort, teamwork and attitudes. Faith owns an overall record of 434 wins and 113 losses in two decades of competitive girls volleyball since beginning a volleyball program in 1995.

The 2014 season tips off with the first week of practice running from Monday, Aug. 25 to Friday, Aug. 29. Besides the LSA state tournament, another highlight of the 2014 schedule is the addition of a home tournament, the Faith Christian Think Pink Classic, Sept. 13, where the school will collect donations for breast cancer research.

The theme for the 2014 season is "Ready to Fly" based on Isaiah 40:31 -- But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

The team captains for 2014 will be Gigi Crescenzo and Corrin Schulze. A new wrinkle to the 2014 season will be the Falcon Friends program. Each returning 8th-grade player will be paired up with a 4th- to 7th-grade player to serve as her season-long mentor and role model on and off the court.

Over the summer, volleyball players are encouraged to work on improving their skills by practicing on their own and participating summer camps and clinics, including the fifth annual FCA Summer Volleyball Camp Aug. 4 to 7. The FCA camp will feature Wheaton College women's coach Brittany Smith and Molly McCoy, FCA's 2006 volleyball MVP and a senior starting outside hitter for the University of Illinois-Chicago's women's squad. The camp is open to the public.