AU Pro Volleyball Hosts Youth Skills Clinic with Omaha Starlings
Ahead of the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship in Omaha, Nebraska, AU athletes spent time giving back to the local community, hosting a youth clinic with the Omaha Starlings on September 20.
The event brought together 20 athletes ages 9-15 for an afternoon of drills, skill development, and one-on-one conversations with professional players. The clinic was led by AU Director of Volleyball and Olympic medalist Cassidy Lichtman, with support from current AU athletes on-site in Omaha.
For the Starlings players, it was an opportunity to not only sharpen their skills but also gain insight from professionals competing at the highest level of the sport.
“Honestly, the reason why I play is to give back to a lot of these young athletes, show them that we can be their role models as professionals, now able to play in the States,” said AU athlete Brooke Nuneviller. “It was a really fun time today.”
Middle blocker Serena Gray, who once played for a Starlings club herself, emphasized the value of staying connected to the next generation.
“It’s definitely important to continue working with the youth to promote the sport, just so we can pass down that knowledge from the pro level,” she said. “Getting to see their personalities was the best part of it.”
For the Omaha Starlings, the clinic was equally rewarding.
“It was awesome for our kids to get to work so closely with some professional athletes,” said Erin Golden, Assistant Director of the Omaha Starlings. “They were able to work on skills and also ask some questions about how their career formed.”
View this post on Instagram
About Starlings Volleyball
Founded in 1996 in San Diego by Byron Shewman and Olympian Kim Oden, Starlings Volleyball was created to bring high-level volleyball opportunities to girls from lower-income households and underrepresented communities. Today, Starlings operates in more than 70 cities and Native American reservations, serving roughly 3,000 athletes each year.
The organization has grown into the nation’s largest junior volleyball club and continues to empower young athletes by providing affordable, competitive volleyball experiences alongside academic and personal support.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
