Welcome to CLUB FUSION VOLLEYBALL!
Celebrating our 25th year!

Participation in the Club Fusion program is a privilege and requires commitment, focus and effort by all those involved.  We will all work together to provide an amazing experience for those who participate in our organization. 

Playing volleyball at Club Fusion also requires a strong commitment to the game, your team, and teammates.  To that end, Club Fusion has expectations that its programs provide to all athletes the opportunity to be successful and ensure the best experience possible both on and off the court.

That success is not something we take lightly and each year we take huge steps in refining our training techniques, educating our coaches, and enhancing our programs. Club volleyball is a process from the beginning of the season to the end and from year to year. Right from the start at the youngest ages Club Fusion feels it is right on track with the expectations of developing its players. 

There are many wonderful experiences, both on and off the court about to unfold in the coming months and years, that should make for an exciting lifetime of memories.  
Our organization will strive every day to make Club Fusion the best place to be when it comes to club volleyball.   After your experience with us, we hope you and your athlete will agree.    

We welcome you to the 22nd season of Club Fusion Volleyball.  Established in 1999, Club Fusion is ranked among one of the top programs in the country.  Beyond the success of our teams, our athletes have become some of the most sought-after players in the country by collegiate programs.

We thank you all for your support and understanding of our efforts. 

–Club Fusion Volleyball

1. We established a culture where our athletes have confidence, pride, character, and grit.
         >We encourage aggressive mistakes and allow our athletes to grow as individuals.
2. We must grow the game for future generations.
         >The importance of team bonding and creating a safe place for our athletes. 
3. We believe in developing the individual first, which will strengthen the team. 
         >Skills and drills will be geared towards the individual.
4. We have a Lead Trainer based system that revolves around a structured curriculum.
         >Our trainers will create the plans and this allows our coaches to “coach”. It’s a great way for our staff to work with all of our athletes equally. 
5. We train our athletes to “Adapt” as they continue to learn the game of volleyball.
          >Our athletes are placed in situations throughout practice where they need to make decisions and live with those decisions. This allows them to trust in themselves more and build confidence.  Our athletes are able to play multiple positions when asked upon. 
6. We believe that our athletes need to compete in practice to build their “Competitiveness”. 
          >Our drills and scrimmages in practice are geared towards competition.
7. We must communicate, communicate, communicate.
         >It is important as a club and coach that we communicate with our athletes on a daily basis. Be honest with your athletes on their performance and how they can improve as well as communicate with the parents with the tournament schedule (when to arrive, what to bring, etc.).
8. We love our Fusion Family.
         >Being a part of the Fusion Family isn’t just a saying, it is a “Lifestyle”. Our alumni will come back into the gym to say hi and love to get extra reps when they visit from college. Our coaches and alumni are amazing ambassadors for Club Fusion and our family keeps growing! 

We realize that there are hundreds of clubs in Northern Illinois.  Why choose us?  Since 1999, we have worked hard to combine the best attributes in club volleyball as well as be an innovative leader in the sport.  Here are just some of the things we do:

• Convenient location
• Offer two program tiers for every level of player; allows for seamless advancement from one program to the next
• Focus on individual player development through a developed and focused training program designed for every level
• Have outstanding team results locally, regionally and nationally
• Consistent training model for all teams/players in each program
• Create a manageable practice schedule; we want players to have balance in their lives and assist families with busy schedules
• Coaches & Lead Coaches that get to know each player in the program to assist in their development
• Professional and experienced Executive Team & Coaching Team
• Dedicated volleyball training facilities
• An understanding that training, results and fun can be accomplished;  these are not mutually exclusive
• Camps/Clinics/Lessons & more to further assist player development
• A desire to create a family atmosphere within our Executive Team, Coaching team, teams, players and parents.
• High profile among local middle school and high schools
• Dedicated recruiting director/counselor and recruiting tools
• Dedicated staff to assist families in every step along the way

Club Fusion Mission Statement

Club Fusion’s mission is to create a place, a home where players can come to grow, enjoy volleyball, and the people around them. Club Fusion believes in individual excellence and enriching the human character of our players.  Our goal is to guide our athletes through their developmental process, shaping character with a positive attitude and determination.  We expect our athletes to work to the best of their abilities with integrity and teamwork.  To effectively lead themselves and others to achieve their highest goals

Club Fusion strives each year to:

• Establish an environment where dedicated coaches and supportive parents help young athletes, no matter what their level, realize their full potential in the sport of volleyball.
• Set the standard each year for quality in coaching, training techniques, administration and professional responsibility.
• Prepare and then promote athletes for their next level aspirations in volleyball whether it is to advance in school or playing collegiate volleyball.
• Cultivate pride and tradition in Club Fusion by creating an atmosphere where players return each year, promote the sport, interact positively in their communities and believe in the Fusion Way.

Coaching/Learning Philosophy

Club Fusion employs many coaching and counseling techniques that are designed to effectively accomplish our training goals. In general, these techniques fall into the following main methods:

• Instruction – Learning to play volleyball, or any sport, requires the guidance of an experienced coaching staff who can communicate with the players to help them develop their fundamental and advanced skills in the sport.
• Repetition – We believe that repetition of skills is necessary to master the sport. Our training techniques look to include every player extensively in each drill to increase the number of touches that they get each practice.
• Feedback – We believe that player development is enhanced when coaches interact with the players by providing feedback. This feedback can come in many forms and may include both constructive criticism and positive reinforcement.
• Competition – We believe our players must compete. Whether it be to make the program, the team, earn a starting position or simply competing on their own team.  Competition is at the core of what we do. We provide many opportunities to compete in practice and have an extensive tournament schedule for each program. Players must earn their playing time through competition for their spot. Players are given opportunities every day to compete and learn valuable life lessons as well.

Our Goals

Develop each individual player. This is accomplished in several ways. We will strive to develop complete volleyball players that are taught all the skills of the sport. We will also focus on the development of self-discipline, dedication, and confidence in each athlete, qualities that will assist them as they progress through life.

Develop our teams. Learning how to function in a positive team environment is one of the most useful life skills a player can develop. We want our teams to compete at a high level relative to their program and have them compete not only in tournament play, but also in the training environment. Teaching our players to compete within a team environment will help them in every phase of their life.

Prepare our players for the next level. We excel in preparing those players that have the desire, athletic ability and academic standing to play at the high school and go on to the collegiate level. Whatever their goals may be, we know that we will strive every day to help them take it to the next level.

Like most clubs, Club Fusion started out small.  In 1999, the club was formed by current owner Bill Milborn.

With the help of legendary high school coach, Larry Kahl, the club held its first tryouts in the Huntley High School gymnasium.  To our surprise, nearly 100 players came into the gym.  After the dust settled, Club Fusion had 8 teams in their first year.

In 2001, the club outgrew the use of the local schools and moved to a sports dome located in Elgin, IL.  The club's growth continued at a fast pace.  In 2003, Milborn made the decision to build the Fusion Sports Center to give Club Fusion a home.  The 4 court facility has served as the hub of Club Fusion and houses the administrative offices of the organization.

As the club continued to grow, the owners made the bold decision to open satellite locations.  After several iterations, the club settled on the 3 locations we currently have today in Marengo, Batavia, and Crystal Lake.  With over 80 teams in addition to the 600 youth academy players in 2016, Club Fusion is one of the largest and most successful volleyball clubs in the midwest.

When it comes to club leadership, Club Fusion has it covered. Owner Bill Milborn founded Club Fusion in 1999.  Bill also has served as the President and Treasure of the Junior Volleyball Association. His experience, success and devotion to the sport of volleyball is evident in every facet of the program.

In addition, Club Fusion has a dedicated full-time staff that supports the families, the players and the coaching staff throughout the season.   

The year of 2018 saw many changes and improvements coming to the organization.  Dave Soller was assigned as the Managing Director of Volleyball Operations.  Mike Bui has stepped into the role as the Club Representative/Public Relations.  George Campos is our Beach Program Director and Lesson Coordinator. Tony Larocca serves Club Fusion as our Events Registrar - Admin Team.  The Fusion Staff team continued to grow in 2023. Meghan Ulmer now leads the Marketing/Social Media department.  Lynnette Summins is the Director of Recruiting and a National Lead Trainer. Devan Orr is the Director of Fusion Volleyball Academy. 

The Club in 2021, has now moved all the operations and teams to the Batavia Location.  The Fusion Sports Center-Marengo still remains as the competition hub for the WCPL and CVL.