Volleyball may start with learning how to serve, tip and rally, but, for the hundreds of girls stepping into Airdrie gyms each week, the game quickly becomes about much more than points on a scoreboard.
Within the structured, high-energy world of club volleyball, athletes are learning how to trust one another, handle pressure, communicate through challenges, and celebrate both success and failure as a team. At the heart of that experience in our city is the Airdrie Hawks Volleyball Club.
Athlete Lilly Muncy is 17 and heading into her final season of club volleyball after spending her five-year volleyball career with the Hawks.
“Connection is the best way I can describe it,” she says. “Connection off the court is just as important as connection on the court.”
Muncy credits the club with teaching her trust, friendship and hard work, lessons that extend far beyond the gym. She is committed to play volleyball at Waldorf University in Iowa beginning in the fall of 2026, joining a growing list of Hawks athletes who move onto post-secondary volleyball each year.
Club volleyball is a step beyond school teams. It is a longer season, a higher level of competition, and a bigger commitment from athletes and families. Tryouts are competitive, rosters are limited, and athletes are expected to attend regular practices and travel for tournaments. The season culminates in Provincial Championships in April and National Championships in May, with many teams attending extra tournaments along the way. For those who commit, it offers a structured, elite environment that balances hard work with fun.
Founded in 2009 as the Airdrie Calgary Volleyball Club and rebranded as the Airdrie Hawks in 2021, the club has grown alongside the sport. Club President Lance Merrifield has seen that growth first-hand. Today, the Hawks support between 150 and 165 athletes each year, fielding female teams from U13 through U18, with as many as 25 coaches guiding the program.
“The girls’ program has grown tremendously over the past five or six years,” he says. “Volleyball in general has grown 64 per cent in the last three years, according to Volleyball Alberta stats.”
Tori Romano has been coaching U16 girls with the Hawks for two years. Romano sees women’s club volleyball as an essential part of the sports landscape.
“Women’s sports in general have gained a lot of momentum and popularity recently, which is really encouraging to see,” she says.
“There’s something inspiring about seeing women’s sports have more of a platform, because it can really help girls to see a part of themselves in these strong female athlete figures.”
That growth is not just about numbers. It is rooted in a clear philosophy that emphasizes enjoyment of the sport, long-term athlete development and character building.
“Volleyball is a very technical game and when athletes recognize that they are good at it, they recognize what a big accomplishment that is,” says Merrifield.
“It is truly a team sport, even more so than other sports that are considered ‘team sports’ … everybody is participating all of the time.”
The culture of the game is another factor that draws girls to volleyball over other options.
“It’s a very positive affirming sport, after every play, the team comes together to high five or celebrate or say, ‘That’s okay,’ and moves on to the next one,” says Merrifield.
Sixteen-year-old Lauren Ferguson, a fifth-year Hawk competing in Division 1, says volleyball’s appeal goes far beyond medals and rankings.
“Volleyball isn’t just about the tournaments; it’s about learning and growing with a team of girls your own age,” she says.
“It’s about team dinners and singing in the car after getting ice cream.”
Fifteen-year-old Avery Farrell, now in her fourth year with the Hawks, says volleyball changed how she sees herself.
“Before I started to play volleyball, I was a very shy kid who went through a lot of bullying and, after I started playing, I felt safe to be myself and gained confidence every time I stepped on the court,” she says.
For Farrell, the supportive team environment has been just as important as learning skills.
“Everyone supports each other and I have made many friends along the way,” she adds.
The growth of women’s club volleyball in Airdrie is about more than competition. It is about building confidence, resilience and lifelong connections in a structured, positive environment.
In gyms across the city, the rise of women’s club volleyball is shaping not just stronger athletes, but more confident, connected young women who will carry those lessons with them long after the final whistle.
