The Middle School Select (MSS) league provides a more competitive volleyball experience that prepares players for high school volleyball tryouts without the commitment to a club program. It is ideal both for players looking to play volleyball in high school and also for multi-sport athletes that do not yet "major" in a sport.

In MSS, players will learn a standard volleyball formation (6/2, 5/1, or 4/2) and strive to generate a hit on every possession, along with improving the consistency of their serve. Many of our players eventually play for their high school team and then decide to play for a club volleyball program, or we see them back later in our High School Select or High School Travel leagues. 

Unlike the inclusive nature of our House program, MSS selects players after a tryout and callback process. Tryouts are open to girls in grades 6 through 8. For the spring 2026 season, we are planning on having 6 MSS teams of 10 players each. Typically, the league is comprised of roughly 70% 8th graders, 25% 7th graders, and 5% 6th graders. 

Players that are drafted onto an MS Select team typically have some or all of the following characteristics:

• ⁠Solid passing technique, able to handle serve receive consistently and pass the ball to a target (serve receive is crucial in our league!). 
• Consistent serve that is ideally an overhand serve. 
• Multiple seasons of prior volleyball experience, and/or selection to an all-star team in a previous season.
• ⁠Some experience, or at least understanding, of striving to use all 3 touches to generate a hit.

Those who do not make a MS Select team after tryouts are placed on a grade-appropriate House team. Friend and carpool requests will not be honored in MS Select.

MS Select is NOT a CLUB VOLLEYBALL program.  For information about club volleyball opportunities in the area, visit the Club Overview page on the NoVA Volleyball Alliance website.

NOTE: Active club players are not eligible to play MS Select -- this ensures that as many other girls as possible can have a similar competitive volleyball experience. 

MS Select Commitment

• Two 90-minute practices during the week.
• One 90-minute match each Saturday during the season.
• Players are expected to attend all practices and matches. This is crucial! Our coaches expect players at every practice to teach them a formation and all the skills necessary to play high school volleyball. If two nights a week of practice is not possible for your daughter, then MSS is not the right choice. 

Tryout Process - Spring 2025

• STEP 1: Register for the appropriate grade (6th, 7th or 8th) for the spring season - THERE IS NO SEPARATE REGISTRATION FOR MS SELECT.

• STEP 2: In the second half of February, register in Demosphere to attend ONE of the six round 1 tryout sessions (Information will be emailed out for this in mid February).
• STEP 3:  If invited, attend the round 2 callback.  This is an invitation-only event based on Round 1 results. Attendance is mandatory to be considered for a MS Select team. 
  • After the tryout, there will be a draft to assign players to teams.
• STEP 4: If offered a position, congratulations! You will hear from your MSS coach via email. If not offered a position, no worries - you're still playing volleyball this spring on a grade-appropriate House team.

Comparison of Select vs. House

For those new to the Select program, here are some quick comparisons with the House program.

• Key differences:
  • Select Program = A more intense volleyball experience comparable to the competitive programs in High School and Club Volleyball.
  • House Program = A more casual volleyball experience geared towards learning the sport and/or having fun playing with friends & classmates.


• MS Select players must attend a tryout and be drafted to a team
  • The tryout evaluates volleyball skills, team-work, athleticism and coach-ability.  The subsequent draft by MS Select coaches places candidates on teams in a fair and balanced manner.  Friend requests are not honored.
  • Those not assigned to a MS Select team after tryouts/draft are automatically placed on a grade-appropriate House team with friend requests honored


• MS Select follows standard USA Volleyball Rules
  • No Special Rules such as continuous substitution, service re-dos, lax foot faults and extra points for 3 touches


• MS Select players DO NOT have equal playing time
  • As practiced by most competitive volleyball programs, MS Select playing time is determined by Head Coaches as part of game strategy
  • There is no guarantee of a set amount of playing time. Some players will naturally play more than others. 
  • The unbalanced nature of playing time should be considered prior to attending a tryout or accepting a position on a team.
  • Parents must agree to the MYA Volleyball Playing Time Policy prior to the first match. 

• MS Select teams play matches against other teams in the MS Select program

If you have any questions, please email mcleanvb@gmail.com.