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When Molly Alvey was named the Bearcats Volleyball head coach in 2012 she made a commitment to be a championship program. After being on the job just a few months she made a commitment to another group of athletes, the Special Olympics of Hamilton County.
Volleyball is a growing sport for Special Olympics and Coach Alvey wanted to get involved.
"She's the one that contacted us and she said, 'we want to do this'," said Janet Smith, program director of Hamilton County Special Olympics.
Since 2012 Coach Alvey and her team have formed a relationship and a bond with the Special Olympics volleyball program. During the season, Special Olympics athletes attend Bearcats home games, act as ball boys and girls in-match, and participate in a once-a-year clinic held after a match to work on increasing fundamental volleyball skills.
A unified scrimmage also takes place each spring where the Bearcats visit a Special Olympics practice and team up with some of their biggest fans for a night of fun on the court.
"We look forward to this event just as much as the Special Olympics' athletes do. Our players love going to their practice and playing with them. We get an opportunity to play the sport we love while building relationships and friendships that have gone beyond our time on the court," said Coach Alvey after the team recently had a unified scrimmage.
Taking a break from their spring practice the team went to Margret B Rost School in Cincinnati where they helped the Special Olympic athletes work on their techniques before combining the teams in a series of fun scrimmages.
"The UC players don't come out here because they have to," added Smith. "They come out here because they want to, they want to be with our athletes. They want to be a part of Special Olympics."
The Bearcats will return to campus at the end of May for practice as they get ready for their foreign trip and the start of the season in August knowing that their biggest fans will be in the crowd cheering them on. "Not a home game goes by where we don't see at least one of our Special Olympics athletes in the stands.Their support is unbelievable", said Coach Alvey.
Sports Imports is also involved in the relationship through its Special Olympics United Volleyball program. The organization's mission is to "support the growth and impact of volleyball in areas where socioeconomic barriers exist and to support causes that our volleyball community is passionate about."
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).
When Molly Alvey was named the Bearcats Volleyball head coach in 2012 she made a commitment to be a championship program. After being on the job just a few months she made a commitment to another group of athletes, the Special Olympics of Hamilton County.
Volleyball is a growing sport for Special Olympics and Coach Alvey wanted to get involved.
"She's the one that contacted us and she said, 'we want to do this'," said Janet Smith, program director of Hamilton County Special Olympics.
Since 2012 Coach Alvey and her team have formed a relationship and a bond with the Special Olympics volleyball program. During the season, Special Olympics athletes attend Bearcats home games, act as ball boys and girls in-match, and participate in a once-a-year clinic held after a match to work on increasing fundamental volleyball skills.
A unified scrimmage also takes place each spring where the Bearcats visit a Special Olympics practice and team up with some of their biggest fans for a night of fun on the court.
"We look forward to this event just as much as the Special Olympics' athletes do. Our players love going to their practice and playing with them. We get an opportunity to play the sport we love while building relationships and friendships that have gone beyond our time on the court," said Coach Alvey after the team recently had a unified scrimmage.
Taking a break from their spring practice the team went to Margret B Rost School in Cincinnati where they helped the Special Olympic athletes work on their techniques before combining the teams in a series of fun scrimmages.
"The UC players don't come out here because they have to," added Smith. "They come out here because they want to, they want to be with our athletes. They want to be a part of Special Olympics."
The Bearcats will return to campus at the end of May for practice as they get ready for their foreign trip and the start of the season in August knowing that their biggest fans will be in the crowd cheering them on. "Not a home game goes by where we don't see at least one of our Special Olympics athletes in the stands.Their support is unbelievable", said Coach Alvey.
Sports Imports is also involved in the relationship through its Special Olympics United Volleyball program. The organization's mission is to "support the growth and impact of volleyball in areas where socioeconomic barriers exist and to support causes that our volleyball community is passionate about."
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).