IMPACT VOLLEYBALL BREAKS GROUND ON NEWHOME AS WEST TEXAS VOLLEYBALL CONTINUESTO GROW
Impact Volleyball hasn't even started its second club season yet.
And they're already building a home of their own.
After launching just a year ago, Impact Volleyball is preparing for another major step forward with a new four court volleyball facility in Lubbock targeted to open in early 2027.
For partners Cassidy Buckelew, Blake Buckelew, Eli Cruz and Matthew Dayte, the building represents much more than additional court space.
It represents what they believe West Texas volleyball can become.
“I have always dreamed of opening our own gym, but I never imagined it would happen this quickly,” Cruz said. “We are incredibly grateful for our Impact families because none of this would be possible without their support.”
MORE THAN FOUR COURTS
Impact enters its second club season with 23 teams, a remarkable amount of growth for a program still in its infancy.
But from the beginning, the vision has been bigger than simply putting together club teams.
After years spent coaching and training athletes, Buckelew, Buckelew, Cruz and Dayte had the opportunity to create something of their own. Their goal was to build a positive and uplifting training environment that develops volleyball players while also developing strong, athletic and confident young women away from the court.
The new facility gives that vision a permanent home.
“This new facility will be somewhere to officially call home for any athlete that walks in the doors,” director Cassidy Buckelew said. “Our goal as a club was to be a place that every athlete loves to walk in the doors whether that is for club or just camps.”
The facility will feature four courts with Teraflex flooring, a players lounge, additional bathrooms, a concession stand and a dedicated Powerhouse weight room.
Powerhouse is an integral part of Impacts developmental model, giving athletes the opportunity to train vertical jump, speed, power and overall athleticism alongside their volleyball development.
“Having a facility like this will have everything our athletes need in one place called home,” Cassidy said. “Whether you’re a current Impact athlete or not, we are so excited for you to come experience our new home.”
A CULTURE YOU CAN FEEL
For us at Sideline Sports, this story hits a little differently because we've spent a long time around club volleyball.
We've experienced different clubs, different coaching philosophies and different training environments. Ryder Grace, loves attending clinics and practices at Impact, and one of the things that immediately stood out to our family was the culture.
You hear Christian music playing during workouts. You see coaches giving high fives. You hear positive reinforcement throughout the gym.
That doesn't mean expectations are low.
Quite the opposite.
Athletes are being pushed to become better volleyball players and better athletes, but they're doing it in an environment where encouragement and development can coexist.
That culture becomes especially important as Impact grows because the challenge isn't simply getting bigger. It's maintaining what made athletes and families want to be there in the first place.
PUTTING WEST TEXAS VOLLEYBALL ON A BIGGER STAGE
Impact isn't waiting for the new building to begin pursuing opportunities beyond West Texas.
During its first season, the club sent a team to USA Volleyball Nationals and had multiple teams compete at USAV Beach Nationals during the summer.
Now the goal is to continue raising that ceiling.
For Blake Buckelew, that starts by understanding that success looks different depending on the athlete walking through the doors.
“For the 6th grader it’s making a 7th grade team. For the 7th grader it’s making the ‘A’ team at their school,” Blake said. “For the high school kids it’s making a team and then making varsity and if they want to, being able to play college volleyball.”
And for Impact's club teams, he wants the progression to eventually lead all the way to the national stage.
“For our club teams it is getting better every year, developing as a player, and making it to nationals to represent themselves, our club, and West Texas at nationals,” Blake said.
There's another piece of that vision that could have an even larger impact.
Exposure.
West Texas has never lacked talented athletes. The challenge can be getting enough college coaches to see them.
“I also hope that this building brings eyes into West Texas volleyball and helps our very talented girls get looked at by recruiters and not looked over like they have in the past,” Blake said.
The long term vision even includes former Impact athletes who eventually play collegiately returning to the facility during their summers.
That's when a volleyball gym starts becoming something more.
It becomes a volleyball community.
GROWING THE GAME
The new facility won't only be about Impact's 23 junior teams.
Impact also wants it to become part of the continued growth of boys volleyball in West Texas, providing another place for athletes to learn and compete as that side of the sport develops throughout the region.
Dayte believes they're only beginning to see what volleyball can become in this part of the state.
“The sport of volleyball is growing, and it is incredible to be a part of and see,” Dayte said. “Being able to build out our very own facility that is strictly focused on the sport of volleyball and growth in our community and surrounding areas is a dream.”
Every detail, he said, is being designed around the ability to train athletes at a high level.
“The four of us have a vision of what West Texas volleyball can look like, and we are committed to making that happen,” Dayte said. “Impact Volleyball has only scratched the surface of what our area is capable of.”
A RISING TIDE
Maybe that's the biggest story here.
Yes, this is a major step for Impact Volleyball.
But the growth of volleyball in West Texas is bigger than any one club.
A rising tide lifts all ships.
More athletes playing volleyball means stronger junior high and high school programs. Better access to high level training creates better players. More teams competing nationally brings more attention to the region. More college coaches watching West Texas athletes creates opportunities for kids regardless of the school or club name across the front of their jersey.
And increased investment in volleyball creates competition that can push everyone involved to raise the standard.
Impact's new facility will be one piece of that growth.
For Cruz, seeing it happen this quickly is still difficult to believe.
“This moment means so much to us as a club because it’s something we’ve worked toward, and now we get to see it become a reality,” Cruz said. “We’re excited for what this facility will allow us to do as we continue to grow and make an IMPACT on volleyball in Lubbock and across West Texas.”
Four courts.
Twenty three teams entering Year 2.
A growing strength and performance program.
National aspirations.
And soon, a place to call home.
Impact Volleyball is building a new facility. But the bigger goal is helping build the future of West Texas volleyball.
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