Vienna Elite will field a team of (10 to 11)* highly skilled and motivated U17 players.  The team is expected to be a competitive "OPEN" level team which will compete in selected multi-day tournaments to maximize exposure to college recruiters.  The team will also participate in local CHRVA tournaments to qualify for CHRVA Regionals. (Refer to the tentative schedule below).

The U17 team is expected to practice twice per week with players required to participate in our Fitness and Conditioning program before or after practice in December thru early April. (See Programs – Fitness and Conditioning program for more details)  In addition, the club may offer optional setting, hitting, DS/Libero clinics on non travel Fridays each week.  During the training months of November and December as well as on non-tournament weekends from January thru May, the Club may hold "Academy" which will focus on specific skills (i.e. serving, passing, setting, team defense etc).  Academy will be run by special instructors or by Vienna Elite coaches.

Our club strives to be the best club in Northern Virginia when considering competitiveness of teams, level of coaching, club fees, number of tournaments and overall access to court time.  Our players love to play volleyball and want to compete at a high level!

** At the discretion of the club one "practice player" will be considered depending on the circumstances of the team.

Mike Markovic  (USAV IMPACT and CAP I Certified) has played competitive volleyball for more than twenty years in USAV grass and indoor tournaments. Mike has coached youth volleyball for many years and in 2012 started the McLean boys volleyball team which competes in the Northern Virginia High School Boys Volleyball League (NVHSBVL). He has been the Commissioner of the high school boys league and works to expand the league to more than the current fourteen teams with the goal of possibly earning varsity status in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.  Mike enjoys the diversity of coaching high school boys during the Fall and girls in the club season.

Mike has coached at Vienna Elite for eight years and three of his teams have earned bids to the USAV Girls National Championship (2014, 2015 and 2016).  His teams have consistently ranked in the top 5 in CHRVA.  His 2019-20 U17s team was ranked 4th in the region and top 100 in the county.  He has a positive coaching style with an emphasis on disciplined practices and working to address team weaknesses in order to put the most competitive team on the court. Mike has a passion to teach young people the game that he loves.  Contact:  mike.markovic@viennaelite.org

Claudio Borgiotti (USA Volleyball Impact Certified, CAP I and CAP II Certified) has over 30 years of playing and coaching experience.  An avid competitive volleyball player since the early 80's, Claudio played at the highest level domestically, participating in competition against Division I college teams and Open club tournaments for many years.  He also competed in many international tournaments and contests, and participated in various club and semi-professional events both indoors and on the beach over the course of his competitive career.  His playing career has made Claudio a recognizable figure nationally and has fostered many relationships within the volleyball community at the club and collegiate level.  While no longer competing professionally, he continues to enjoy playing and coaching in events all over the country.

Claudio has over 25 year’s experience coaching club teams and over the past several years has worked with numerous clubs and teams in the area.  He is a respected instructor and mentor working not only with athletes, but also on coaching development and program strategy.  Additionally, Claudio spends time working with other volleyball organizations including local high school programs and as a member of the coaching staff of the Chesapeake Rising Tide Women’s Professional Volleyball League team.

He is dedicated to the development of athletes with a focus on skill and competitive prowess while maintaining a perspective aimed at ensuring fun and the opportunity for lifelong enjoyment of the sport.  A desire to teach a broad appreciation for volleyball specific skills, athleticism, sportsmanship, fitness and fun, drive the drills and tactics that are the basis for his coaching philosophy.  He looks forward to contributing to the Vienna Elite program as a member of the coaching team, and to being integral to the process of building teams of successful athletes who are passionate about the sport and excited about the prospect of lifelong recreation and competition through volleyball. (Contact: claudio.borgiotti@viennaelite.org)

Lauren Frye started playing volleyball at the age of 11. As a 4-letter varsity player at Highland School in Warrenton, VA, she helped to lead her team to the program’s first Delaney Athletic Conference and Tournament Championship victory in 2011 and 2012, receiving All-state Honors in 2011. She also played club volleyball at Piedmont Volleyball Association and U-Turn Sports Performance Academy Volleyball Club. At Eastern New Mexico University (Div. II), where she graduated with a B.S. in Biology Pre-Med, she received Lone Star Conference honors as Freshman of the Year, All-Conference player and All-Tournament team recognition for all four years, and LSC Offensive Player of the Week 6 times throughout junior and senior year.  With 1,696 career kills, she set All-Time Kill Record of the University’s volleyball program and was inducted into the University’s Hall of Honors Greatest Female Athlete for the both junior and senior years.  As a senior, she was recognized as Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year and made D2CCA South Central All-Region team, AVCA All-Region Team, D2CCA All-America team, and AVCA Division II All-America team.

Now back in Northern Virginia, she is beginning a career with the Fairfax County Fire Department as she is also pursuing coaching as the assistant coach of the JV team at The Bullis School.  She believes the sport of volleyball is about the balance of discipline--to work on the fundamentals--and the adaptability--to execute efficiently and effectively.  She is looking forward to working with the players.  Contact: lauren.frye@viennaelite.org

In addition to the above tournaments, the team expects to play in 1 to 2 local one day CHRVA sanctioned tournaments January thru May.  Tournaments will be determined three weeks prior to play date at the discretion of club director.