The 2005-2006 edition of Magic was the first VFX team to qualify for the Open level at Nationals. Comprised of team members (alphabetically):
• Blair Atkins
• Alyssa D'Errico
• Leah Hill
• Beth Kokanovich
• Allie Matters
• Kait O'Hara
• Chandra Roberson
• Lindsey Schlegel
• Kelly Turner
• Steph Turner

In 2006, Magic finished 1st at Hocus Pocus, Winter Challenge, PVA, and Regionals. Magic also finished 2nd in Chicago, and qualified for Open Nationals at the Big South Qualifier, with a 4th place finish.

9 of 10 continued their collegiate volleyball careers on scholarships to Youngstown State, George Washington, University of Buffalo, East Carolina, Penn State, Southern Illinois, Siena College, Seton Hall, and James Madison. After entertaining offers for volleyball, Beth Kokanavich instead decided to play ultimate frisbee at Georgetown University.

Elyse was a three-year VolleyFX player, and is commencing her 6th year of coaching with VFX.

After her VFX playing career, she went on to play at Nazareth College for another VFX Hall of Famer, Cal Wickens. She was named to the Empire 8 Conference Second-Team in 2006, and the Honorable Mention Team in 2005. Elyse is in the Nazareth record books for having 1346 assists in the 2004 season, which ranks 4th. She also ranks 3rd in Serving Aces for a season with 89 in 2005.

This from Head Coach Cal Wickens: "Elyse was our Captain and leader for her teams. She had the ability as a setter to keep her teams cool and under control for all three seasons at Naz. Elyse was a natural leader on the court, and that attribute has translated to her success coaching."

Elyse has never NOT been involved as either a player or coach in VFX since her first year playing. She typifies what it means to "pay it forward" for the girls following her through VFX. She has coached the 12-1, 14-2 and now is starting her second year as head coach of 17-2.

John Hughes has been a stalwart of the Western NY volleyball community for over 20 years. John’s involvement in volleyball in Western New York has seen many changes – one major accomplishment was WEVA being approved as a region within USA volleyball in 1989. In its’ inaugural year WEVA had only 500 members. During the 2007-2008 season, WEVA reported a record 2,260 members!

In 1989, John was elected as Commissioner of WEVA. He is in his 15th year serving as the Commissioner. In 2004 a position of Executive Director was created of which John willingly offered to serve in that role. Being a full time position for the region, he has dedicated countless hours to the region with very little compensation for the role. John has been instrumental in implementing the use of the on-line registration system for USA volleyball. The system has simplified the overall process for registration and reporting to USA as well as the clubs registration process for tournament entry. His relentless effort to support the region has been key in the tremendous growth of volleyball within the region.

John also has been involved as an official in the region and been a consistent representative for our region at the USA meetings – supporting WEVA’s interests to the overall Board of Directors for USA Volleyball. In addition, he has served as an arbitrator at numerous USA National Events. John has also been a facilitator for the region’s support and use of two six court facilities in the region (BNCC and the East Main Street Armory). These region supported facilities will allow WEVA to continue to host larger events in the area. For VFX, John has been key to the successful assigning of officials to the annual Winter Challenge tournament. As the event continues to grow it is the largest local event that many elite clubs chose to return to every year. The growth that it continues to see is attributed to the event running smoothly as we train and draw the best officials to the cover the event.

John has many lasting relationships in the VFX family with parents, coaches and players. Many have seen him refereeing countless matches over the years. We are tremendously thankful for all he has accomplished and look forward to his continued involvement in the future.

Mantra was the first Volley FX team to win Regionals and qualify for the USA Volleyball Championships. With eleven players from nine different schools, the team truly represented the Greater Rochester Community and WEVA Region. Mantra 2002-03 was a true example of what it means to be successful student-athletes, as they are being recognized for their achievements as scholar-athletes and league all-stars within their school programs.

Chris Parks was Mantra’s coach, and had this to say. "Mantra was truly a family, and every moment that we spent training, practicing, playing, traveling, and just being a team, was a cherished one. They were selfless in their acts, and they embodied what it means to 'put team first.' Their mental toughness was tremendous and their unity, athleticism, and talent were absolutely amazing to witness. They sacrificed everything for each other, and in doing so, became a team that was unbreakable. They played for each other and were an omnipresent reminder to Kristie Karelus and me that coaching is an incredible opportunity. They did more than just become the first VolleyFX team to win Regionals and qualify for Nationals; they helped to set the standard for what it means to be a true team and family. This team had a tremendous impact on me as a person, and I became a better coach because of them. It was an absolute privilege and honor to have been one of their coaches, and they will remain in my heart and mind for the rest of my life."

Team members include:
• Jessica Baldwin
• Kim Eichas
• Jessica Gardner
• Whitney Hitchcock
• Ashley Launhardt
• Kate Love
• Brooke McClure
• Sarah Podlesh
• Tori Ratciffe
• Ashley Saltzman
• Rachel Smith

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It's a MANTRA thing. You wouldn't understand.

Cathy has been instrumental in the growth of volleyball, specifically girls junior volleyball, in Western New York since 1997. A wonderful and highly recruited volleyball player herself, and a scholarship athlete at both James Madison University and Hofstra University, Cathy has taken the VolleyFX mantra of "pay it forward" to the next level. After record setting years as a player in high school, college and at the Empire State Games, Cathy focused on giving back to the sport by leaving a lucrative financial position in NYC to be a coach. First coming to Western New York in 1997, she began with an immediate impact as the co-coach of the Empire State Games - providing athletes from Western New York with a higher level of training and commitment to the game. Reaching beyond that scope, she has coached for Cheetah, Niagara-Frontier, and has served as a clinician for VolleyFX. Leader of numerous camps and clinics across Buffalo and Rochester, Cathy's most notable impact came when she was the first to "believe" - to believe in OUR athletes, OUR goals, and OUR club. Never afraid to cross into new territory, Cathy Hummel offered VolleyFX their first scholarship athlete of the modern era in 2002. Continuing to "believe" in what our athletes have worked for, she again offered at least one scholarship to a VolleyFX athlete every year since that year - taking players in 2004 and 2005.

An undying supporter of the game, Cathy makes everyone around her better - with connections to many great VolleyFX players and coaches. She has reached out to more than a dozen of our athletes who are now playing around the country on full-scholarship. She has also reached out to our coaches - Rob Werkmeister, Candi Werkmeister, Jason Pariseau and Matt Glover have all been blessed to coach with her, or have been given opportunities to coach because of her.

As stated best by Rob, "Cathy knows the game better than any coach that I have been able coach with, she holds the players and coaches accountable and pushes players to believe that they can experience the game at a higher level. She has not only impacted the players she coached, but has been a significant impact on me personally as an elite level coach."

Christie was a three-year VolleyFX player since 16-under and was a member of the first Magic team, in 2002. Following high school, Christie was a scholarship athlete at Siena College from 2003-2007, where she was named 2006-2007 Siena College Female Student Athlete of the Year. Christie’s accomplishments at Siena are almost too long to list: 2007 All-MAAC First Team, 2007 MAAC Tournament MVP, 2007 MAAC All-Academic Team, 2006 Second Team All-MAAC, 2006 MAAC Tournament MVP, 2006 MAAC All-Academic Team, 2005 MAAC All-Academic Team.

Christie has definitely impacted Rochester volleyball in a positive way. This from Magic coach Rob Werkmeister: "Christie was the first Magic player, as a Junior she helped define what our club was, and what it was going to be. She helped us start our winning tradition—not just on the court, more importantly off the court. She and her family believed that it was about more than volleyball, and that we were teaching life lessons through volleyball. She knew that we trained to be winners in life, and she embraced that and succeeded as is evidence in her college career, her academics and now her professional life."

She also greatly impacted the people she came in contact with at Siena College, including her coach, Garvey Pierre. "I always believed in Christie. She is one of the finest volleyball players I have ever coached. Christie can deliver when it really matters. She possesses all the qualities one could ask for in a student-athlete."

Christie’s volleyball career has now come full circle and is a coach for Mantra.

The VolleyFX Magic 2003-2004 Team had an extremely successful season. The team won 7 of 11 tournaments, including NEQ 18's Club Qualifier and East Coast Championships. All five of the team's seniors placed on Division I Teams; four on full-ride scholarships and one to the Ivy League. The team succeeded both on and off the court and embodied the family approach to VFX. With players spanning from Buffalo to Syracuse, 2003-2004 Magic open the doors to VolleyFX as the dominant program in Western, NY and even New York State.

Team members include:
• Hannah Sharp
• Jess Stackhouse
• Rachel Schamberger
• Jen Albrecht
• Anne Marie Vanden Boom
• Stephanie Jansma
• Rachel Smith
• Kate Love
• Alyssa D'Errico

Leigh was a five-year VolleyFX player since 14-under and was the first scholarship athlete of the modern VFX era. She competed in two Empire State Games, playing for the Western Team where she won silver medals both years. A leader in the club and in her college career, Leigh has gone on to exemplify what it means to be a member of VFX by coaching, teaching and leading in the community. As a Division I Athlete playing for Canisius College, she was captain and received many accolades. She was awarded multiple MAAC Player of the Week honors and finished first in the conference in blocks for the 2005 season. Leigh was the leader in Career Block Assists for Canisius College, finishing with 217 and was 2nd overall in Career Attack Percentage, finishing her collegiate career with a .297 hitting percentage.

Cal has been a tremendous leader in Rochester Volleyball over the past several decades. Since 1979, he has fielded women's, men's, girl's and boy's programs, growing the sport at all levels. He founded the Rochester Volleyball Club in 1979, and later the VolleyFX girl's team and Pace Bootlegger boy's team. He was the head coach of the Nazareth College men's and women's volleyball teams, and has coached numerous camps and clinics. Cal has served for 10 years as a try-out coach for the USA High Performance / Youth National Team. He also serves as a representative to Western Empire Volleyball Association and USA Volleyball Junior Committee.