Club Purpose
The purpose of Club Dakota is to develop and educate amateur youth in the skills, techniques, and knowledge of the sport of volleyball necessary to succeed in higher levels of competition. Club Dakota maintains a highly competitive level of volleyball by building team unity, improving individual and team skills, and instilling discipline in our athletes. We provide strong leadership and a positive atmosphere where athletes are able to improve their skills throughout the season while enjoying the competitive team sport of volleyball.
Who We Are
Director: Leah Skoy
Leah Skoy has been with Club Dakota since the 2002-2003 season. She coached at the 16 and 18 level's for 7 years and will be starting her 4th year on the board. In high school she played for Marshall Senior High School and the Marshall JO program. She then played three years at the collegiate level while starting her coaching career with a metro JO program. After 9 years of coaching JO's and 6 years of HS volleyball, she made a tough decision to stop coaching and spend more time with her family but continues to play in competitve leagues in the metro area. She excited for this upcoming season and to watch the teams grow!
Board Member/18's Head Coach:
Tari Boutin
Tari is in her 3rd year coaching as the 18's Head Coach and 2nd year on the board for Club Dakota brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. She played varsity volleyball for Burnsville High School during their 1995-1998 seasons helping them to the State Tournament during the 1996 and 1998 season. She is also a former Club Dakota player. She played Division I college volleyball for Pittsburgh for one year and UW Milwaukee for three years where the team competed in the NCAA Tourment all three years. In 2002 she was drafted to play for the up and coming Milwaukee team in the USAV. She continues to play competitive volleyball through the Minnesota Volleyball Association and USAV in women's A-AA divisions along with highly competetive co-ed leagues around the Twin Cities.
Co-Director/16's Head Coach:
Stacy Chalupsky
Stacy is returning to Club Dakota for her 10th year coaching and 3rd year on the board. Of the 10 years she has been coaching she has been a head coach at the 18's level 4 times, Head coach at the 15's level 2 times and assistant coach at the 18's level 3 times. This is her first year coaching at the 16's level but brings a wealth of knowledge to her team. She played varsity volleyball for Burnsville High School during their 1995-1996 seasons helping them to the State tournament in 1996, and is a former Club Dakota player as well. She continues to play competitive volleyball with the Minnesota Volleyball Association in the women's A division along with highly competetive co-ed leagues around the Twin Cities.
14's Head Coach:
Greg Nelson
Greg is in his 3rd year of coaching for Club Dakota. He was the Head Coach for the 18-2's team for in 1997, took a 14 year break and returned last year as the Asst. Coach for 14’s team in 2011, now taking over the 14's as Head Coach this year. His love for the game of volleyball and experience makes him a great asset for the younger players. Greg played club ball at University of Minnesota-Duluth from 1989-1994 and played for the men’s traveling club team in 1994. He participated in USAV at men's BB level and then men's AA/A level until 1999. After taking time off and returning to coaching he is now wanting to get back into competitive league play.
Meet Amy Gustafson
Amy played Varsity at Eastview High School for the past 2 years and Junior Olympic volleyball with Club Dakota for the past 2 years under 18's Head Coach Tari Boutin. She is currently a true freshman playing college volleyball at Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Last year as a senior Amy wasn't sure if she was going to play JO volleyball, but when she heard Coach Tari would be her head coach again, she changed her mind. Coach Tari, as a former Division 1 college volleyball player, knows the values that volleyball instills in young players and is willing to help anyone realize that not only they want to play college volleyball, but that they can! Coach Tari helped Amy make a skills tape to send to colleges and helped Amy become a college volleyball player!
When asked about how her college season was going Amy had this to say, "I'm having a blast and I'm sooooo happy you guys convinced me to continue playing volleyball. It was the best decision I have ever made. I love the team and have become really close with some of the other freshmen and have been having so much fun with it!"
Amy, we at Club Dakota Volleyball are so proud of you!
Last year as a senior Amy wasn't sure if she was going to play JO volleyball, but when she heard Coach Tari would be her head coach again, she changed her mind. Coach Tari, as a former Division 1 college volleyball player, knows the values that volleyball instills in young players and is willing to help anyone realize that not only they want to play college volleyball, but that they can! Coach Tari helped Amy make a skills tape to send to colleges and helped Amy become a college volleyball player!
When asked about how her college season was going Amy had this to say, "I'm having a blast and I'm sooooo happy you guys convinced me to continue playing volleyball. It was the best decision I have ever made. I love the team and have become really close with some of the other freshmen and have been having so much fun with it!"
Amy, we at Club Dakota Volleyball are so proud of you!