Grow the Game
Grow the Game
Volleyball's growth in the United States is real and it is steady. Participation is up, professional leagues are drawing serious crowds, and the sport is gaining the kind of sustained attention that signals something lasting. And it is happening right here in North Texas.
Team Areté and its youth volleyball program, Areté Athletics, has been invested in this sport for over 12 years. They recognize where volleyball is headed and are committed to continuing that growth in their own backyard. That commitment has a name: Grow the Game.
The Pro Game in Our Backyard
Professional women's volleyball is growing. Leagues are expanding, ownership groups are investing, and the sport is building the kind of infrastructure that signals long-term staying power. Doug Beal, former CEO of USA Volleyball, said it well: the sport is "healthy, vibrant and better positioned than ever to experience significant growth" and that the more regularly high-quality volleyball is put in front of the American public, the more it will develop fans with real allegiances to teams and players.
The Dallas Pulse, North Texas's first professional women's volleyball team, practices at the Areté Athletics Center and is part of that story. In their inaugural 2026 season, the Pulse won the MLV Championship — the first expansion franchise in league history to win a title in its debut season. That matters to this community. McKinney is not watching professional volleyball grow from a distance. It is hosting it.
Developing Players at Every Level
Areté Athletics is committed to every athlete in its program, not just the ones who have been playing for years, but younger players new to the sport as well. Experienced players get elite coaching, recruiting support, and a competitive environment built for the next level. Younger athletes get the same serious attention and the same quality of instruction. On the court, that investment looks like proper technique, volleyball IQ, passing, serving, setting, attacking, defense, and blocking — all taught in a high-energy environment by experienced coaches who know the game. Beyond the technical side, Areté Athletics develops character, work ethic, and a competitive mindset that serves athletes well beyond the court. The investment in each athlete, on and off the court, is what moves the sport forward.
The Academy Is Growing
The Areté Academy is growing in size and in the community's awareness of it. More young athletes are seeking it out, coming from across the area to train and develop their game. That demand is a direct reflection of how seriously North Texas is taking volleyball right now.
The Academy is a year-round training program open to boys and girls ages 8 through 14, with levels structured to meet athletes where they are, from beginners just picking up the sport to experienced players preparing for club-level competition. The Academy runs in sessions throughout the year, making it accessible to families regardless of their schedule. Every young player developed through the Academy is another athlete invested in the sport, and that is exactly how the game grows.
Expanding the Reach
Growing the game means making it accessible. Club sports are expensive, and Team Areté recognizes that cost can be a real barrier for families who want to be part of the sport. Through the Areté Foundation, Team Areté works to make sure that barrier does not keep any young athlete from playing volleyball. The sport is growing, and the goal is for every girl who wants to be part of that growth to have the opportunity to do so.
Grow the Game
Volleyball is moving in the right direction. Team Areté is committed to keeping it that way.
