Volleyball Club

Our first team was founded in 2010 by Coach Marcos and his Assistants coaches Jim Kelsey and Sandy Gunkel who later on became our Club Director and Cofounder of this Club. Coach Marcos started coaching his twin daughters from ages 12-18 in a Rec. league with the team called Spikers. As years passed, we realized the need for competitive playing for a better chance at having an opportunity to play in both high school and college. Having twins, it was hard to afford a club team financially and they continued to play rec and occasionally guest played for club teams, until both of them graduated high school from Shawnee Mission Northwest. In the fall of 2015, Coach’s twin daughters were involved in an almost fatal rollover accident which derailed their plans of playing in college. A year later they decided to start coaching.

Coach Marcos is the father of 4 young daughters who all play volleyball. His middle daughter, Ada, was the focus once we decided to make our own club team. We wanted to give younger girls the opportunity to have a chance to play in college without having financial struggles be a factor. We started out small with a couple teams and over the course of 6 years, this club has only grown bigger and better. We are proud of the Empire we have built throughout the years and have learned so much while continuing to do what’s best for our players and their families. Ada moved on to play volleyball at the University of Saint Mary’s and has returned to Coach alongside her Dad and sisters.

As of now, our club team has grown into 6+ teams varying from ages 14-18. This club heavily focuses on having a family mindset, with most of the coaching being done by Coach Marcos and with the help of his 3 older daughters and his wife Ada, working as the manager overlooking all teams. While his youngest daughter Camila, is on his 14- Black team. At Empire, we value togetherness, kindness, respect, and hard work. We all look after each other at Empire. We are planning on expanding our coaches and teams in the years to come.