About Us
Our Philosophy
At Dig It VBC, we believe the key to advanced development is a strong foundation of proper technique.
Players who master the fundamental volleyball skills benefit by improving quicker and are more
comfortable on the court; because of this solid base, they have worked hard to obtain, this advantage
encourages them to achieve their goals.
What is important to us
• Proper body technique (master the fundamentals)
• Give 100%, 100% of the time
• Practice how you play – every ball, every time
• Communication is key – both on & off the court
• Evolve immediately (the game is always changing)
• Respect – the game and each other
• Always remember to have FUN & PLAY smart
What we expect from our Athletes
• Practice how you will play - Always practice competitively
• Challenge yourself and others
• Show respect for your coach and teammates at all times
• Hustle at all times
• Expect to work hard and give 100%, 100% of the time
• Learn to take constructive criticism and work to solve the problem
• Support others all the time
Our Dedicated Staff
Coach Tracy - Club Director/Head Coach
Hello Dig It Community, I am Coach Tracy! The club director and head coach of all programs. I am a wife & mother of 3 which includes twin toddlers. I studied nuclear medicine and am an avid bass fisherwoman! My 25-year coaching career includes multiple levels including grade school, high school and club level both female and male. My main focus has always been on proper fundamentals, because if you have a strong base you can grow from there. Building all around strong athletes and having friendly teammates is our program goal! Once you are part of the Dig It family you are Dig It for life! I will always take a call or meet up with old players and I strive to be a positive strong business woman and employ many young adults who come back to work in our amazing environment. So if you Dig It, Let’s Dig it together!
Coach Ola
Coach Alexandra (Ola) Zugaj started playing volleyball when she was in 5th grade. She began playing for Dig It Volleyball Club when she was 14 years old. She played volleyball at Lane Tech High School. She continued her volleyball career at North Central College as a libero. She was the assistant coach for the 12U team at Dig It VBC for two years until she graduated high school. Starting in 2020, she became the head 12U coach. Ola graduated from North Central College with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology in 2023. She will be attending physical therapy school at UIC in the Fall 2023.
Coach Emily
My name is Emily Schellhase. I have been playing volleyball ever since I was 6 years old! I was on my junior high team along with my high school team and played club volleyball for 9 years. My parents owned a volleyball club in St. Lewis, this is where I'm from, so I was brought up around club volleyball my entire life. I am now a senior at Dominican University studying Nutrition and Dietetics, and I'm also on the women’s volleyball team! I am so happy to be a part of the Dig It VBC family and can’t wait for another great season!!
Coach Kinga
Hello! My name is Coach Kinga. I’ve been playing volleyball since 5th grade and currently I’m a senior at UIC. I played at Leyden High School all 4 years, then went on to play club volleyball at Dig It. I loved the experience so much I came back to join the Dig It family again but in a different light. For the past 2 seasons I have been coaching along with being the program and club directors assistant. Coaching is my passion and I have really enjoyed taking on these additional responsibilities and can’t wait to continue with the upcoming seasons.
Coach Kash
I am a wife, an aunt, and a middle school math teacher. I have been coaching for 15 years and played volleyball throughout my own middle, high school and college career. I was a D3 middle hitter for the Penn State Altoona Lady Lions from 1994-1998. Our team was recently inducted into the Altoona Athletic Hall of Fame. We Are! I currently coach girls and boys volleyball at my middle school in Wilmette and I love being part of the Dig It family. I look forward to each and every experience with your daughter on this team! Many blessings.
Coach Jailynn
Hi! I’m Coach Jailynn. I’ve played all types of sports growing up but it wasn’t till 6th grade when I realized volleyball was the one for me! I played all throughout middle school, all four years at Leyden High School, and in the off season at Triton College. I’ve played with dig it for three years and loved it so much that I came back to coach! This will be my third year coaching with dig it. I have coaching experience with freshly new players all the way up to varsity level. I am beyond excited to start this new season, and can’t wait for all the fun and growth it’ll bring!
John Romano - Parent Liaison/Recruiter
With over 25 years of coaching experience, along with organizing 50+ teams with various team management apps, John helps spearhead our club's communications. He works hard to help Dig It effectively communicate schedules for practices, tournaments and other team building activities. John has been a founding member of multiple club/travel sports programs. He also has a long history of helping players and families grow their relationship with the sports and clubs they love. John’s passion is building a strong foundation for player development and improvement as it relates to physical and mental wellbeing. Positive attitude and a strong work ethic will take players far on the court, and in life! Please reach out to John with any questions you might have about Dig It VBC, or any other Rec and Club sports your family may be considering.