Press Releases
     Kenzie Aries in the news and press.

June 2007 Article in Volleyball Magazine

(Kenzie's high school volleyball site RideThatPony.com was Volleyball Magazines web site of the month in January 2007.)

Off The Court
Technology Rules
By Mike Miazga

San Diego area juniors player Kenzie Aries is on the cutting edge when it comes to the recruiting process.

Kenzie Aries first started dabbling in computers very early in life. "I started using the computer when I was about four or five doing Disney software," said Aries. "And then I graduated to the Reader Rabbit software where I learned how to read via the computer."

Her first interaction with HTML (hypertext markup language) happened with the site Neopets.com.

"It's a kid's site for virtual pets," said Aries. "I then discovered you could "pimp out" your Neopets home page with HTML. Learning this made more people come to my online Neo-shop, so I earned more and more Neo-points--the currency of Neopets.com. I earned over 350,000 Neo-points. I also learned, unfortunately, another lesson -- I got my account phished. Someone got in and took all my Neo-points."

Aries later kept up the site BeaconsBeach.com which highlights Beacon's Beach--the area where she lives near. Aries used to sell lemonade and soda to the surfers at the beach as a child.

These days, Aries has taken her knowledge of cyberspace and applied it to her volleyball career. A 6' junior setter at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, Calif., Aries put together and maintains her team's website at RideThatPony.com (which was featured as a Volleyball Web site of the month in the January 2007 issue). Aries was an All-CIF Division III San Diego County first-team selection this past season for a San Dieguito team that finished ninth in the state.

But that's only the half of it.

Aries, whose full first name is Mackenzie, and her father, Rod, also put together her own personal volleyball recruiting site at Kenzilla.com. While the site features the requisite player dossier with stuff like height, standing jump, volleyball and academic accolades, it also features a plethora of video showing Aries playing. It's all right there for a college coach to see without having to open a package, pull out a DVD and put it into a computer or DVD player.

"In the time it takes to open a DVD from a prospective athlete, turn on the DVD machine and find the remote, a coach would have watched Kenzie's intro video and the coach would have known, in less than four minutes, if they wanted to recruit Kenzie," said Rod Aries.

Aries has taken things even a step further. With the help of a friend, Aries also uses the extremely popular YouTube site (YouTube.com) to post her playing videos. Several of her videos had over 6,000 views as of mid-April.

"In terms of college coaches, it's really beneficial," said Aries. "It's way easier than first starting off with mail and then going to e-mail. Sometimes people don't check e-mail  Aries has also utilized the YouTube website to post her playing videos. Aries' personal volleyball website allows college coaches to watch a variety of her playing videos. everyday. It can get annoying because you want a response right away--yes or no. This way they can see everything right there and e-mail me right away instead of having to wait for a reply."

And college coaches have taken notice. Rod Aries provided Volleyball with a number of comments from coaches that had viewed her videos on the site. Rod Aries also uses a program that can detect how many times an e-mail his daughter sends gets opened and how many times it gets forwarded. One coach opened the e-mail 12 times for a total of 27 minutes and 19 seconds. The city where the e-mail was opened at is even available. About the only thing it didn't say was if the person was drinking decaf or regular coffee while viewing it.

Aries estimates it took about 50 hours of work to get her site up and running. She said she does about 70 percent of the work with her dad helping with the rest. "I mostly do the easy stuff and my dad does the harder stuff," said Aries. "I do stuff like content updating. It's one of those things where you are at home and you could either be watching 'South Park' or working on the site. A lot of times, I go for 'South Park.' I missed the episode where 'Chef' dies and I was sort of annoyed about that. But if you want it bad enough, you force yourself to do the work. But it's paid off because about 30-40 coaches have been to the site and I've had a lot of positive feedback on it."

Aries expects this trend in technology to gain major momentum.

"I would be surprised if more people don't do this in the next couple of years," said Aries, who plays for the San Diego Volleyball Club and also plays in local beach events with partner Cory Santos.

"It's way easier. It's a lot easier than sending a DVD or a VHS. The best part about a recruiting page is the fact it is much easier for coaches. My dad says it is like speed dating for college coaches and high school athletes. I was on an unofficial visit to a college (recently) and while talking to the coach there, I noticed she had a stack of VHS tapes and DVDs. I mentioned that must take a lot of time to review, and she replied something to the effect of, `Well, the DVDs I put in my desktop computer, but with those VHS tapes I actually have to get up and put them into the TV room, so that's one big strike against them.'"

See the original article via PDF file by clicking below...

September 4, 2007 Article in the San Diego Union Tribune

PREP TUESDAY
Volleyball Recruit Goes High-Tech To Sell Herself

By Nicole Vargas
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 4, 2007

On a recent college recruiting trip, Mackenzie Aries couldn't help but notice the teetering stacks that cluttered the volleyball coach's office.

In one corner was a pile of DVDs. Nearby, a heap of VHS tapes. But not one belonged to Aries, a senior this season at San Dieguito Academy.

Turns out the coach knew all about Aries anyway because she'd spent hours browsing through a Web site the 6-foot setter had built to market herself to colleges.
 

Aries said the coach told her she didn't even have a VCR anywhere in the building to view recruits' videos. “She was like, 'That's just ridiculous. Why would I want to do that when I can just double-click and there you are?' ” said Aries, a three-year starter for the Mustangs. “She said this could be the recruiting tool of the future.” Determined to play volleyball at the next level, Aries – an All-San Diego Section Division III pick a year ago – has taken her future into her own hands, creating an elaborate Web site that showcases her talents. Online: To view the Web site San Dieguito Academy's Mackenzie Aries has built to showcase her skills to college volleyball coaches, visit Kenzilla.com

At the same time, she is proving to be at the forefront of a trend that could open doors otherwise shut for athletes like Aries.

“It makes sense,” said longtime San Dieguito volleyball coach Dexter Harvey, who gushed about Aries' work ethic and eagerness to learn about the game. “It's very smart and I'm glad (Aries) is taking advantage of the technology.”

Nearly every year, it seems a Reggie Bush, Candice Wiggins or Chase Budinger comes through the region, making the recruiting process look deceptively easy.

College coaches gravitate toward those prized recruits. The athletes find their mailboxes bursting with letters, their cell phones blowing up with text messages. Narrowing down five schools for official visits is harrowing – a problem lower-profile athletes wished they had – and those trips make local headlines as the prized athletes tour campuses.

But that's the exception – not the rule.

According to the National Association of High School Federations, more than 7 million high school students across the nation played sports in 2005-06, the last year statistics were available.

Of that number, the NCAA estimates only 126,000 athletes – or fewer than 2 percent – are receiving full or partial athletic scholarships at the Division I or II level.

Except for high-profile sports at the largest universities, recruiting in many cases begins with athletes making that first significant contact with coaches, many of whom already are doing all they can to stretch every dollar of their recruiting budget.

“The bottom-line reality of someone in our position is that we are paid to go out and find student-athletes who fit the mission of the institution,” said UCSD men's basketball coach Chris Carlson. “That's a very basic thing that will never go away.”

Carlson said Web sites like Aries' are a big help to coaches in all sports.

“It's no substitute for the naked eye,” he said, “but it's certainly another resource.”

Private recruiting services market themselves heavily to high school athletes and their families, but those services can cost thousands of dollars and by no means guarantee a scholarship.

Another option is navigating the recruiting process on your own. That's what Aries chose to do, and college coaches say plenty of recruits are joining her, sending them video or a link to a public video-sharing Web site like YouTube.

Inputting “college recruit” into the search field on YouTube yields more than 450 hits, many just like the videos produced by Aries.

But few have taken that video and incorporated it into a Web site rivaling that of Aries'. At least that's what she has heard from the 40-plus coaches with whom she has had contact.

“(They) contacted me and said, 'Hey, this is really cool,' ” noted Aries, who said she's narrowed her focus to three colleges.

Aries' interest in computers was cultivated at an early age. Rod Aries, Mackenzie's father, recalls his toddler daughter sitting on his wife's lap, learning to read with help from children's software.

At age 11, she was attracting 200 visitors a day to a Web site she created about Beacon's Beach in Encinitas, complete with a Web cam pointed at the waves.

Her education in the computer language HTML came not from watching over the shoulder of her father, who owns an Internet company, but through a Web site designed to sustain a virtual pet.

Still, creating her recruiting Web site was the most ambitious online endeavor she had ever undertaken, and Aries won't sugarcoat the more than 50 hours she invested in the creation of her site.

“It was by no means fun,” said Aries, a 4.02 student who turned to her dad for help on some of the site's graphics and outsourced the video editing to former San Dieguito volleyball player Jimmy Lundgren. “It was tedious, very tedious. It was like a job, and I spent a lot of time doing it.”

Even when the site finally went live, Aries wasn't finished. Knowing she wanted to continue her career at a smaller, academically focused institution, she sent e-mails to coaches all over the country, introducing herself and her site.

“You can't just have a painting and keep it in your closet and have people know you're a great artist,” said Aries, who began playing volleyball the summer before her freshman year. “You have to go out there and show them what you've done. I contacted a lot of coaches via e-mail, and all these coaches just went to my Web site.”

Aries' site, which she updates regularly, features not only biographical information, but more than a dozen videos. Most of the videos showcase specific skills and are set to music. Others feature Aries talking about herself.

Because the videos are also shared through YouTube, one of Aries' clips has been viewed more than 22,000 times.

“It was one of my first videos up,” Aries explained.

It was an early sign her investment might pay off.

“I'm just really committed to playing in college,” said Aries, who hopes she'll be able to stay in Southern California to do that. “It all would be worth it if I got to play in college.”

See the original volleyball recruit article at the San Diego Union Tribune web site.

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Thank you to Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390

September 4, 2007: Top 25 Volleyball Players to Watch in the San Diego Union Tribune

San Diego County
Top 25 Volleyball Players to Watch

By Nicole Vargas
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 4, 2007

 

See the original top volleyball players to watch in San Diego County article at the San Diego Union Tribune web site.

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Thank you to Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390
 

September 12, 2007: Top 25 Volleyball Players to Watch in the North County Times

North County Times

Top 25 North
San Diego County
Volleyball Players

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
By: Terry Monahan - Staff Writer

S MacKenzie Aries, San Dieguito Academy: Has college setter size at 6-foot

MB Alysia Baker, Tri-City Christian: Now the team's top hitter

S Alyssa Bennett, Ramona: Led Bulldogs to section Division II finals

S/OPP Aimee Bird, Tri-City Christian: Will split time as a hitter this year

OH Kristi Bishop, Mission Hills: Last year's top hitter is back

MB Anne Carroll-Ingersoll, Torrey Pines: Could be one of county's best players

OH Ariana Covington, Carlsbad: Off to Loyola Marymount with Rankins

S Taylor Crabtree, Rancho Buena Vista: One of the top setters again

OPP Katie Fuller, La Costa Canyon: Junior already committed to USC

OH JoLinda Georgeson, Ramona: Has big shoes to fill in '07

OH Sarah Hall, Escondido: Could be Valley League's best hitter

MB Kelly Hansen, Mt. Carmel: Her footwork has improved in past year

OH Tabitha Henken, Carlsbad: Poised for a great senior season

L Kim-Lien Le, Carlsbad: Could be this year's Jace Williams at libero

OH Kelcie Livesay, San Pasqual: Looking for breakout season

OH Erin Lupfer, Westview: Without Faucette, Lupfer leads blocking

OH Malia Marquardt, Vista: Quite a 1-2 punch with Rankins

OH ShaDare McNeal, Fallbrook: Her potential is unlimited

MB Krista Merchat, La Costa Canyon: Ready to step into the limelight

MB Janessa Morgan, San Marcos: Should be Knights' best weapon

OH Shelley Morton, Fallbrook: In line for her best season yet

OH Jasmine Rankins, Vista: Bound for Loyola Marymount in '08

S Cory Santos, Carlsbad: The key to how far Lancers go in '07

OPP Faith Steinwedell, Santa Fe Christian: Quite a force at the net

OH Lexi Williamson, Cathedral Catholic: Heavy hitter getting even tougher

See the original top 25 volleyball players article at the North County Times web site.

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Thank you to Terry Monahan - Staff Writer
 

Rivals.com Sports Blog

Rivals.com Student Sports Volleyball:
Kenzie Aries Volleyball Blog - Quicksets with Kenzie

I am excited. I have been asked by Students Sports Volleyball, a division of Rivals.com to produce a weekly volleyball column blog - Quicksets with Kenzie.

First, a little information about Rivals.com. Rivals.com has been serving serious sports fans since May 2001. Powered by more than 300 writers, reporters and publishers at the local level and by more than 85 employees at its Brentwood, Tenn., headquarters, Rivals.com is the most respected name in team-specific college sports coverage and the country's No. 1 authority on college football and basketball recruiting.

Rivals.com syndicates a variety of its content to major media outlets such as Yahoo!, AOL Sports, SI.com, MSNBC.com, USA Today and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Rivals.com reaches more than 2.5 million readers, a figure that is up 50 percent from the same time a year ago. As of January 2007, the company has more than 180,000 active subscribers – 80,000 more than in January 2005.

Rivals.com is frequently sourced in major daily newspapers across the country and appears regularly on ESPN, FoxSports, and other national and regional sports programming. Rivals.com is also the exclusive home of the Nike Football Training Camps and is the sole choice of the Football Writers Association of America and Basketball Writers Association of America as the two organizations' recruiting coverage provider.

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Is there a lucky side of the court in volleyball?

Luck isn't something that I rely on when playing volleyball. Homer Simpson, my favorite cartoon character, once said "If it wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all."

However, I learned from my high school coach, Dexter Harvey, that there is truly a "lucky" side to the court. I am practical; if there are two sides to a coin, the chance of getting either is going to be 50/50, no matter how many times you flip it. So, who cares what side of the court you get, right? Wrong.

Read more on volleyball strategy.

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How to select a volleyball club

If you are going to be a champion, you must be willing to pay a greater price. -- Bud Wilkinson

Club season is almost here--time to start looking for the best team for your skill level. Although club is time-consuming and expensive, it is well-worth the effort in the long-run. However, before selecting a club, consider the following advice.

If you are not sure which club you are going to play for, here are a few things you can do to ensure a successful and enjoyable club season.

In selecting a coach, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the following.

Read more on how to select a volleyball club.

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Should a volleyball player play up an age group in club volleyball?

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. --Michael Jordan

Consider this: there is a very good high school junior who normally would be on a 17's club team, but has been asked to be on an 18's team. Should this volleyball player play up an age group for her club volleyball season?

Read more on club volleyball.

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How to make a weighted setter's volleyball

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity." --Louis Pasteur

Pasteur is correct. To some, tenacity is staying out on the field longer than anyone else and working out harder than the rest of your team. However, let's be realistic. No one has all the time in the world to work out a few extra hours a day and no one has an unlimited supply of energy. So what can one do?

Work-out more efficiently. But how?

Simple... fill an old volleyball with sand.

Read more on how to use a setter's volleyball.

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Leadership and running a volleyball team

"Champions keep playing until they get it right." --Billie Jean King

If you sit near the court, you hear it. College coaches love it.

Teammates are inspired by it. So... what is it?

Talking, or "barking", on the court. On a recent college visit, though I've heard it plenty of times before, a player mentioned, "The loud teams always seem to win."

Loud teams tend to be more successful because they are always communicating with each other, letting each other know what is going on.

Read more about volleyball leadership.

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Being a Leader: On court and off

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." --John Maxwell.

Some people think being a leader is easy. They think all it involves is telling people what to do and when to do it. The fact of the matter is that being a leader isn't a fun job, especially on the volleyball court.

Read more about volleyball leadership.

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Volleyball Team Building: There's no "I" in team, right?

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." --Michael Jordan

Teamwork comes from having a cohesive team, and in any team sport, getting along with those on your team is essential.
 

Read more about team building for volleyball.

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College Volleyball Recruiting

"My advice to anyone is to let your life live you. You don't have to rule yourself with an iron hand, because if you let it, the divine plan of your life will direct you. Anything is possible if you can think it clearly and hold it passionately. Anything unrealized is not important; what is important is the quality of each step that you take along the way. Everything you do is important, even if it doesn't seem so at the time. If you apply your full attention, everything will always be just as it should be." --Mary Jo Peppler

Read more about college volleyball recruiting

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List Of Why I Play Volleyball

"You know you play volleyball when..." --Any volleyball player.

This is a compilation of various sources regarding when you know you play volleyball.

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The Setter as a "Sin Eater"

"The setter is the hardest working player on the court that receives no glory." --Anonymous

Whether you're a setter or any other position on the court, this quote seems to hold true on many teams. Don't get me wrong--every single player on the court works hard and everyone has their jobs to do. In my opinion, the middle blocker position is the most physically demanding position on the court. But I will stand by the quote that the setter is the hardest working player on the court.

In fact, a local coach commented that the setter is like the "sin eater." What is a sin eater, you ask? The idea stems from ancient times, with the Aztec goddess Tlazolteotl. At the end of someone's life, they were allowed to confess their misdeeds to her, and according to legend, she would cleanse their soul by "eating its filth."

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More Volleyball Tips, Secrets, Coaching Ideas and Articles:

• Communicating after a Volleyball Dig

• Tips for Beach Volleyball

• Beach Volleyball Tips

• Volleyball FAQs

• The Lighter side of VB

• Volleyball Training Misconceptions

• Ways to Improve Your Volleyball Game

• Advice from Volleyball Coaches

• Being a Leader on the Volleyball Court

• Deciding on College Volleyball

• Volleyball Team Building