Always, ASPIRE HIGHER!!

We aim to teach our athletes real life lessons through the sport of volleyball. 

Dedication, tenacity,  hard work, team work, drive, desire, determination, perseverance, respect for self and others, mental and emotional fortitude, heart, goal setting, goal achieving, winning, and even losing....

Expert coaches combined with a practice schedule addressing skills, sand conditioning/ training, and weight training, along with a tournament schedule allowing for the best competition available, is the equation for success!

Nikki Vaporis has been a part of the Volleyball Nation since the mid 1980's.  First playing in middle school, then on to an amazing high school career at Tarpon Springs High School, including a State Championship and a record of 32 wins and 0 losses in 1991.

After graduating, Nikki accepted a volleyball/academic scholarship to Westmar University, in Iowa.  Upon her return, Nikki went straight to work.

Immediately, she assisted at Tarpon Springs High School and then Pasco-Hernando Community College.

After taking a few seasons off to have her daughter, Nikki returned to the court at Berkeley Preparatory School and Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball Club, both in Tampa, FL.

It was during this time that the need for private, individual training was needed.  It was out of this need, that Aspire Higher Volleyball, LLC. was established, 2005, in Oldsmar, FL.

We provided high level training to players of all skill bases.  Something different, at the time, was combining sand volleyball training into the overall training plan for the indoor player.  

Nikki accepted the Head Coach position at Braden River High School for two seasons.  While there, the Varsity team made school history, as the first sport to make it out of playoffs in into the "Sweet 16."

In 2007, Aspire Higher Volleyball, LLC. opened the Aspire Higher Volleyball SuperCenter, in Winter Haven, FL., with 11 sand courts and a mega-pro shop.

From 2011-2014, Nikki worked as a television sports broadcaster, a color analyst, for Bright House Sports Network.  Her job included live, on-air evaluations of each play, as well as, to serve as the "volleyball expert."

While broadcasting was fun, Nikki missed the coaching side of the sport, and returned courtside, coaching with Florida Mojo Volleyball Club where Nikki coached and served as the girls' club director.

In 2016, Nikki established the Aspire Higher Volleyball Club in the Central Florida area, and continues to facilitate club, camp, clinics, private lessons for both male and female players, of all skill bases.

In addition to directing and coaching AHVC, Nikki accepted the position to head up the Boys' Volleyball Program at Winter Springs High School for the 2016-1017 year.  In her first season with the Bears, the varsity team had a stunning opening season.  Finishing with 9 wins and 6 losses, AND pulling the upset of the season by defeating the #4 team in the state, all goals set were met, and then some.

Currently, Nikki continues to run the WSHS Boys' Program, and assists with the WSHS Girls' Program, while also maintaining the Aspire Higher Volleyball Club with a direct, hands on approach.