Founded in March 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, TEAM Kiwi Volleyball Club was built from the ground up by Eric Praetorius and Spencer Hilland with a clear mission: to create an elite volleyball club with an unmatched culture, exceptional coaching, and a first-class training environment. After coaching together for years at Tampa Elite Volleyball, Eric and Spencer envisioned a new club that combined competitive excellence with a positive, athlete-centered atmosphere. From March to June 2020, they worked tirelessly to transform the HP Performance Center into a premier volleyball facility, hosting their first tryouts in July 2020.
“We opened our doors in March 2020—signing the lease to our first facility literally one week before the global COVID-19 shutdown,” shared Co-Founder and co-Director Spencer Hilland. “While the world was on pause, we spent countless hours transforming an empty warehouse into a volleyball-ready space so we could safely and successfully launch our program for the 2020–21 season. That year, we proudly welcomed 12 girls teams and 1 boys team.
TEAM Kiwi’s story is one of resilience, relentless growth, and an unwavering commitment to providing the best volleyball experience in the Tampa Bay area. Eric and Spencer have continued to reinvest in and expand the club’s facilities every single season. Just last year, they opened a second building only a few hundred feet from the main gym, featuring Florida’s only indoor beach court and an additional indoor volleyball court—giving athletes even more unique training opportunities.
One of the most meaningful aspects of TEAM Kiwi is the culture and retention—over 90% of the club’s non-graduating athletes return each year, and many of the alumni come back during or after college to coach, mentor, and support the next generation of Kiwi athletes. The TEAM Kiwi gym environment is intentionally vibrant and fun, featuring bold colors, custom murals on every wall, and a high-energy atmosphere that makes players excited to walk through the doors.
“Our goal is to have the best atmosphere, great players, great parents, and plenty of practice time with excellent coaches. We build awesome teams that stay together and compete all around the country,” said Co-Director and Co-Founder Eric Praetorius.” This season, TEAM KIWI has grown to 28 total teams—24 girls teams and 4 boys teams—reflecting our ongoing evolution and the trust families in our community place in us. Our uniforms stand out, our facility is unlike any other in the area, and we pride ourselves on treating our families with transparency, respect, and professionalism. TEAM Kiwi isn’t just a club—it’s a community & a family, and that’s what truly sets us apart.”
TEAM Kiwi is deeply invested in growing the game of volleyball throughout the Tampa Bay community. One of the club’s primary initiatives are the Learn to Volley youth programs designed to introduce volleyball to athletes starting at four years old.
Here is a breakdown of the programs:
– Mini-Ballers (U9 & under): Designed for the youngest volleyballers.
– Volley Academy (U12 & under): For players who are developing between the Mini-Ballers and Futures levels.
– Kiwi Futures (U13–U15): Our newest program, similar to our Fall Mini Club. This is an eight-week program that includes two practices per week and two scrimmage tournaments, serving as a short-season introduction to the full club experience.
TEAM Kiwi’s Pee-Wee Kiwis program serves as an introduction to the sport, and the free Try-Volley clinics help create accessible pathways for new players. These programs make the sport accessible to all ages and skill levels. By focusing on grassroots development and community involvement, TEAM Kiwi is actively strengthening the volleyball pipeline in their region.
In addition each year the club hosts collection drives for local charities ranging from homeless shelters to animal shelters. Off the court, the club leaders emphasize accountability, teamwork, leadership, and respect—for teammates, coaches, officials, and families. The coaching staff is intentional about building confident athletes who understand the value of hard work, consistency, and being great teammates, not just great players. Eric and Spencer continue to build a staff of passionate, knowledgeable coaches who share the commitment to teaching, mentoring, and elevating every athlete who walks through the doors.
In just a few short years, the club has grown from 8 teams to 28 teams, and plans to continue that growth in a thoughtful, sustainable way. Athlete development is at the core of everything they do at TEAM Kiwi. On the court, the players benefit from the indoor training facility on the same property as Florida’s first indoor beach volleyball facility, allowing every team to train three times per week for a total of six hours. The club offers three competitive team levels to ensure athletes of all abilities have a place to grow and succeed, while still being challenged appropriately. Over the last five seasons, TEAM Kiwi helped send 85+ student-athletes on to play collegiate volleyball.
A major focus for the future is the expansion of the TEAM Kiwi Boys Volleyball program—what began as one boys team in year two has grown into four competitive boys teams from U14 to U17, consistently earning bids and competing successfully at Open-level events. The club’s long-term goal is to establish TEAM Kiwi as one of the top boys and girls volleyball clubs in Florida.
“From our humble beginnings during one of the most challenging moments in modern history to becoming one of the fastest-growing and most well-rounded clubs in our area, we are proud of the environment we’ve built. We are constantly evolving, always learning, and dedicated to offering the highest-quality volleyball experience possible,” said Hilland.
TEAM Kiwi (Tampa, FL) is a member of the Junior Volleyball Association, an organization committed to enhancing the junior volleyball experience for club directors, coaches, players, and fans.
View more about joining the JVA. View more about starting a boys volleyball point series. View more about JVA Awards. Nominate your club for JVA Club of the Month.