Female Athletes coached by female athletes.
At Valiant Volleyball, our mission goes beyond skill development—we are committed to creating a training environment that empowers female athletes both physically and mentally.
“With years of experience playing and training at the highest collegiate level, I’ve designed a program that not only enhances volleyball skills through elite drills and coaching methods but also fosters confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset. I believe female athletes thrive in a supportive, communicative, and empowering space.”
“My goal is to provide young athletes with top-tier training while ensuring they develop a strong inner voice, free from negativity. By combining technical excellence with a focus on mental strength, we help female athletes reach their highest potential and play the game with confidence and passion.”
-Leah Schmidt
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I began playing volleyball when I was about 5 years old. It started with watching my older sister play. I was too young at that time to join an organized team, but that didn’t keep me from bothering my parents constantly about joining a team. My mom soon found a rec team for me to join although I was younger than the age requirement. Once I turned 9, I was finally able to try out for a club team and continued to play with a club all the way through to the 18s team. I played middle school and high school volleyball as well and set records and received regional and district recognition. My dream of playing D1 volleyball came true when I committed to play in the PAC12 conference at the University of Utah. During my time at Utah, I got to play with and against All American caliber players which helped me to grow as a player. My Utah team made two NCAA tournament appearances and made it to the sweet 16 in 2019, my freshman year. I transferred to UC Berkeley in 2021 where I started as an outside hitter continuing playing with and against nationally ranked players and teams. In 2022, I was selected to participate in the USA volleyball multiday tryout program under the direction of Karch Kiraly. After graduating from Berkeley in 2023, I returned to my hometown in the Cleveland area and began coaching and providing private lessons at my former club while I transitioned into my next step in life. I moved to New York City in 2024 to pursue my other passion, film making, where I continue to develop young athletes as a coach at United Nations International School and NYC Jrs volleyball club. Through my experience with coaching and private lessons, I discovered I had a knack for relating to young athletes in a unique way so I started my own volleyball skill training program under my own name where I continue to provide skill clinics and private lessons in the Cleveland and NYC areas.
