Can a 16s rookie make a club team?

Question
hi,thanks for taking the time for this.i was hoping you could help me.i want to try out for a club volleyball team in october but there are a few things im worried about.first,im homeschooled.and second,ive never played for a team before,just with friends.and im also only 5ft 4in tall.but im naturally talented and very athletic.im also quick at getting the ball and my favorite is digging the spikes,but i can also set.im not very good at spiking though.im quick to learn things though and i always give 100%.i would really like to get on a team.a tried for a club softball team but didnt make it and i didnt know if that was because im homeschooled or not because im good and have played since i was 7.so now volleyball is me next choice.the other thing is i will be 16 in december.so will me age,lack of experience(on a team),my height,and the fact that im homeschooled affect whether i get picked or not???and if not any advice on how to prepare and should i try for the 16s or the 15s considering all this??and what position should i chose??thanks so much with any help you can give.:)

Answer
Hello Sarah!  Wonderful name!  Same as my wife's!   :)  You'll see pics of her if you visit us at www.coachhouser.com!   
 
* Being picked for a team has nothing to do with where you go to school (or it SHOULDN'T!).  They want to win matches and championships.  If you can help them, they'll keep you.  
* 16 and a vball rookie?  Whoa.  I don't think you'll find a club vball team that'll take you, unless you live in a BIG BIG city.  In Virginia, the Richmond Volleyball Club is the only club that has an A, B, C, D, etc. in some age groups.  So, if you live near St Louis, Charlotte, San Diego, Dallas, Chicago, etc. there may be a club that is SO HUGE that they'll take girls in your situation.  But, here in Roanoke where I live, rookie stop trying out at 14's.    
* Are you eligible to play 15's?  You can see if you visit www.coachhouser.com, and touch the "Junior 2011 Info" link that you see below the huge picture.    
* Height.....no problem.  Lack of experience.....huge problem.  It's probably an unsolvable problem.  Do any of your friends play club/travel soccer?  If so, could you imagine a girl just showing up at a 16's tryout with the qualities that you listed above?  She'd have no chance of making a team.....unless that team is kick-and-giggle and doesn't care about anything but having fun.    
* I would guess that you're starting with team sports now b/c you may not have known that they were available when you were younger?  Maybe?  Now, it's probably too late.....unless you're around St Louis, etc.  But, if you would have happened to be a public school kid, going to school of 1500 kids, all the athletes would have been playing travel vball, soccer, etc.  And you wouldn't be in this predicament.   
* Does this mean that you'll never be able to play vball?  No, of course not.  (a) Call all the local clubs.  Find out how many teams they'll be offering.  Then go to tryouts and see what happens.  If you don't try, you have 0% chance.  (b) You may have to learn to play over the next few years, and that's OK.  You can do this by playing in pick up games at the local Y, getting into rec leagues,  playing outdoor doubles, etc.  In other words, you'll have to go through "on-the-job-training".   
 
Is there anything else I can do for you?  I hope that I haven't upset you.  I wish I had better news.  :(   
 
Coach Houser