AVC Coaches

Meredith Rice

Club Director & Recruiting Coordinator

Meredith is AVC’s Club Director and Recruiting Coordinator.  Specifically, she will oversee 15-18 National teams. A native from California, Meredith had 8 years of coaching experience, both as an Assistant and as a Head Coach before joining AVC in 2013. Meredith and Jeff Reaser both came to AVC the same year, and together they helped lead the 17 White team to qualify Open during their first season. To this day, AVC is the only club in the Ohio Valley Region to qualify 2 Open teams in the same age group and a part of a short list of clubs Nationally that have done it. She has coached in many USAV and JVA Tournament Championships at the Open level and two seasons at the collegiate level. At the club level, she has qualified for Nationals 14 times and finished in the top 12 five of those times. During her time at AVC, she has advised hundreds of athletes during their recruiting process and eventual commitment to college. In addition to coaching an abundance of players who have gone onto play at NCAA DI/DII/DIII universities, a handful have also pursued professional careers overseas.

Meredith was elected to the AVCA Assistant Coaches Committee in 2017 as the Club Representative and currently, she is on multiple committees and boards related to national and regional volleyball. Her latest addition has been joining the SWEAT group at 3 Step Sports. SWEAT is for Strong Women Empowering Athletes Together and the main goal is to prioritize advancement, expand opportunities and elevate excellence in women’s sports. 

She has presented at the AVCA Convention the last five years on various topics from training to recruiting. 

For the 2023-24 season Meredith will be the Head Coach of 17 Red, assist 18 Red and help lead the outsider hitter training during National tier training practices. 

Paul Schiffer

Asst Club Director & Co-Founder

Paul is one of the founders of AVC.  He is currently the Head Coach for 18 Red and the Assistant Coach of 17 Red.  He was the Assistant Coach on the 2015 AAU 17 Open National Championship team. He has coached several teams to OVR Championships as well as leading his teams to USAV Nationals 17 times. Paul has served as a Coach for teams that have Qualified Open 13 times. He has coached 178 athletes that have gone on to play in college, including 100+ D1 athletes. He has coached at the CYO, Regional, National and Open level. He also serves as the Business Development Director for the club.

Jeff Reaser

Director of Player Development

Prior to joining AVC in 2013, Jeff had 8 seasons of coaching experience with three area clubs, as well as 3 years of experience with St Joseph’s Academy as varsity assistant.  Jeff coached the 2013 17 White team who qualified Open, the team was the only club in the OVR to qualify 2 teams in the Open division for the same age class.  In addition to coaching, Jeff is the Director of Player Development for the National Program.

Kara Schiffer

Logistics & Operations Coordinator

Kara has been coaching with AVC since 2017. She played for Walsh Jesuit HS and was on an AVC team during their inaugural season. She also played D1 volleyball at Loyola University Maryland where she was a libero/DS for 4 years.  Kara is currently an assistant coach for 17 Red and 18 Red.  In addition to coaching, she is the club’s logistics and operations coordinator.  Professionally, Kara works as a financial control analyst. 

Liz George DiGeronimo

10-13s Director & 14 National Director

Liz has been coaching volleyball for over 10 years and has been with AVC since 2018.  She has coached at every level from 12 regional to 17 national and has qualified multiple teams for nationals. Liz is a graduate of the University of Dayton where she was a member of the Women’s Rowing Team. Liz currently teaches history at Magnificat, where she is also the Varsity Assistant Coach. 

Mary Duffy

14-18 American/Regional Director

Mary joined the AVC coaching staff in 2020. Prior to AVC, she was a Head Coach at CVC and CYO Volleyball Coach at St. Christopher School for 6 seasons. She is also currently a Board Member and League Director of adult AA/Open leagues at Cleveland Eastside Turners. From 2011 through 2019, Mary was the Supervisor of the adult volleyball program at the City of Rocky River managing 80+ teams and officials 4 nights per week. Mary is IMPACT, Safesport, First Aid, CPR, and Concussion certified. She has also trained with USAV and OHSAA as a volleyball official.

Michael Maurer

Camp Coordinator

Michael began his coaching career at AVC in 2018, following a four-year coaching stint at Maverick and Eastside. His coaching background encompasses positions at Ledgemont HS as Varsity Head Coach, Kenston High School as JV coach, Laurel as JV coach, and Independence High School as an assistant, where the team lost in the State Semifinals. Moreover, Michael served as the head varsity coach at Hathaway Brown for three seasons, during which his teams set school records for most wins in a season. Currently, he holds the position of Varsity Head Coach at Hudson High School and holds certification as a HS and College referee. With a playing career in competitive Volleyball spanning over 15 years, Michael is deeply invested in providing private lessons, sharing his profound understanding of the sport. He has qualified three teams for Nationals and anticipates continued success at AVC. Michael also serves as the camp director here at AVC

Andrew Zoeckler

Coach

Andrew began his volleyball career in 7th grade CYO and played CYO through high school. He was a multi-sport high school athlete: 4 years varsity soccer, outdoor/indoor track and cross country and two years varsity kicker for the football team.  Andrew is a 2020 graduate of Cleveland State University where he played four years of NCVF DI volleyball as a middle blocker. He is a 2023 graduate of Cleveland State University College of Law and now works as an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Cleveland. During his 7 years at CSU, he worked in the sports and rec dept as a graduate supervisor where he ran the competitive sports programs and youth camps. He was a practice player for the CSU women’s DI team helping them prepare for matches. He began coaching CYO soccer and volleyball in 2017, has coached for i9 sports, and has been the assistant coach for the CSU men’s team for the past three years. Andrew joins AVC for the 2024-25 as an assistant coach for 12 White. 

Anthony Winter

Coach

Anthony joined the AVC coaching staff in 2023.  He played collegiate volleyball as a D1 outside hitter at Quincy University.  Anthony was a 3x academic all-conference player, captain his senior year and finished 6^th for the Karch Kiraly Award.  (The Karch Kiraly Award is presented to the best OH in D1 Men’s Volleyball.)  Anthony ended his senior season in the top 10 in the conference for Kills, Digs, Aces, and Points. He also finished 4th place at NCAA Collegiate Beach Championship. 

After college, Anthony went on to be the Graduate Assistant Coach at Missouri Western State University (2018 – 2020), before moving on to his current coaching position as the Assistant Coach for Baldwin Wallace Women’s Volleyball (2020 – current).  Anthony is also the current Program Director at Sandbox Volleyball (2017 – current). 

Professionally, Anthony plays on Cleveland Kong (Cleveland’s VLA Men’s Volleyball Team).  In 2022, the team was the East Division Cup Champions. 

Antoine Pastor

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Ashley Landis

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Becky Patton

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Belle Hunt

Coach

Belle, our 14 Gold Assistant Coach, brings nine years of coaching experience to her first season with AVC. Born and raised in Canada, she began playing volleyball at age 10 and continued through high school before switching to row crew in university. Since starting her coaching career in 2016 with a 13U team, she progressively advanced with the same group each year until relocating to attend law school at Case Western Reserve University last year. Under her guidance, numerous former players have secured spots at Division 1 programs across both Canada and the United States, and she is excited to include AVC players on that list in the future!

Brinn MacLellan

Coach

Brinn is excited to join the AVC coaching staff for the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach for the 14 Red team. This is her first season with the club, and she also assists with coaching pin hitters during group training days. Brinn played high school volleyball at Gilmour Academy and served as team captain for three years. During her senior year, she was fortunate to be part of a state championship team. She continued her volleyball career at Virginia Tech, where she played on the club team throughout college and had the opportunity to serve as team captain for one year. Brinn earned her degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Leadership and Social Change. Before transitioning to volleyball coaching, Brinn spent three years coaching gymnastics. With a strong belief in the power of mindset, Brinn encourages players to develop both their physical and mental skills to achieve success on and off the court.

Caleb Francis

Coach

After starting his coaching career in 2018, Caleb was excited to join the coaching staff at AVC in 2023!  Caleb has coached numerous levels of JO volleyball and has been coaching at the national level for multiple seasons. Caleb has coached numerous athletes that have gone on to play at the collegiate level spanning across both Division 1 & 2. 

He is excited to be part of a staff that encourages growth from both players and coaches, creating a culture that is both competitive and rewarding and ensures that players are setup to achieve their goals. Caleb’s coaching philosophy can be summed up by “I am, because we are” a very team first attitude.

Cassie Owens

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Chloe Koz

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Colleen McDaniel

Coach

Bio coming soon! 

Craig George

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Craig Peterson

Coach

Craig’s passion for volleyball began in 7th grade in Pennsylvania, where he played through high school before continuing his collegiate career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Ball State University.

With over 15 years of experience coaching high school volleyball in Pennsylvania and Ohio, he has built a strong track record of developing athletes and fostering competitive teams. 2024-25 marks his first season coaching club volleyball at AVC, but he brings a wealth of experience, having coached club teams for over 25 years in Ohio and Florida.

Throughout his coaching career, Craig has been committed to developing well-rounded athletes by focusing on technical skills, game strategy, and mental toughness. He takes pride in mentoring players to reach their full potential, both on and off the court. His coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and a growth mindset, helping athletes prepare for the next level of competition.
Craig’s dedication to the game and commitment to player development makes him a valuable asset to AVC. He looks forward to using my experience and passion to contribute to the success of my teams and inspire the next generation of volleyball players.

Dan Mihacevich

Coach

Dan joined AVC in 2017 to coach with the best talent and best coaching staff in the area.  Dan’s coaching philosophy is to “always be competing!” 
Dan played volleyball at The Ohio State University where he earned 2 team MVP awards, 3 all conference awards and holds the all time kill record and points record for a single match.  Dan is also in the Buckeye record books for service aces and digs.  In 1996 Dan was selected for the Olympic Festival training program where he trained with the National Team coaching staff and the best players in the country.  Dan has won 10 Ohio Valley Region Adult championships and in 2018, Dan finished 2nd in the adult 40+ USA Volleyball National championship. Dan loves the “intense, competitive, forward thinking training environment at AVC.  This is truly a place where players can reach their full potential” Dan has coached youth sports since 2007 including soccer and volleyball.  Dan still plays soccer and volleyball competitively. Dan’s wife Kristen and daughter Ella also coach at AVC, while his other 2 daughters are playing collegiately. 

Danny Stintsman

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Darek Sierko

Coach

Darek joined AVC in 2020.  He has a passion for teaching athletes the fundamentals of the game and developing proper techniques that are essential to grow as a volleyball player.  Growing up, he played high school volleyball in Europe.  Currently, Darek is coaching and helping to run the CYO program at St. Michael School in Independence. He is a certified OHSAA volleyball official, as well as concussion, CPR, Safe Sport, and USA Volleyball IMPACT certified.

David Bowler

Coach

David joined AVC in 2024. He played four years of varsity men’s volleyball at Brecksville-Broadview Hts., receiving all-state honorable mentions his senior year. David attended the University of Dayton and was a practice player for the Dayton Women’s volleyball team (2019 – 2021). He has been a certified USAV referee for 4 years. While it is his first year coaching indoor, he is a beach volleyball coach at Sandbox (2019 – Present) and helps out with various indoor camps around Cleveland. David is looking forward to growing his career and sharing his love for volleyball with others.

Dawn Madison

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Declan Pierce

Coach

Declan Pierce brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the program. A former Division I libero at Penn State University (2016–2020), he was part of the 2017 EIVA Conference Championship team and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2019.

After college, Declan began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at D’Youville University, helping transition the men’s volleyball program from Division III to Division II (2020–2022). He then served as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Baldwin Wallace University from 2022 to 2024 while earning his MBA in Strategic Marketing.

With a background in biomechanics and kinesiology, Declan applies a technical, science-based approach to skill development, helping athletes refine their mechanics for maximum efficiency and performance. He remains active in the game, competing in semi-professional volleyball while continuing to develop the next generation of athletes.

This is Declan’s first year coaching at AVC, and he is excited to bring his experience and passion for the game to the club.

Dylan Sullivan

Coach

Coach Dylan was born and raised in Nebraska. He grew up in a family that loved volleyball and spent many weekends at club tournaments for his sister as the team ball boy. Coach Dylan grew up with a strong desire to play volleyball. However, due to growing up in a small town with no boy’s high school or club team within 90 miles, it wasn’t until he got to the University of Nebraska that he was able to start playing in indoor and sand leagues. While at Nebraska, Coach Dylan attended nearly every home Nebraska Volleyball game. Seeing the play at such a high level, he began dissecting the game and his love for the game deepened. His freshman year of college, he coached his hometown’s girl’s club team.

After college, Coach Dylan moved to New York City and played in a men’s competitive indoor league. Upon moving to Cleveland, he began coaching at AVC in 2022 and is entering his third season with the club. Coach Dylan’s goal is to develop players with a deep love of the game and the drive to be the best they can be. Outside of volleyball, Coach Dylan is an elementary teacher. Dylan is also the Solon Varsity Assistant Volleyball Coach.

Ella Mihacevich

Coach

Ella completed her fifth season of Division I college volleyball in the fall of 2024 after finishing her club career at AVC in 2020, and is excited to return to the club as a coach. She is currently the assistant for 17 Red and is co-leading setter training for the 12-18 national teams. Her parents, Dan and Kristen, also coach at AVC, and her younger sisters, Kate and Anna, are former AVC players who have started their own college volleyball careers. Drawing from her playing experience and family coaching background, Ella focuses on developing discipline and mental toughness in her athletes.

During her college career, Ella played in all but one match, seeing court time as a setter, defensive specialist, and right side hitter. She spent four years at Northern Illinois University before transferring to Cleveland State University for her COVID year. At CSU, Ella helped lead the Vikings to win the Horizon League Championship and to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024.

Career Highlights:

*   3,021 assists

*   1,040 digs

*   528 kills

*   146 service aces

*   31 double-doubles

*   2 triple-doubles

Before her collegiate career, Ella played at Padua Franciscan High School, where she earned First Team All-State and Under Armour All-America honors. She helped lead her team to a Division II state title in 2017 and two state runner-up finishes in Division I in 2018 and 2019.

Ella’s goal is to inspire young girls to achieve their full potential while cultivating a love for the game, and to give back to the club that played such a formative role in her development as both an athlete and a person.

Emma Bernardini

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Erika Snyder

Coach

Erika has been coaching at AVC since 2020 after moving to Cleveland. Throughout her life, volleyball has been a huge part, and she has experience with both indoor and sand. She is also the head varsity coach at Solon high school and has previous high school and JO experience at many different levels. Her favorite part of AVC is the training, culture, and how driven our players are. Erika studied business administration at Stark State and works as a Facilities Coordinator. Outside of volleyball, she enjoys traveling and hanging out with her cats. 

Erin Dziak

Coach

Bio coming soon!

George Kambic

Coach

George Kambic is one of the original coaches for AVC, having been with the club since its inception.  In addition, he has been involved with volleyball in the Cleveland area for 30 years, most of this time spent with the St. Rita CYO program in Solon, Ohio.  He has also coached at Hathaway Brown and Hawken.  At AVC, he has coached or assisted at the Regional and American levels mostly at 15 and under, focusing on the development of talent.

Grace Williams

Coach

After joining the AVC coaching staff in 2024, Grace is excited to be entering into her second season at AVC.  In her first season, she successfully coached two teams, 17 Maroon and 14 Scarlet.  For the 2025 season, she is coaching 15 Maroon.  Grace has played volleyball for over 10 years, including playing at Thiel College for 2 years as a middle hitter.  Recently, she graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration.  

Hannah Martinez

Coach

Hannah is excited to join the AVC coaching staff during the 2024-25 season as the head coach of 11 White! Professionally, she works in Downtown Cleveland at a law firm.  Her hobbies are cooking, baking, arts and crafts and Volleyball. Volleyball is a passion of hers, and she has been playing for 14 years now. Hannah plays all around the Cleveland area in tournaments and leagues. This season she is looking forward to teaching and sharing tips and skills to younger athletes to enhance their play! 

Hayden Caldwell

Coach

Hayden joined the AVC coaching staff in 2024 as the head coach of 18 Blue. He played club for three years at Case Western Reserve University, where he was vice president for the 2022-2023 school year and president in 2023-2024. During his time with the club, they won the 2022 NCVF DII silver championship, and the 2024 ECVA DII championship. He has also played in the VLA since 2023, previously representing the Huron River Hitmen, and currently as a member of the Cleveland Kong.

Along with his time at AVC, Hayden served as an assistant coach for the new Shaker Heights boys’ volleyball team in 2023 and currently helps out with the CWRU women’s NCAA team. His goal in coaching is not only to help his players grow in their volleyball skills, but also in their love of the game.

Jen Kairis

Coach

Jen has coached CYO volleyball teams at St. Michael School in Independence for the past 4 years.  The 2024-25 season is her first year with AVC, and she is the Assistant Coach for 12 Scarlet. She is passionate about teaching proper form and fundamentals of the game to young players.  Jen played both court and sand volleyball in her youth and remains close friends with many of her former teammates.  She is excited to help players build strong foundations, learn the importance of teamwork and grow as individuals this season!

Jenny Phillips

Coach

Jenny has over 20 years of volleyball coaching experience.  She started her coaching career at her high school alma mater, Holy Name, where she was the head coach of freshman and varsity volleyball for 10 years.  As varsity head coach at Holy Name, she was named North Coast League Coach of the Year three times.  After taking a break from coaching to raise her two children, Jenny jumped back into coach CYO volleyball at St. Michael School in Independence for the past 5 years.  As a coach, she strives to balance core skill development and individual growth with a positive team environment that will foster a lifelong love of the game!

Jessica McCabe

Coach

Jessica McCabe began coaching at AVC in the 2019-2020 season. Prior to joining AVC, she coached youth recreational volleyball in the Kenston school district for 5 years. She played volleyball during her high school years, participated in club level volleyball during college, and continued to compete during her younger adult life in co-ed tournaments/leagues. She is excited to be back for another season and hopes to continue to develop her player’s volleyball skills as well as their love of the game. Her interest in youth sports stems not only from her own experiences, but from her background as a physical therapist. In particular, she is interested in promoting wellness and proper technique in the female athlete. She has a supportive husband of 22 years and three children all active in different sports. She works as a physical therapist at the Cleveland VA in stroke rehabilitation research and as an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University School of Physical Therapy.

Jodis Hegg

Coach

Jodis joined the AVC coaching staff for the 2024-2025 season. She brings recent experience from a strong club in Charlotte, NC, where her 13s team secured the 2023-2024 Carolina Region Championship. Her coaching philosophy centers on building a strong foundation of fundamental skills while encouraging a deep love for volleyball. Jodis, a Savannah, GA native who began playing club at 11 and still plays sand, is excited to guide players in their athletic journey. 

Jordan Kortowich

Coach

Jordan grew up in Cleveland and has played competitive volleyball since she was 10 years old. Throughout her 4 years at Saint Joseph Academy, she was a varsity letter athlete for all 4 years. Jordan has been coaching JO since 2016 and joined the AVC coaching staff in 2022 where she assisted the 16 white team and has helped with the development of passers. Jordan took on the head coach position at Saint Joseph Academy in 2024, where she guided the Jaguars to the D1 OHSAA State championship, locking in her first Final Four appearance. 

Kelly Wayne

Coach

Kelly, a Cleveland native, grew up playing club volleyball before competing at the Division I level as a setter at Robert Morris University. After graduation, she expanded her coaching experience across multiple levels, including college, varsity, middle school, and youth programs.

She joined AVC in 2020 and has been a dedicated educator at Kenston for 25 years, balancing her passion for both teaching and coaching.

Kelsey Polak

Coach

Kelsey Polak grew up in Cleveland and played 6 years of club volleyball before playing NCAA Division I Volleyball at Towson University. After graduating, Kelsey assisted Gilmour Academy Varsity Volleyball for 6-years and helped the Lancers to 2-State Championships, and 5-State Final Four finishes. She has coached club volleyball since 2016 and trained setters with 2 local area clubs before joining AVC in 2022 and overseeing National team setter training. 

Kiana Mack

Coach

Kiana joined the AVC coaching staff during the 2024-2025 season.  Transitioning from player to coach, Kiana has returned to AVC to impart her knowledge and experience to the next generation of athletes!

Playing Career:

• Club Volleyball: Kiana honed her skills over seven years as a middle blocker with AVC. Contributing to multiple teams that qualified for Open-level competitions.
• High School: Attended Solon High School, where during her senior year, she led her team to the state semifinals. Kiana earned second Team All-Ohio honors, as well as first-team all-district and all-conference recognitions.  
• Collegiate Volleyball:
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): As a four-year starter, Kiana played in 303 sets across 87 matches, amassing 370 kills and 214 blocks. She led the team with a .351 hitting percentage and 50 total blocks during the 2021 season.  
  • Kent State University: Utilizing her fifth year of eligibility, Kiana served as a team captain.

Korey Middlebrooks

Coach

Korey is super excited to be coaching for AVC for the 2024-2025 season. She has played volleyball her entire life, bringing extreme passion and dedication to enhance the experience to all athletes, both on and off the court. Korey specializes in training 14-17 year olds, which she believes is a pivotal time for young athletes to perfect their craft. Korey has been coaching for 4 years, including the Euclid High School boys and girls volleyball programs. Korey is thrilled to continue her coaching career with AVC and to have an impact on the new culture of the game, providing new ideas for training, discipline and building confidence in our athletes. 

Krisandra Mezera

Coach

Coach Krisandra has played volleyball since she was 13 in the middle blocker position. She continued on to play volleyball at the collegiate level at D2 Ursuline College where she also earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She still currently plays as much as possible in competitive adult leagues and tournaments all around northeast Ohio. This will be her second year coaching at AVC and she is enjoying the new perspective coaching the game has given her! When she is not coaching or playing volleyball, she is an ICU nurse at the Cleveland Clinic Fairview. 

Kristen Mihacevich

Coach

Kristen came to AVC in 2020, after coaching club for 8 years in the Cleveland area.  She has had a lifelong love for the game of volleyball, enjoys personally competing and coaching young ladies to become great players.  She specializes in training 10-12 year old teams.  She first began playing volleyball in 7th grade and continues to this day.  She played for Midview High School and Cleveland State University, coached at Beachwood Middle School, where she taught for 7 years, and even met her husband at a sand tournament 20+ years ago!  Her enthusiasm and energy coupled with her application of teaching the foundational volleyball skills to all players are her strengths that will benefit the players and marry well with the great culture of this club.

Kristi Kosir

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Lauren Scott

Coach

Lauren comes to AVC with more than 15 years coaching experience with boys and girls from the ages of 2^nd grade through high school. Since 2018, Lauren has been serving as the CYO Program Director and Coach for Holy Trinity school, organizing and leading the volleyball program.

Lauren is a Cleveland native, attending Magnificat High School and where she is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame.  She went on to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball at Miami University, where she was a three-year starting middle blocker and right side hitter.  Lauren was an all-conference player, and she led the conference in hitting percentage for two seasons.  Lauren served as a team captain, helping the team earn three consecutive conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances.

Lauren enjoys coaching and sharing her passion for the game with others.  She resides in Avon with her husband and four children.

Lena Lois Detchoua Tchamaco

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Linda Honey-Dixon

Coach

Coach Honey’s passion for volleyball thrives on enhancing volleyball IQ and respect for the game. She believes that young athletes excel when they understand the dynamics of character, commitment, and community as necessities to building skills and confidence.  Her team motto “All for one. One for all. TEAM!” encourages athletes and their families to unite on and off the court.

Coach Honey has accumulated well over 30 years of coaching experience: from middle school to high school, camps to J.O., as well as personal skills and court awareness training locally and across many states.

Welcome, to the BEST game around the gl🏐be! 

Lindsey Groomes

Coach

Lindsey joined the AVC coaching staff in 2021. She’s an Elyria High alum and continued her career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she participated on the Women’s Basketball and Volleyball teams. She went on to play and graduate from the University of Akron.  With 13 years of coaching experience, Lindsey enjoys empowering young women to unlock their full potential and achieve their personal goals. 

Maddy Wajda

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Mandy Barney

Coach

Mandy has over a decade of coaching experience acquired on and off over the past 25 years as a club coach (10U-16Us), camp director, and working 1:1. This year she completed her second year as Head Coach at Beaumont School and led them to  back to back district finals appearances. She was named conference co-coach of the year in 2023.  She played college volleyball at Edinboro University (Pennsylvania) as a 6-rotation middle blocker and team captain.  Her coaching philosophy focuses on effort and attitude to build the best athlete on and off the court.  

Marci Zoeckler

Coach

Martinae McMichael

Coach

Bio coming soon! 

MaryEllen Mauser

Coach

MaryEllen joined the AVC coaching staff during the 2022-23 season.  She has seven years of coaching experience at the high school level.   Her favorite part about coaching is watching the girls work together as a team.  MaryEllen believes that encouraging one another helps each team member reach maximum potential.

Matt Szuter

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

McKenna Brown

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Melissa Young

Coach

Melissa has been coaching at AVC since 2022.  Prior to that, she coached CYO, played high school volleyball internationally, and played in college as a defensive specialist. Her training focuses on developing athletes to have the best technique and confidence, using movement, strength, and conditioning to get long term results. She believes training starts with a positive mindset so she runs progression-based practices that focus on game preparedness. Melissa enjoys teaching the love of the game through compassion and fun.  She is USA Volleyball IMPACT, SafeSport, First Aid, CPR, Concussion, and Cardiac Arrest certified.

“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them”

Mike Smith

Coach

Mike joined AVC in 2023 as an assistant coach for 10 Red and is the current head coach for 11 Red the 2025 season.

With over 20 years of experience in volleyball coaching (high school, CYO and club volleyball), Mike has dedicated his coaching career to developing young athletes both on and off the court. Known for their holistic approach, Mike emphasizes not only the physical aspects of the game but also the mental and strategic elements that are crucial for success.

Mike’s coaching philosophy centers around teaching players the sportsmanship, the mental game and helping them understand the “why” behind every drill, play, and strategy. By fostering a deep understanding of the game’s intricacies, Mike empowers athletes to make smarter decisions, stay focused under pressure, and continuously improve their performance.

Mike goal is to build cohesive, resilient, and motivated teams. His commitment to excellence and passion for the sport inspire players to reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love for volleyball.

Mike is married with 3 daughters who are all involved in volleyball.

Mike Westgate

Coach

Mike has been playing competitive indoor and outdoor volleyball for over 20 years. Mike joined AVC in 2022 to be an assistant coach for the AVC 11U White team.  Mike’s approach to coaching is to share his love of the game and bring out the potential of young talent. Mike is a proud father of 2 daughters both of whom play club at AVC. Mike believes that the friendships, competitiveness, and exercise that can be obtained through volleyball at a young age and well into the adult years is unmatched by any other sport.

Milly Laury

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Morgan Williams

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Mya Suber

Coach

Mya joined AVC during the 2022-23 season. She graduated from Euclid High School and played volleyball from the age of 10 all the way through high school. Mya started coaching in her 10th grade year in high school for a city little league. When she graduated, she moved on to coach high school volleyball at Euclid and then Cleveland Heights High School. She is currently a volleyball coach at Roxboro Middle School in Cleveland Heights. Mya recently graduated from Cleveland State University this past spring with her bachelors degree in healthcare administration. She is currently working towards her masters!

Naomi Nyetrae

Coach

Naomi Nyetrae has been coaching volleyball since 2021 and has experienced coaching a 15 Regional team, a 16 American team, and now a 17 National team. Away from AVC, she has coached at Hathaway Brown for the past 2 seasons as their Junior Varsity head coach. Naomi has been involved with the game of volleyball since she was 10 years old, and thoroughly enjoys playing when she can and coaching the game she loves. Naomi played as a defensive specialist and has been able to enhance her coaching experience through mentorship, scouting reports, educational resources, observation, and more. Naomi is currently enrolled at Cleveland State University and seeking her Masters in Social Work. Naomi is beyond excited for another great season at AVC and cannot wait to see the growth that this year holds in her team and herself as a coach.

Nick Owens

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Nicole Lee

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Nicolette Maurer

Coach

Nicolette began coaching at AVC in 2018. She has formerly coached at Twinsburg High School, Independence High School, Hathaway Brown High School, and currently at Hudson High school assisting the varsity volleyball program. She has helped lead 2 AVC teams (and counting) to qualify for nationals! She earned her bachelor’s in biology at Cleveland State University and her master’s in health care administration from California State University. Outside of volleyball, Nicolette works at the Cleveland VA medical center as a cytotechnologist. She also has 3 kids that love being around volleyball as much as she does! 

Nikki Ferraro

Coach

Coach Nikki has been coaching volleyball since 2020, and having the opportunity to come back to coach at AVC after playing here has always been her #1 goal, she will be going on her fourth year with AVC for the 2025-2026 season. She has also played volleyball for 13 years of her life with positions ranging from all-around hitter to setter, many of her later years including college were focused on setting. Coach Nikki was a dual athlete in college playing Division III volleyball and softball, making it to the national championships for softball multiple times. She still keeps up with both volleyball and softball in the local adult leagues and tournaments offered around the Northeast Ohio area. When Coach Nikki is not coaching or playing, she is working in the wealth management industry specializing in client relations and taxes. 

Paul Molnar

Coach

Paul has been a JO National head coach for close to twenty years. He spent the last decade as head coach of CVC National teams. He has coached at various high schools in the area including Midview, Trinity, and Cuyahoga Heights. He also volunteered to coach the 7th and 8th grade CYO teams at St. Michael Independence for several seasons. He recently attained NFHS referee certification.

Rich Beran

Coach

Rich came to AVC in 2021, where he helped coach the 17 White Team that won two tournaments and qualified for Nationals!  Rich has been involved with volleyball since 1994 when he began playing.  Since then, he has coached a variety of teams and athletes throughout the world, ranging from 3rd grade to NCAA Division I.  Rich has attended many AVCA Conventions and continues to learn new ways to help young athletes become more confident on and off the court.  Rich currently resides in Avon with his amazing wife (who allows him to Coach and tolerates the chaos it causes) and two daughters.

Scott Wood

Coach

Scott joined the AVC coaching staff during the 2024-25 season.  He picked up volleyball in college at John Carroll University, and he continued to play in some adult leagues after college, including playing high-level beach.   Scott was a volleyball coach at Archbishop Hoban from 2008-2011, where coached both boy’s and girl’s teams, with his main focus on the boys’ volleyball team.  He also helped with Volleyfreak Club in Akron, and he co-founded and helped run a defunct adult tournament series called The Volley Project.  

Scott has a passion for volleyball, he even met his wife, Karla Everhart Wood, while playing.  Karla played collegiately at Youngstown State as a setter.  They have 4 children: Skylar (9), Everly (6), Kaysen (3), and Layken (1).  He has dreams that one day his kids will be Olympic Gold Medalists for Team USA in Beach and Indoor! 

Sean Hayes

Coach

Bio Coming Soon!

Shannon Wayne

Coach

Bio coming soon! 

Sofia Melendez

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Sophia Chacon

Coach

Sophia joined AVC in 2023.  Originally from Texas, Sophia played club volleyball for Texas Performance before going on to play Division 1 volleyball.  She started her college career at University of Texas at El Paso before transferring to University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  While in school, she had the privilege of serving as the team captain for all four years of her playing career.  Sophia graduated from UMES, earning all-academic conference honors and graduating with a degree in Biochemistry and 4.0 GPA.  Currently, Sophia is working as the Graduate Assistant for the Women’s volleyball team at Baldwin Wallace University. 

Teniya Jenkins

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Tierra Cargile

Coach

In the 2025 season, Tierra is entering her 2nd year coaching at AVC. She has been playing volleyball since middle school, and she started her volleyball coaching career in 2021. In 2009, Tierra graduated from Maple Heights High School after playing 4 years of high school volleyball. In 2013, she graduated from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) with her bachelor’s degree. In 2021, Tierra started coaching at Milkovich Middle School in Maple Heights.  She spent one season as the 7th grade coach & since then, has been the head coach of the 8th grade team. Tierra brings great experience to AVC and is excited to share her knowledge and passion for the game with others.

Todd Machuca

Coach

Todd joined the coaching staff at AVC for the 2024-2025 season. He has coached youth sports for over 20 years including Hockey, Baseball and Volleyball. He has played indoor and outdoor volleyball for the past 25 years and is still competing competitively. In 2024, Todd and his team finished third in the adult 50+ USA Volleyball National Championships. Todd is passionate about teaching the fundamentals of the game and having each player grow into a better volleyball player. He believes that a positive mindset is a key factor to success.  Todd has a daughter that currently competes for AVC.

Tom Keller

Coach

Tom began coaching at AVC in 2014 and has either assisted on or been a head coach for ages 12 through 17. Tom was the varsity assistant at Hathaway Brown for two years and is currently in that same roll at Hudson High School. He assisted leading our 17 Blue team to Nationals in 2024. He has a passion for the sport and is driven to teach success in team unity as well as the mental aspect of the game for individual improvement. He is SafeSport, First-Aid, CPR and Concussion certified.

Tom is married and currently lives in Elyria and has 3 adult daughters

Vicki Drakatos

Coach

Bio coming soon!

Vince Erwin

Coach

Bio coming soon!