CJV Coaches
Carolina Juniors Volleyball Club employs hundreds of coaches each year. Many of our directors and coaches have been working with the CJV Club since it began in 1995. Most of our coaches are current local High School and College coaches, former College and club players and other dedicated individuals that have a love for volleyball and teaching young people. At CJV the coaches take part in systematic training such as Gold Medal Squared, SafeSport, and additional continuing education classes to provide each athlete top notch volleyball instruction and integrity. Click on the bios below to learn more about our current coaches or contact us to learn more about joining the CJV Coaching Team.
| Name | Leadership Role |
|---|---|
| Savannah Linduff | Senior Director |
| Sheila Walsh | Travel Programs Director |
| Emily McDermont | Local Programs Director |
| Bre Rhem | Administration Director |
| Zoe Bell | Master Coach & Training Director |
| Corey Sarubbi | Master Coach & Recruiting Director |
| Kiersten Kumm Regan Snyder |
Local Team Program Coordinators – South |
| Madison Barnes Anaiah Jones |
Local Team Program Coordinators – North |
| Shem Welch | Carolina Beach Director |
| Allan Haseley Mike Rhem |
Sports Connection Directors |
CJV Is Proud of Our Current / Past Players and Coaches
CJV has played a significant role in the development of volleyball in the Charlotte area. More than 70% of players and coaches at clubs throughout the Charlotte area have started or furthered their playing or coaching careers through CJV, whether as a player, coach, or through another connection with our organization.
With programs ranging from Lil Spikers to our Mizuno Level teams, CJV provides opportunities to train and develop players of all ages and skill levels. In addition to teaching and training more than 6,000 players each year, CJV is committed to helping coaches grow and advance their careers. Our coaches have the opportunity to work alongside some of the best volleyball coaches and players in the nation, while participating in camps and clinics led by college coaches and Gold Medal Squared (GMS) coaches. We also provide access to coaching resources such as Art of Coaching and GMS+.
We are especially proud of our commitment to developing new and less-experienced coaches who are eager to learn and grow in the sport. Our goal is not only to develop great coaches for CJV, but also to help raise the quality and level of coaching throughout local schools and volleyball clubs across the Charlotte area.
We understand that players and coaches have many opportunities to play and coach volleyball, and we are grateful that CJV has been—or continues to be—a part of so many volleyball journeys. We hope that wherever their careers take them, they will continue to play, coach, mentor, and give back to the great sport of volleyball.
Leadership
Savannah Linduff
Savannah Linduff was hired in June 2014 as the new CJV Club Director. She has been with CJV for a number of years as a Gold & Silver coach and an assistant coach on the 13 National team in 2014. In addition to coaching with CJV, Savannah also has been an assistant volleyball coach with local high schools and was previously a school teacher before joining the CJV Club. Savannah grew up in Greensboro, NC where she played USAV Juniors. She and her husband live in Fort Mill.
Sheila Walsh
CJV South Director
Sheila has been playing volleyball since they were 13; most of those years at CJV. They were a starting setter at USC Aiken where they won numerous awards and holds several school assist records. Prior to becoming a director, Sheila coached at Nation Ford High School, where the team won two consecutive 5A State Championships. Sheila has coached all ages and levels at CJV. Sheila is in their eighth year working at CJV, and entering their fourth year as a director. They have coached at the Elite level for four years, from ages 13 to 17.
In 2023, Sheila earned a spot on the AVCA 30 Under 30 List for the 2022-2023 season. Read the article HERE.
Emily McDermott
Zoe Bell
Travel Teams Director
Zoe has been with CJV since the very first day, 26 years ago. She is currently the Director of the Travel teams. Zoe has coached 14 -18’s Elite National teams, as well as been a part of camps, clinics and lessons. In 2011, she coached her CJV 16’s to a Big South National Qualifier Championship. Also, in the same year, the team came in second at the 2011 Northeast Qualifier Championship. In 2018, she was selected AVCA High School Coach of the year.
Zoe is the currently the head coach at Ardrey Kell High School and was formerly the head coach at Charlotte Latin and Providence High Schools where she lead her teams to 5 NC 4A State Championships and has made it to the finals 7 times.
Corey Surabbi
Corey joins Carolina Juniors with a combined 32 years of volleyball experience. As someone who grew up playing the game starting at a very young age, he played both beach and indoor volleyball before relocating to South Florida in 2009 when he transitioned to coaching. He has coached at the high school, club, and collegiate level and was also part of the USAV High Performance coaching staff. Starting in 2009 Corey began coaching for Wildfire Volleyball academy. In just 2 years he was named a Director for the club. In 2015, club founder, Ore Pablos recognized the common vision and dedication Corey had for growing the sport in South Florida and asked him to become an owner and partner in the club. In his 14 years at Wildfire he has been instrumental in helping the club grow to over 700 athletes. Through his training and influence the club has been consistently recognized as one of the premier volleyball clubs in the highly competitive Florida Region of USA Volleyball. Wildfire has also become a Nationally recognized club, consistently sending teams to National Championships each year while also winning gold at Girl’s Junior Nationals.
As a head coach of the 13’s and 16’s age groups at the club, Corey has successfully qualified 8 teams to contend for a USAV National Championship. Most recently, with his plans to relocate to the Charlotte area, Corey is the current recruiting coordinator for Wildfire Volleyball. Over the past 12 years the organization has a rich history of sending athletes to play at the next level. Most recently, Corey has helped the club commit 17 athletes from the class of 2023 along with 2 already from the class of 2025 to play for collegiate programs. He has always been passionate about this role and believes there is an opportunity out there for every athlete who is looking to continue to play volleyball and compete at the collegiate level. He is dedicated to getting them there.
In 2014 Corey joined Lynn University where he was brought on as an assistant coach by former head coach Lynze Roos (Wofford College). He has been a Fighting Knight ever since! Under current coach Adam Milewski, Corey has continued to help the program succeed at a very high level in the NCAA and specifically Sunshine State Conference. In 2019 the Knights were crowned SSC Conference Champions. In his time at Lynn the program has advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament 4 times including the last three consecutive seasons. He has helped the University take home 9 AVCA All American Honors including 3 First Team All-Americans. The program also awarded 18 athletes with All SSC honors and added 10 All region honors as well. Corey was first selected as a coach for the Florida Region of USA Volleyball in 2016. He spent 4 years coaching the USA Volleyball High Performance Teams under the Florida Region and was on the coaching staff for the National Select, National Youth and finally International Youth team. In four trips to the USA High Performance National Championships he was able to help his team reach the podium all 4 times earning 3 Gold Medals along with 1 Bronze.
After stepping away from the program as he and his wife were expecting their second daughter, he hopes to return in the future. While coaching club and collegiate volleyball, he has always felt it was important to be part of the local community by coaching student athletes at the high school level. In Florida he coached at Coral Springs High School from 2009-2012. He then coached at West Broward High School from 2013-2017 winning 5 consecutive District titles before taking the most recent position at NSU University School where he led the program to their first ever District Championship with two more to follow. He is excited to continue coaching in NC and will be joining the Volleyball Program at the Charlotte Latin School this fall. Before his coaching career Corey was introduced to volleyball by his father who played beach volleyball in Rochester, NY. As a volleyball family, he grew up on the beach playing volleyball with his father and sisters. He also spent most of his younger years in Hot Shots Beach Volleyball Facility and had one of his first jobs there as an official for 4 years. Throughout that time he played high school ball for Webster High School and played club at Pace Bootlegger.
“ I am beyond excited to start a new chapter in North Carolina and with Carolina Juniors. I believe volleyball is a life sport and I am so thankful for the opportunity to coach it. The relationships, experiences and memories that this sport has blessed me with are priceless. Coaching is a role that I highly value as it allows me to give athletes the same opportunities that I was given through volleyball. I find it extremely rewarding, and it is absolutely the best way to give back to the sport that has given me so much!
11-12U Coaches
Cori Hustedt
Cori started her volleyball career as a player at CJV. She continued her volleyball career at Charleston Southern University where she played middle hitter and majored in Education. While there, she continued to coach summer camps at CJV and coached at Charleston Juniors.
After college, Cori has been a teacher, coach, middle school principal, and now serves as the Executive Director of Student Services for the Fort Mill School District where she oversees their athletic programs. Cori has returned to coach at CJV and hopes to help more young girls love volleyball and create solid foundational skills.
Cassie Andress
Carrie Christian
Carrie also coached at the high school level for 21 years including two years as assistant at West Charlotte, 7 years at Charlotte Country Day, and 12 years at Nation Ford. During her stint at Nation Ford she led the program to win 3 State Championships and had many players commit to play in college. Carrie was named Region Coach of the Year multiple years and was selected as the South Carolina Coach of the Year.
Lauren Frye
Lauren was raised in the Charlotte area and attended Providence High School where she helped lead the volleyball team to three state championship matches, winning state titles in 2004 and 2005 under coach Zoe Bell. She also earned Southwestern 4A Conference Player of the Year. She played her club volleyball years at CJV and then continued her volleyball career as an outside hitter for Appalachian State University from 2007-2010. She was their senior captain and was named to the Academic All-Conference team three years in a row. She previously coached an 11’s Open club team and is currently the Weddington Middle School JV and 6th grade team volleyball coach. Her goal is to teach young athletes the skills they need to be confident and successful volleyball players on and off the court. She looks forward to sharing her passion for the game with these young players.
Joseph Brown
Joseph Brown is the Head 7th Grade Coach at Fort Mill Middle School and has been developing volleyball players in the Fort Mill area since 2024. With over a year of player development experience, he is passionate about helping young athletes grow both on and off the court. Joseph also played for the first Northwestern men’s volleyball team in 2023, where he contributed to the program’s inaugural playoff berth.
Humberto Guevara
Humberto works at Legion Collegiate Academy as a coordinator. His school volleyball coaching experience includes varsity coach at Legion, head boys’ varsity coach in Maryland, JV head coach, assistant girls’ varsity coach in Maryland and South Carolina and middle school coach in Rock Hill. His club experience includes one year with Rock Hill Volleyball Club, 2 years with Intense Volleyball and is starting his second year with CJV. Humberto played 3 years in Maryland as a middle hitter, outside hitter and setter for his high school. He was an honorable mention setter his senior year. Humberto was also named boys’ coach of the year in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Coach Philosophy:
Coaching is about being in service to others. My job is to do everything I can to help those I coach grow, develop, and succeed individually and as a team now and in the future. The foundations of sustained success is a mentality of continuous improvement as a team and as individual players. This shifts the focus away from “How am I playing now?” to allowing players to think about growth and learning. It also allows the team to work toward goals and fosters a positive team culture. It also allows for the players to learn to adapt to situations and to inevitably change.
13U Coaches
Mario Garcia
Doctor of Sports Education and Sport Sciences, International Volleyball Coach certified by the FIVB Level III, and Volleyball Specialist trained at the University of Leipzig (Germany). Professional in Physical Culture and Sport with over 25 years of experience as a university professor, academic advisor, and high-performance coach.
Extensive background as a university coach and regional select team coach, as well as a member of the coaching staff for the Colombia Women’s National Team during Olympic cycle. Former university athlete and regional select player in national competitions in Colombia, bringing a comprehensive perspective that integrates elite playing experience with high-level coaching and academic leadership.
My vision is to use my experience and knowledge to deepen the understanding of the essence of the game while promoting the holistic development and athletic potential of future generations of athletes, supporting their growth on and off the field.
Skyler Rogerson
Skyler’s volleyball journey began in 6th grade, and she went on to play both school and club volleyball through her senior year of high school in Raleigh, NC. In 2022, she transitioned into coaching and has loved every moment since. As a coach, Skyler strives to create a supportive, encouraging environment where athletes feel confident stepping outside their comfort zones, trying new skills, and embracing mistakes as part of growth. Her own playing experience taught her lessons that extended beyond the court—shaping her as a teammate, student, and person—and she hopes to inspire her athletes to grow not only as players but also as individuals.
14U Coaches
Victoria Wilform
Vic Wilform finished her second season as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at Delaware State University in 2024. During her time with the Hornets, she helped guide the program to a 2025 MEAC Championship and an NCAA DI Tournament appearance.
A former NCAA student-athlete, Vic competed at Appalachian State University and Wingate University. She was a four-year starting outside hitter at Appalachian State from 2018–21, helping the Mountaineers to a runner-up finish in the Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament as a freshman. For her graduate season in 2022, Wilform competed at Wingate University under AVCA Hall of Fame Coach, Shelton Collier. She contributed to the Bulldogs’ SAC Conference and Southeast Region titles, helping the program reach its sixth NCAA Elite Eight appearance and finish sixth nationally at the Division II Tournament.
Vic earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition, graduating Cum Laude from Appalachian State in 2022 and earned her Master of Public Health degree from Wingate University in 2024. She currently works as a Dental Account Manager, while continuing to share her love for volleyball and mentoring athletes.
Wilform began her coaching career the same place she grew to be a high-level athlete, Carolina Juniors Volleyball Club. From 2018-2023, she assisted a national-level team, directed summer volleyball camps, coordinated league teams and practices, and provided private lessons specializing in hitting and passing development.
Emma Reilly
My name is Emma Reilly, and I am originally from Chicago, IL. I played collegiate volleyball at Appalachian State, where I competed as a libero for five seasons. During my career, I set the program’s all-time dig record, ranked third in program history for service aces, and earned recognition as a three-time All-Sun Belt honoree. I graduated with my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and have experience providing private volleyball lessons as well as coaching at the high school level.
As a coach, I enjoy nurturing both the mental confidence and physical skills of my athletes. I am passionate about helping players grow on the court and believe the discipline, teamwork, and resilience learned through volleyball translate into valuable life skills.
Maddee Simmons
Coach Maddee is a proud Wyoming native who discovered her love for volleyball in the 7th grade. Specializing as a libero throughout her playing career, she developed a strong foundation in defensive strategy, court awareness, and leadership.
With a passion for youth development and creating opportunities for student-athletes, Coach Maddee began her post-playing journey as a certified referee. She then transitioned into coaching, where she continues to make a meaningful impact.
Her coaching experience spans multiple competitive programs and states. She began as Head JV Girls Volleyball Coach in South Dakota, then moved to New York City, where she served as Head Coach for the 16U NYC Lady Bulldogs, Assistant Varsity Coach for both the girls and boys teams at Christ the King High School, and Head Coach for the 15U and 16U National Teams at Legacy Volleyball Club in the Bronx.
Coach Maddee currently serves as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Marvin Ridge High School, continuing her commitment to supporting young athletes both on and off the court.
She is known for her energy, mentorship, and dedication to athlete development through discipline, teamwork, and a love for the game.
McKayla Mills
Originally from West Virginia, I moved to Charlotte just last year and am excited to begin my first season coaching at CJV! I discovered my love for volleyball in 6th grade and went on to play for 11 years, including on the competitive club team at West Virginia University. During my time at WVU, I was elected President of the Women’s Club Volleyball Team, where I not only competed but also coached and mentored a group of 24 women. That experience was one of the most rewarding leadership opportunities of my life and deepened my passion for the game.
I’ve had the chance to play multiple positions throughout my career-starting as a setter in middle school, transitioning to an outside and pin hitter in high school, and finishing as a defensive specialist in college, which has given me a strong appreciation for the value each role brings to the court.
As a coach, I strive to create an environment where players feel encouraged, supported, and part of a true team both on and off the court. I believe that being a great teammate is not only vital in volleyball but also in life.
15U Coaches
Alex Viera
Beginning at the age of 13, Coach Alex has participated at the highest level of travel volleyball competing in four Junior Olympics. Alex attended Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI and participated in the JWU Men’s Volleyball Program. Specializing in all aspects of the game, Coach Alex was originally recruited as an outside hitter but transitioned to libero early on in his career and became the backbone of his team being named captain his sophomore year. He currently holds records for the JWU Men’s Volleyball Program being 2nd in overall career set starts with over 400 sets, 3rd all time in digs per season and 3rd in all time career digs. After college Coach Alex took his leadership and competitive drive immediately to coaching at the high school and travel level.
Coach Philosophy:
My philosophy is to help my players achieve their goals and to push them to try and exceed them. I have been playing volleyball for more then half my life and I want to pass the knowledge I have so that my player can grow both mentally and physically. Lastly I try to teach that sports and the many lesson that it teaches correlates to everything outside the lines of the court whether it be respect, dedication, work ethic,being a great teammate, having fun etc.
Veronica Elfe
Coach E has been a varsity and travel coach for over a decade. Recently Coach E has transitioned to Harrisburg, NC where she is teaching math and is the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach for Hickory Ridge High School and Middle School. In her first year of coaching at HRHS she was award the Southwestern 4A Conference Coach of the Year while her team went undefeated for the regular conference season and won the Southwestern 4A Conference Tournament 3-0 without dropping a single set. Having played and coached volleyball for more than half her lifetime Coach E brings a depth of knowledge and competitive personality to every team she coaches.
Coach Philosophy:
I love a good quote. I truly believe “teamwork makes the dream work.” If we put the team before the individual then all works out for the best. I believe that sport can transform a person and readies a child for life as an adult. I say to all of my teams – “get focused, play hard and stay strong.” If we can focus on our goals, play hard trying to reach them and stay strong to push through adversity then anything is possible to obtain.
Daniel Poole
Daniel is the varsity head coach at Highland School of Technology. He has led them to 3 straight conference championships (2020-2022), 6 playoff wins and was named the Southern Piedmont Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2020. His teams at Highland Tech compiled a 53-9 record. Prior to taking over at Highland Tech, he coached JV at East Gaston, achieving an 18-4 overall record. Daniel is also a math teacher at Mount Holly Middle, where he has taught for 10 years.
Jo Meewes
This is Jo’s third year with CJV. She is in her 8th year as the Marvin Ridge Middle School Varsity Coach, and coached with Union Select Academy for 5 years. Before that, Jo was the JV Coach at Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida, and spent a year as the JV coach at Detroit Country Day School. Jo is a math teacher at Marvin Ridge High School. Both of her daughters have played at CJV.
Coach Philosophy:
My main goal as a coach is to foster a positive environment that allows athletes to develop their skills in all areas of volleyball. I also feel it is very important for players to learn how to be a part of a team, and how to work together to be successful. I want the players to work towards small goals and be excited about accomplishing even the smallest item. I also want the players to enjoy the sport and have fun.
Raven Mathis
Coach Raven started playing volleyball in 6th grade and hasn’t stopped since! She played school and travel volleyball all the way through her senior year. While she didn’t play for her official school team at Western Carolina University, Raven played club and intramural to stay involved and active. During her time at WCU she also worked in the athletic department with the operations team.
Upon graduating and moving to Charlotte, Raven looked for ways to stay involved in the sport and found a home at Carolina Juniors where she began coaching in the local programs in 2019. After coaching several Gold and Silver teams over the course of about 4 seasons, the desire to coach at a more competitive level grew. The opportunity to join CJV’s travel program came for the 2020-2021 season. Coach Raven has worked with 5 teams at the Semi National and National level and she’s looking forward to continuing to mentor, teach and inspire athletes each and every season!
In addition to being a travel and lesson coach at CJV, Raven works full time as an Operations Manager in the events and tourism industry. She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, reading and hanging out with friends in her free time. While volleyball is of course her favorite sport, she also enjoys watching live sports when she gets the chance!
Craig Brown
Married 12 years, wife April, and 1 daughter, Amber.
Have been coaching volleyball for 14 years. Assistant Coach for 2 State Titles and 3 Region titles. Head Coach for 1 State Runner-up and 3 Region titles.
2012 – 8th grade head coach Springfield Middle
2013-2016 – 9th grade Head Coach and Varsity assistant coach at Fort Mill High School
2018 – JV assistant coach and Varsity assistant coach at Nation Ford High School
2019-2020 – JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant coach at Nation Ford High School
2021-2025 – Varsity Head Coach at Nation Ford High School
Chanise Taylor
Chanise started playing volleyball when she was 11 in middle school and started playing club volleyball in 13s at Midwest Penguins Volleyball Club. Due to her determination and efforts, she made the varsity volleyball team as a freshman at Brown Deer High School. In 2013, her family moved to North Carolina as her mom got a new career opportunity. However, she continued to play volleyball at Ardrey Kell High School and Carolina Juniors Volleyball club under Zoe Bell, furthering her skills as a setter and a leader on the court. During her senior year of high school, she was chosen as 1 of 4 captains and awarded the Leadership Award. She finished her high school career at Ardrey Kell with a 94.1% serve percentage, 42 kills and 586 assists. She continued to play volleyball while at North Carolina A&T State University at the club level for her freshman and sophomore year. Her team won a tournament each of those years. After her sophomore year, her studies began to become a bit more rigorous so she adjusted her priorities. However, volleyball never went away. When she graduated and moved to Portland, OR, she played in a co-ed volleyball leagues in the city. Now that she has moved back to Charlotte, NC, she is excited to help girls further their skills in volleyball. Volleyball teaches many life lessons outside of just the game and she is excited to share those same lessons and her passion with the girls.
Morgan Huor
Morgan has been playing volleyball for 9 years and has been coaching for over 2 years. She previously played travel at CJV as a Libero, and at Nation Ford High School as a DS for 4 years but unfortunately had a season ending injury her senior year. This didn’t stop her from playing and at the University of South Carolina Lancaster as a DS a year later. Morgan has been coaching the locals program and doing lessons here at CJV as well as being a 1st year head coach for the JV girls team at Nation Ford High School, which finished with a record of 19-5 and 11-1 in region. This will be her first time coaching a travel team and is beyond excited!
16U Coaches
Zoe Bell
Travel Teams Director
Zoe has been with CJV since the very first day, 26 years ago. She is currently the Director of the Travel teams. Zoe has coached 14 -18’s Elite National teams, as well as been a part of camps, clinics and lessons. In 2011, she coached her CJV 16’s to a Big South National Qualifier Championship. Also, in the same year, the team came in second at the 2011 Northeast Qualifier Championship. In 2018, she was selected AVCA High School Coach of the year.
Zoe is the currently the head coach at Ardrey Kell High School and was formerly the head coach at Charlotte Latin and Providence High Schools where she lead her teams to 5 NC 4A State Championships and has made it to the finals 7 times.
Katie McLellan
Katie is going into her second season with Carolina Juniors as an assistant coach for 17 Mizuno. Prior to coaching with CJV, Katie grew up in the Charlotte area and played club volleyball for Carolina Juniors. She played Varsity Volleyball at Hough High School as a libero and led the I-Meck Conference in digs. She continued her volleyball career at Towson University as a defensive specialist/libero where they made two appearances in the NCAA DI tournament. She also won two CAA conference championships during her time at Towson. Upon graduating, Katie has returned to the Charlotte area and coaches JV Volleyball at Lake Norman High School during the Fall.
Coaching Philosophy:
My coaching philosophy revolves around developing a solid foundation in fundamental techniques while fostering a love for the sport and a competitive spirit. I believe in the importance of building strong relationships with my athletes, understanding their unique strengths, and tailoring my coaching approach to suit their individual needs. Having experienced the incredible impact of club-level volleyball in my own journey, I’m dedicated to creating a nurturing and challenging atmosphere where players can grow both as athletes and as people. My ultimate joy comes from seeing my players develop their skills, gain confidence, and excel on the court.
Saniya Harris
I am originally from Bowie Maryland!
I moved to the Union county area of Charlotte back in 2012. As soon as I moved I was introduced to volleyball. I started playing in 6th grade at Cuthbertson middle school. I played all the way through my sophomore year of high school at Cuthbertson. I relocated and finished my high school career in 2019, on the varsity team as a six rotation outside hitter for Parkwood High school in Monroe Nc. I was named MVP and was caption my senior year for my school!
During my time of middle and high school ball , in the off season I played AAU for Carolina juniors volleyball starting in 2015. Through my years with Carolina juniors I played on the national level. Finishing off my travel year with them in 2019, playing for the 18s nationals 1s. Where I was captain, and still played as a six rotation outside.
I went on to continue my volleyball career at Catawba Valley Community College.
I played for CVCC the 2019-2020 season and 2020-2021 season. There, I was shifted to a right side/opposite hitter.
I am currently the head varsity coach for women’s volleyball team at Olympic High School here in Charlotte Nc.
My coaching philosophy is to always come ready to learn something new! There are many different ways to perfect your craft, on and off the court. Come wanting to put forth the effort and have the mindset and positive attitude to do so!
Many mistakes will happen, but to be willing to learn from them and to accept constructive criticism will help you grow.
Siddeca Harris
I’m originally from Maryland and move to charlotte in 2012! I’ve played volleyball ever since middle school (7th grade) , I absolutely love this sport. I carried my career all throughout high school. While playing travel volleyball for Carolina Peak for 6 years at a semi national level. After my junior year of high school I stopped playing and started my love for coaching!
I coached at Carolina Peak for 3 years for their middle school Gold league program. I now am the head coach for the JV team at Olympic High School. Along side my sister as the assistant for the Olympic high varsity team!
Coach philosophy- I expect all athletes who have a love and passion for this sport to stay committed and coachable! To give your best effort when you step on the court, and maintain an attitude of being dedicated!
KaLeigh Fleming
“I believe that if a coach commits to each player’s development, the winning will take care of itself.”
I don’t need to teach you how to score points, by this time you have your own logic of understanding the game and though I will be bettering your volleyball knowledge and IQ it is equally as important to me that you walk away feeling confident in yourself as a person, outside of being an athlete.
Aubrie McQuown
Aubrie attended and played collegiate volleyball at the University of Valley Forge outside of Philadelphia, where she lead her team as the captain to the Mid-East Region championship her senior season. She graduated in 2015 with a degree in Intercultural Studies. She currently works in Inflight Services with American Airlines and also works in non profits part time. She has been involved in athletics her entire life, and is looking forward to continuing growing her experience and love for volleyball, now through coaching.
Coaching philosophy:
I believe that to be successful in life and athletics, you must master the ability to be flexible and always work hard. Be willing to show up on days you don’t feel like it, and always be teachable. Have a good attitude, always believe in your capabilities and always fight for your team. My goal as a coach is to not only to teach and be a guide in the volleyball world, building confidence and character in each athlete, but to also form relationships with my athletes that can last on and off the court through every season of life.
Geoff Rosser
Geoff Rosser has been coaching at CJV since 2020 and he also coaches at Cox Mill High School. Geoff brings to the program the background of having been a CJV Parent from 2014-2020 and was inspired by the life lessons that volleyball taught his daughter, to the point where he became a coach to try to pass on those lessons/skills to others.
Kasey Long
Kasey has been coaching with the local program for over two years and was assistant coach for 16 semi-national this past season. She previously played for the travel program at Carolina Juniors and for her varsity high school team as a DS/libero. Kasey is the JV assistant coach at Catawba Ridge High School and a student at Winthrop University.
Taylor McClinton
Taylor McClinton started playing volleyball when she was 15 years old starting at CJV & CUVC. Taylor graduated from Mountain Island Charter School in 2018 becoming the first female athlete to receive a volleyball scholarship. After high school she went on to further her education and athletic career at Erskine College.
Taylor is a 2022 graduate of Erskine College, with a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Accounting while playing collegiate women’s volleyball. Taylor was instrumental to the Erskine volleyball team all four years as a Defensive Specialist with a career high 5 service aces in one match and career high 30 digs in 2021.
After finishing her days of playing, she found a passion to giving back and sharing knowledge, skills, and lessons onto the next generation of young student-athletes. She does so through the foundation of hard work, gratitude, and dedication.
Daniel Poole
Daniel is the varsity head coach at Highland School of Technology. He has led them to 3 straight conference championships (2020-2022), 6 playoff wins and was named the Southern Piedmont Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2020. His teams at Highland Tech compiled a 53-9 record. Prior to taking over at Highland Tech, he coached JV at East Gaston, achieving an 18-4 overall record. Daniel is also a math teacher at Mount Holly Middle, where he has taught for 10 years.
Jo Meewes
This is Jo’s third year with CJV. She is in her 8th year as the Marvin Ridge Middle School Varsity Coach, and coached with Union Select Academy for 5 years. Before that, Jo was the JV Coach at Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida, and spent a year as the JV coach at Detroit Country Day School. Jo is a math teacher at Marvin Ridge High School. Both of her daughters have played at CJV.
Coach Philosophy:
My main goal as a coach is to foster a positive environment that allows athletes to develop their skills in all areas of volleyball. I also feel it is very important for players to learn how to be a part of a team, and how to work together to be successful. I want the players to work towards small goals and be excited about accomplishing even the smallest item. I also want the players to enjoy the sport and have fun.
17U Coaches
Corey Surabbi
Corey joins Carolina Juniors with a combined 32 years of volleyball experience. As someone who grew up playing the game starting at a very young age, he played both beach and indoor volleyball before relocating to South Florida in 2009 when he transitioned to coaching. He has coached at the high school, club, and collegiate level and was also part of the USAV High Performance coaching staff. Starting in 2009 Corey began coaching for Wildfire Volleyball academy. In just 2 years he was named a Director for the club. In 2015, club founder, Ore Pablos recognized the common vision and dedication Corey had for growing the sport in South Florida and asked him to become an owner and partner in the club. In his 14 years at Wildfire he has been instrumental in helping the club grow to over 700 athletes. Through his training and influence the club has been consistently recognized as one of the premier volleyball clubs in the highly competitive Florida Region of USA Volleyball. Wildfire has also become a Nationally recognized club, consistently sending teams to National Championships each year while also winning gold at Girl’s Junior Nationals.
As a head coach of the 13’s and 16’s age groups at the club, Corey has successfully qualified 8 teams to contend for a USAV National Championship. Most recently, with his plans to relocate to the Charlotte area, Corey is the current recruiting coordinator for Wildfire Volleyball. Over the past 12 years the organization has a rich history of sending athletes to play at the next level. Most recently, Corey has helped the club commit 17 athletes from the class of 2023 along with 2 already from the class of 2025 to play for collegiate programs. He has always been passionate about this role and believes there is an opportunity out there for every athlete who is looking to continue to play volleyball and compete at the collegiate level. He is dedicated to getting them there.
In 2014 Corey joined Lynn University where he was brought on as an assistant coach by former head coach Lynze Roos (Wofford College). He has been a Fighting Knight ever since! Under current coach Adam Milewski, Corey has continued to help the program succeed at a very high level in the NCAA and specifically Sunshine State Conference. In 2019 the Knights were crowned SSC Conference Champions. In his time at Lynn the program has advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament 4 times including the last three consecutive seasons. He has helped the University take home 9 AVCA All American Honors including 3 First Team All-Americans. The program also awarded 18 athletes with All SSC honors and added 10 All region honors as well. Corey was first selected as a coach for the Florida Region of USA Volleyball in 2016. He spent 4 years coaching the USA Volleyball High Performance Teams under the Florida Region and was on the coaching staff for the National Select, National Youth and finally International Youth team. In four trips to the USA High Performance National Championships he was able to help his team reach the podium all 4 times earning 3 Gold Medals along with 1 Bronze.
After stepping away from the program as he and his wife were expecting their second daughter, he hopes to return in the future. While coaching club and collegiate volleyball, he has always felt it was important to be part of the local community by coaching student athletes at the high school level. In Florida he coached at Coral Springs High School from 2009-2012. He then coached at West Broward High School from 2013-2017 winning 5 consecutive District titles before taking the most recent position at NSU University School where he led the program to their first ever District Championship with two more to follow. He is excited to continue coaching in NC and will be joining the Volleyball Program at the Charlotte Latin School this fall. Before his coaching career Corey was introduced to volleyball by his father who played beach volleyball in Rochester, NY. As a volleyball family, he grew up on the beach playing volleyball with his father and sisters. He also spent most of his younger years in Hot Shots Beach Volleyball Facility and had one of his first jobs there as an official for 4 years. Throughout that time he played high school ball for Webster High School and played club at Pace Bootlegger.
“ I am beyond excited to start a new chapter in North Carolina and with Carolina Juniors. I believe volleyball is a life sport and I am so thankful for the opportunity to coach it. The relationships, experiences and memories that this sport has blessed me with are priceless. Coaching is a role that I highly value as it allows me to give athletes the same opportunities that I was given through volleyball. I find it extremely rewarding, and it is absolutely the best way to give back to the sport that has given me so much!
Bridget Atkinson
Bridget has been coaching volleyball for the past nine years at various levels. Currently she is the head coach at South Point High School (Belmont, NC) where she was named conference volleyball coach of the year in 2018 and 2021.
“I believe sports can provide ample opportunities to learn life lessons that will help young athletes in their adult life. Some of these lessons include punctuality, building a competitive nature, not being afraid of making mistakes (and learning from them), effective communication, and most importantly RESPECT.
I will hold my team, individual athletes, and myself to:
- Build a positive team culture and environment.
- Seek continuous improvements by being disciplined and consistent.
- To focus on the PROCESS not immediate end results.
- Most importantly: to love and respect this game! “
“Be humble, Be Hungry, And always be the hardest worker in the room” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Humberto Guevara
Humberto is currently the head volleyball coach at Legion Collegiate Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He works at Legion Collegiate Academy as a coordinator. His school volleyball coaching experience includes varsity coach at Legion, head boys’ varsity coach in Maryland, JV head coach, assistant girls’ varsity coach in Maryland and South Carolina and middle school coach in Rock Hill. His club experience includes one year with Rock Hill Volleyball Club, 2 years with Intense Volleyball and is starting his second year with CJV. Humberto played 3 years in Maryland as a middle hitter, outside hitter and setter for his high school. He was an honorable mention setter his senior year. Humberto was also named boys’ coach of the year in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Coach Philosophy:
Coaching is about being in service to others. My job is to do everything I can to help those I coach grow, develop, and succeed individually and as a team now and in the future. The foundations of sustained success is a mentality of continuous improvement as a team and as individual players. This shifts the focus away from “How am I playing now?” to allowing players to think about growth and learning. It also allows the team to work toward goals and fosters a positive team culture. It also allows for the players to learn to adapt to situations and to inevitably change.
Sebastiana Olave
Sebastiana Olave is originally from Durham, NC. She started playing volleyball in middle school and continued through high school, where she developed a strong passion for the sport. Sebastiana played for the club team named CHAOS in high school. In 2021, she transferred from a community college and moved to
Charlotte to attend UNCC, where she graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Spanish. This will be her
first year as an assistant coach and at the national level. Sebastiana is excited to contribute her skills to the team and support player
development.
Michelle Brachowski
Michelle has been coaching volleyball for the past four years. This will be her first full season with CJV and prior to this Michelle coached multiple levels with multiple clubs in the Carolina Region. She was also Head Coach at Corvian Community Charter school.
In 2017 – Her club team won Palmetto Regional Bronze Tournament and Carolina One Challenge – Gold.
In 2022 – Her club team won several tournaments.
In 2022 – Her High School team made it to States in 2022.
In 2023- Her CJV team went to AAU’s in Orlando and ranked 59th out of 190 teams.
Originally from Arizona, I currently work for a NASCAR team as a Travel Coordinator. I enjoy going on adventures, strategy board games and hanging out with my fur babies – Merlot (Australian Shepherd) and Moscato (Tabby Cat).
Fun fact about me: I use to race racecars for 8+ years.
Coaching Philosophy:
Everyone learns a different way but as a coach it is my job to teach the game as consistently as possible. Repetition is key. I am big on hard work in practice – this way we can build stamina, speed, endurance and consistency. I want my players to leave my team with confidence and love for the game. I want to see them all succeed in life whether that is in Volleyball or outside the sport.
1. “If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” — Steve Jobs 2. “Goal setting is the secret to a compelling future.” — Tony Robbins
3. “Be a positive energy trampoline – absorb what you need and rebound more back.” — Dave Carolan
Joelle Minton
My name is Joelle. I currently attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This will be my first season coaching at CJV as 13u National White Assistant coach. Prior to being a coach, I played club at CJV. I also played high school volleyball at Bradford Prep and Hickory Ridge High School as an outside hitter and setter. I was named All Conference in 2016, 2017, and 2018. I was also ranked in the top 7 in PAC 7 for libero in 2017. As well as being MVP 2016-2018 and team captain for 2016-2018.
My coaching philosophy:
Coaching is about putting others before oneself. My responsibility is to do everything in my power to support the personal and professional growth, development, and success of people I coach. Whether the team succeeds or fails depends on all of us. It is also critical that we provide good, constructive support for one another. Each of us must equally prioritize accepting the same in return. I want the players I coach to end the season feeling that they have become better players for the following seasons they endure.
Kendall Walter
I began playing volleyball at the age of 13 and quickly developed a passion for the sport. I competed with Rowan County Volleyball Club and Level Up Volleyball Club, gaining valuable experience in both training and competition. In high school, I played varsity volleyball for South Rowan High School as both a middle and pin hitter, giving me a well-rounded perspective on multiple positions. These experiences also sparked my interest in developing players and helping them grow both on and off the court.
I have been coaching volleyball for five years and am entering my second year with CJV. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of working with athletes of different ages and skill levels, helping them build confidence, improve their game, and reach their goals. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which gives me a strong foundation in athletic performance, injury prevention, and overall player development.
Coaching Philosophy
I believe every athlete is unique, with their own strengths and goals. My role as a coach is to help them grow as players and individuals by building confidence, skills, and teamwork. I emphasize respect, hard work, and resilience—values that carry beyond the court and into everyday life.
Kyle Furlong
My name is Kyle Furlong this will be my first full season with CJV. I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old which consisted of middle school, high school, and club teams. I played with Orlando Gold which is a boys volleyball club down in Orlando Florida, I played with them from age 12 until my 18’s season. I started volunteering at our local volleyball club Orlando Tampa Volleyball Club when I was 14. I would just be helping out with the clinics and summer camps. Then started coaching a few years later. I moved up to North Carolina in 2020. I was the assistant coach of 14 G this past season. I can’t wait to get my first full year started with CJV.
18U Coaches
Vanessa James
Vanessa “Coach V” joined Carolina Juniors Volleyball Club in 2017. She has over 20 years experience in Volleyball as a player and a coach. She played in high school, college, competitive women & sand and also was a member of the US Virgin Islands National team. Coach V Coached for 6 years at JM Robinson High School, South Piedmont 3A Conference as Head Varsity Volleyball Coach, of which she was recognized as “Coach of the Year” 2018 & 2019. She finished the last 4 seasons either 1st or 2nd in conference. She has coached various ages and levels for the past 12 years. One of Coach V’s major accomplishments occurred in 2016, while coaching at Carolina Storm VB, when 7 of her 9 players committed to play Collegiate Level volleyball. She continues to help numerous student-athletes advance to the collegiate level.
Vanessa’s belief is that “The game teaches the game”; Playing the game, getting more touches on the ball and reading plays effectively takes players to the next level!
Coach Philosophy:
Our goal as coaches is to empower the girls by fostering growth of character, confidence, athleticism, communication and mental strength to win volleyball matches. This includes a positive culture based on maintaining a goal mindset on and off the court to help guide them to reach their optimal potential and succeed.
Alex Kirk
Alex Kirk has been coaching club volleyball for 6 years at various levels. She was also the JV coach for JM Robinson for 5 years. Prior to coaching Alex played at Virginia Wesleyan University for 2 years.
Coach Philosophy:
I believe it is important to create an environment that encourages athletes to learn and grow as a player not only on the court but off as well. I strive to have a positive environment where athletes feel they can be themselves and I can help build their confidence.
Mya Patton
Experience : Coach Mya brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as a volleyball coach. With a background in playing volleyball at the high school, club, and collegiate levels, she has a deep understanding of the game and what it takes to succeed. Having transitioned from being a player to a coach, Coach Mya has been coaching for 7 years, honing her skills and making a positive impact on her players’ development.
Coaching Philosophy: Coach Mya believes in fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment for her athletes. She understands the importance of building strong fundamentals while also nurturing a love for the game. Coach Mya emphasizes teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, instilling in her players the values of hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship.
What I look for in a player is someone that is : Coachable, Competitive, Positive and Communicates well !
