Coach Bio's
Danielle "Dani" Aquino, 18 National Head Coach – 5th Season with PSVC
Coach Dani brings over 17 years of head coaching experience across volleyball and lacrosse, with 26 combined team seasons. A Massachusetts native and former collegiate volleyball athlete at UMass Boston, she has also coached at the high school and NCAA D2 levels, including three years as Assistant Coach at Stonehill College. Now the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at USC Salkehatchie, Dani brings a strategic and educational approach to athlete development.
Dan Owens, 18 National Assistant Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach Dan has over 16 years of coaching experience and a deep background in competitive play, including USVBA A level and co-ed leagues. A Coastal Carolina graduate, he has coached at multiple high schools, including Middleton, West Ashley, and currently Hanahan High School. Dan brings consistency, energy, and a passion for helping athletes grow.
Josh Kaufman, 18U Boys Head Coach – 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Kaufman, originally from Butler, PA, played as a defensive specialist through high school and at Slippery Rock University. He began coaching during college and continued at the varsity level post-graduation. Now in Charleston, he is committed to developing boys volleyball and building a competitive, accountable, and enjoyable environment.
Louise Hazel, 18U Boys Assistant Coach – 3rd Season with PSVC
Coach Hazel, from Indianapolis, IN, played as a setter and defensive specialist and won a national title with Ball State’s club team. She began coaching at Muncie Burris and Munciana Volleyball Club, gaining experience with both boys and girls teams across multiple age groups. Her coaching emphasizes competitiveness, respect, and passion.
Amir Khaledi, 17 National Head Coach – 11th Season with PSVC
Coach Khaledi has 22 years of NCAA Division I experience, including tenures at Charleston Southern and The Citadel. He has also coached internationally with Iran’s National Team, including during the 2016 Olympics. A 3x Conference Coach of the Year and Big South "Coach of the Decade," Coach Khaledi brings elite-level experience and a global coaching perspective. This is Coach Amir's 9th year with Palmetto Strikers leading a National team.
Jensen Williams, 17 National Assistant Coach - 3rd Season with PSVC
Bio coming soon
Jorge Riesgo, 16 Boys Head Coach – 2nd Season with PSVC
Coach Riesgo, a Puerto Rico native and a 2020 Oceanside Collegiate Academy graduate, where he currently coaches the OCA Boys Volleyball team. Collegiately, Coach Riedgo was the setter for North Greenville University, and led the Conference Carolinas in assists setting a single-match record with 62 assists. He brings high-level collegiate experience and is passionate about player development and team leadership.
Abigail Durham, 16 Boys Assistant Coach – 2nd Season with PSVC
Bio coming soon.
Valarie Cruz, 16 National Head Coach – 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Cruz, originally from Port Orange, FL, has over 10 years of coaching experience and previously led 14, 15 & 16U national teams at DME Academy and PSVC. A four-sport high school athlete and former UNCG basketball recruit, she has coached athletes from 12U to 16U and is passionate about building strong players with mental fortitude and team focus.
Wendy King, 16 National Assistant Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach King, originally from North Carolina, played for Middleburg High School and led her team to a District championship. She went on to play Division 1 volleyball at Wofford College as a middle blocker, setting records as a freshman. She appeared in a school record-setting 128 sets during her freshman season with 109 total kills, a .209 hitting percentage, recorded three solo blocks and 77 block assists and was responsible for 233.5 points. Coach King brings a wealth of playing and coaching knowledge and is dedicated to developing high-performing athletes.
Zuri Sanford, 16-2 Head Coach – 7th Season with PSVC
Coach Sanford, a Citadel graduate and former offensive standout at Collins Hill HS, brings a competitive edge and collegiate experience to PSVC. She currently serves as the Varsity Head Coach at First Baptist and is passionate about helping athletes grow on and off the court.
Lyric Scott, 16-2 Assistant Coach – 5th Season with PSVC
Coach Scott, a Francis Marion alumna, has coached at the club and middle school levels. Her passion for teaching and love of the game are evident in every practice, and she brings energy and commitment to her role at PSVC.
Jay Watterworth, 15 National Head Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach Watterworth has over 12 years of club coaching experience and currently leads the varsity program at Philip Simmons High School. A Charleston native and former Goose Creek HS coach, he was named a North South All Star coach in 2013. He also played on the North Grenville University Collegiate Intramural men’s team. Coach Watterworth is committed to excellence in youth volleyball.
Sabina Wang, 15 National Assistant Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach Wang brings international playing and coaching experience, including competing with the Taiwan Youth National Team, collegiately for China Nan University and the Adult Asia Cup team. She had the distinction of being sponsored by Nike and Mizuno. A veteran coach with over 15 years of club experience, her philosophy emphasizes defense, teamwork, and developing players to reach elite levels.
Maya Wright, 15-2 Head Coach – 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Wright, a College of Charleston graduate, was a standout high school player and club competitor. She began playing at the age of 11 and earned 5A Region Player of the Year in high school. Coach Wright continued to play Club volleyball in college and currently competes in grass and beach tournaments. She is passionate about mentoring young athletes through a competitive and fun environment.
Katelyn Shindler-Smith, 15-2 Assistant Coach – 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Shindler began her volleyball career at the age of 13. She competed in school and at the club level, and was a multi-sport athlete. As a former volleyball and track standout, she brings a strong background in athletics and education. A record-setting pole vaulter, she was recruited to USC Beaufort and received all-conference every year. She is committed to helping young athletes grow in mental acuity, skill and confidence.
Christi Crawford, 14-1 Head Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach Crawford, originally from Indianapolis, played club volleyball with Circle City and competed collegiately in both volleyball and track at St. Joseph’s College. She has over 15 years of coaching experience in Charleston and is Head JV Coach for First Baptist School.
Sheena Lanham, 14-1 Assistant Coach – 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Lanham brings 20+ years of volleyball experience as a player and coach. A former setter and outside hitter at Claflin University, she is the current varsity coach at Hanahan High School and is passionate about helping athletes reach their full potential.
Andria O'Dell, 14-2 Head Coach – 5th Season with PSVC
Coach O'Dell has 20 years of coaching experience including 5 years with Northern Virginia Volleyball Association and 3 years as Head JV and Assistant Varsity coach at Oceanside Collegiate Academy. Coach O’Dell is Gold Medal Squared trained and holds certifications through USA Volleyball and the Positive Coaching Alliance and emphasizes respect, work ethic, and sportsmanship.
Regan Eppes, 14-2 Assistant Coach – 2nd Season with PSVC
Bio coming soon
Lauryn Unger, 14-3 Head Coach – 5th Season with PSVC
Coach Unger, originally from Maryland, played for 10 years as a MB, OH and RS. She continues to compete in adult co-ed beach volleyball and has a life long passion for the game. Coach Unger has coached 12U, 15U and 14U teams and enjoys helping young athletes discover their potential and grow in skills and mental awareness.
Abby Kothera, 14-3 Assistant Coach – 2nd Season with PSVC
Coach Kothera played for West Ashley High School and played 5 years with PSVC. A Florida State alumna, she brings a unique perspective as both a former player and certified referee. She is currently preparing for law school.
Jamaica (Hicks) Parker, 13-1 Head Coach – 8th Season with PSVC
Coach Parker, originally from Tennessee, was a highly decorated setter and utility player at South Doyle HS and Smoky Mountain Jrs volleyball club. She played Division 1 volleyball at Charleston Southern University as a utility player. During her tenure with CSU she was a setter and hitter, until her Senior year when she became the team’s libero. Coach Parker teaches mental acuity and flexibility in mindset. She has coached club volleyball for over 15 years and passion is developing well-rounded young athletes, particularly at the 12U–14U level.
Dyanna Guerero, 13-1 Assistant Coach - 1st Season with PSVC
Bio coming soon
Jim McClellan, 13-2 Head Coach – 11th Season with PSVC
Coach McClellan brings 30+ years of coaching experience, including NCAA D1 with Morehead State University, where he was named 3x’s as the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year. His accolades include 400+ Division 1 wins and four conference championships. Locally, Coach McClellan was the Associate Head Coach for Bishop England for 8 yrs with consecutive state championship titles. He is committed to excellence and long-term athlete development.
Keelie Britt ,13-2 Assistant Coach – 2nd Season with PSVC
Coach Britt played competitively for 8 years and coached two seasons prior to joining PSVC. A former club player at USC Beaufort and graduate of the College of Charleston, Keelie is excited to share her passion and knowledge to help young athletes grow.
Allie Holland, 13-3 Co-Head Coach - 1st Season with PSVC
Coach Holland began playing volleyball at the age of 7 in her hometown Columbus, OH. She played four years as a middle blocker and captain (2020-2023) at Penn State University, where she earned 1st Team All-Big Ten and Northeast All-American honors. After earning an undergraduate degree from Penn State, she came to The College of Charleston for a fifth year to compete with the indoor and beach volleyball teams. Coach Holland was named MVP of the CAA tournament after leading the 2024 indoor team to the regular season and tournament championships. After starting in every single match since 2021, she tallied 800+ kills, 500+ blocks, and 300+ digs in her collegiate career. She finished her playing career in 2025 after playing in 5 NCAA tournaments. Coach Holland currently works as a media executive at Live 5 News and is eager to share her knowledge of love of the game with her team.
Heidi Anderson, 13-3 Co-Head Coach, 4th Season with PSVC
Coach Anderson moved to the Charleston area in 2023. She is originally from Southwest Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a degree in engineering. Coach Anderson began her volleyball career in middle school and continued playing through college. She has been a coach for over 6 years and has coached 10U through 13U teams during the time. She is looking forward to her 3rd year with PSVC.
Mary Jo Stemple 12-1 Head Coach – 9th Season with PSVC
Coach Stemple has over 30 years of experience coaching youth volleyball in Charleston. She has led teams to top national finishes and excels in both foundational and elite player development. A former AD and PE teacher, she continues to lead athletes with energy and expertise.
Jen Schilpp, 12-1 Assistant Coach - Coach Schilpp started her collegiate volleyball career at Anderson College where she participated in the Junior College national tournament her freshman year and was named All Region and All Tournament player her sophomore year. She continued playing at Charleston Southern University where she was ranked 1st in the country in serving. Coach Schilpp has lived in Mt. Pleasant since 1991 and is married with four daughters. She has consistently coached volleyball at the 12U and older levels for over 15 years. Coach Schilpp is an AVCA Member and is Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach certified. This will be her 8th season with PSVC..
Lindsay McConnell, 12-2 Head Coach - 3rd year with PSVC
Amy Marston, 12-2 Assistant Coach - 2nd year with PSVC
Kiersten Holmes , TBA - 3rd year coaching with PSVC
Coach Kiersten was grew up in Maryland and moved to Charleston in August 2020. She played at Thomas Stone HS all four years, as well as, club volleyball. She continues to play adult coed indoor and beach volleyball locally. Coach Kiersten grew up in a large family and has 7 siblings, so being part of a team comes 2nd nature to her. She is excited to help the younger players grow and learn the sport she loves.
Academy Coach Bio's
Julia Mabe - Coach Mabe previously played club volleyball and has a passion for the game. She has 9 years coaching exprerience in the 11-14U age groups. Coach Mabe head coached middle school 5A and 7A teams for over 5 years at Porter Gaud and coached the 7A team for Daniel Island School prior to that time. She is a doctor of Occupational Therapy, graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina, and obtained her Bachelor or Arts degree in Exercise Science from the College of Charleston. Coach Mabe enjoys teaching the love of the game of volleyball along with proper technique incorporating exercise science mechanics to help players reach their full potential. She is looking forward to her 11th year coaching with PSVC.
Jeremy Carrion - Coach Carrion is from North Platte, NE and started playing volleyball as a freshman in college. During these years he played at the club level for The University of Kansas. Coach Carrion played Libero, Outside Hitter, and Middle Blocker. He has coached 3 years at the club level for and was both the President and coach of his men’s club team at KU. Coach Carrion moved to Charleston from Denver in 2019 and has been coaching with PSVC since that time. He is excited to coach for a 6th year.
Noelle Smits - Coach Noelle is a Charleston native and attend Fort Dorchester High School. She was a 4-year starter, MVP and Captain of her high school team. Coach Smits played club volleyball for 6 years and for PSVC from 14-17U. She has consistently coached camps, clinics and assisted our 13U and 17U teams for the past 3 years, including our 2023 13 National team who placed 2nd at AAU Nationals in Orlando. Coach Smits was recruited to play in college and as a freshman led her team in blocks and kills. She recently transferred back to the area and is pursuing a degree in nursing. Coach Smits is looking forward to assisting athletes in taking their skill to the next level and imparting her love of the game. This will be her 4th season with PSVC.
Liz Poppens - Coach Poppens is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Mount Pleasant in 2013 and graduated from Wando High School. During her volleyball career, she was a defensive specialist on various club teams in both Chicago and the Charleston area, and was a player on two state championship teams for Wando High School. After graduating from Wando, Coach Poppens attended the College of Charleston where she received degrees in Secondary Education and Political Science, and played volleyball recreationally. She is currently the Junior Varsity coach, as well as a teacher at Wando High School. Coach Poppens is very excited for her 3rd season with PSVC!
Bethany (Doman) White - Coach White is originally from Strasburg, VA, where she was a 3-year, 3-sport varsity athlete at Strasburg High School. As a junior, she helped lead her team to a 28-0 record and they were District, Regional, and State Champions. Coach White received First-Team All-District, Second-Team All-Region, and Honorable Mention All-State honors. She went on to play for Bridgewater College as an outside and right-side hitter, where she is ranked first in the Bridgewater record book for most service aces in a match with 11 versus City College of NY. Coach White graduated in 2012 with a Business Admin degree and later received her Master’s in Sports and Recreation Leadership from James Madison University. She has volunteer coached for 2 years at Camp Road Middle and is now the head varsity volleyball coach at Palmetto Scholars Academy. In addition to coaching, Coach White continues to play competitively in grass, indoor and beach volleyball. She looks forward to her 8th year coaching with PSVC
Claire LaFave - Coach LaFave is originally from Michigan, and is a graduate of Michigan State University. She played volleyball in junior high and high school, as well as club volleyball in college. In her sophomore year she went “All-American.” Prior to joining Palmetto Strikers, she coached 12 and under teams for 2 years with her hometown club. During her volleyball career, Coach LaFave was a setter, and has a passion to pass on her knowledge to young players who want to learn, grow and play this sport for life. This is Coach LaFave's 6th year with Palmetto Strikers.
Aaron Tuuk - Coach Aaron is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and attended Central Michigan University, where he earned his BS in Education majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Physical Education. During college Coach Aaron played 3 years for the club volleyball team as a setter and outside hitter. He coached for Dead Frog Far Out before moving to South Carolina. Coach Aaron has 4 years’ experience coaching volleyball locally, including 2 years as the Head Varsity coach at Stratford High School, where he is also a Mathematics teacher. He is looking forward to his second season and sharing his knowledge with PSVC’s 17 National team.
Sara Tuuk - Coach Sara was born and raised in Fond du Lac, WI, and has been playing organized volleyball since fourth grade. During high school she earned all-conference and all-state honors. Coach Sara earned her BS in Chemistry from Lander University where she also played volleyball and softball. She went on to earn her Masters in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven. In 2011, Coach Sara accepted a position with the city of Charleston Police Department and she later became the deputy coroner for Charleston County. Since moving to Charleston Coach Sara has coached 3 years of club volleyball, 2 years with 6th grade girls’ teams at two local private schools and is currently the assistant coach at Stratford High School. Coach Sara is excited about her second season with Palmetto Strikers and assisting the team in their growth and college recruiting goals.
Ally Ulrich - Coach Ally began playing volleyball in the 3rd grade. Early in her career she was a 6 rotation setter, but transition to Middle and finished her career as a Right Side Hitter. Coach Ally is a graduate of Mercyhurst University with Bachelor's in Early Child Education and Special Education, and a Master's in Applied Behavior Anaylsis. Due to an injury she had to step away from playing and began her coaching career. She has over 6 years experience coaching and in her 1st year she led an 8th grade team to the City Championships. Coach Ally has most recently coach at the 16U and 15U age groups. Her approach to coaching is to assist players in "overcoming their fears, to work as a team, to have respect for each other, and to build a confidence.” This is her 2nd season coaching with PSVC.
Kiersten Holmes - Coach Kiersten was grew up in Maryland and moved to Charleston in August 2020. She played at Thomas Stone HS all four years, as well as, club volleyball. She continues to play adult coed indoor and beach volleyball locally. Coach Kiersten grew up in a large family and has 7 siblings, so being part of a team comes 2nd nature to her. She is excited to help the younger players grow and learn the sport she loves. This is her 2nd year with PSVC.
Cathy Schreiber, Positional Coach - Coach Cathy is a graduate of Collinsville High School outside of St.Louis, MO. While in high school, she was the starting outside hitter for her varsity team and played club volleyball for CYC club in St.Louis as a middle hitter. Coach Cathy went on to play Division 1 volleyball for University of Evansville and was the starting middle blocker each year she played there. Over 3 years, she played in 326 sets, tallying 538 kills and 283 blocks. Coach Cathy majored in Exercise Science and went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Evansville while staying involved in both the University volleyball team as well as coaching for Evansville United Volleyball Club. Following graduation, Coach Cathy moved to Charleston, SC to start her career as a Pediatric Physical Therapist. This is her 3rd year coaching with PSVC.
Liz Buterbaugh - Coach Liz was born and raised in Hilton Head Island, SC and started playing volleyball in 6th grade. She was a four-year varsity starter at Hilton Head Preparatory School where she earned all-region and all-state honors. She also led Prep to a record setting third place finish in the state her senior year. In 2018, Liz was inducted into Prep’s Athletic Hall of Fame for volleyball and still holds school records for blocks, kills, and aces today. Liz played club volleyball for Low Country Volleyball Club in Bluffton, SC for five years. After high school, she earned an athletic scholarship to play collegiately at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC as a middle. She was a four-year letter winner and member of the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. Liz graduated from Wofford in 2016 with a BA in Spanish and Sociology. Coach Liz is eager to start her 3rd season with PSVC and share her knowledge and passion for the game with her team.
Colton Youngblood, Boys Head Coach -Coach Youngblood is originally from Lubbock, TX. He began his volleyball carreer in high school and was the first male volleyball player from his school signed to play collegiate volleyball with Alderson Broaddus University. Coach Youngblood played club volleyball with Next Level Volleyball as a setter and hitter. He is committed to growing boys volleyball in the low country and paving the way for athletes to play the sport in school and at the next level. Coach Youngblood has a proven track record with 5+ years boys coaching experience at the National level and his expertise extends to sand volleyball as well. This will be his 2nd year with PSVC