🏐 2025 Coaches

Chris Mellor – 12U Black – Head Coach

Chris went to High School in Morinville (just north of Edmonton) where he played volleyball, basketball and whatever else was offered from the school. He played club volleyball with NAVC and was a member of the 1997 Juvenile National Champions and played Post Secondary volleyball at NAIT and SAIT as a Setter. While attending Post Secondary Chris received ACAC All Conference awards for 3 of the 4 years and in his final year while attending SAIT they were the CCAA Silver medalists losing in the Championship Final at Nationals.

After wrapping up Post Secondary in 2002 Chris played in a variety of competitive leagues for Volleyball and Basketball; now a Father of 2 girls he has turned his time and passion into supporting their athletic endeavors.

Chris has coached hockey for the past 7 years and is now spreading his wings and giving back to the sport that gave him wonderful experiences and life lessons while growing up.

Chris believes that young athletes need to be surrounded by a positive and supportive environment where growth is made through successes and failures. In a young athletes development, fun and confidence is key especially as you learn to play the game.

Curtis Soprovich – 12U Black – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

Jill Mellor – 12U Black – Assistant Coach

Hey, I am Coach Jill. I think the most important thing you need to know is I am a beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, road biking, cross country skiing, gym going, flower gardening, poutine and popcorn loving enthusiast. By occupation I am a personal trainer and part of the crazy girl mom tribe.

As for my street cred sadly, I have a bit and my achy bones can attest to that but I won’t tell you it all just the basics. Before college I went to an Academic All Girls Boarding school, so my athletic route is very different from the standard high school. I played in every school team and at the end of my high school years I had to choose between basketball and volleyball for post secondary. I chose volleyball of course. I played post secondary for two years and have continued to play indoor in Tier 1 women’s (and coed until children changed my free time). I have played every position on the court but in college I was a middle and libero. I have played beach volleyball competitively for too many years to count including the NBVL and compete in as many ladies open tournaments in and around Alberta as I can. I am lucky enough to have a court at my house so training is never a problem, except for with my husband, as me and a bunch of other women can be found training 5 days a week from spring to fall so I can be very unhelpful.

As for coaching indoor club volleyball, 2023 was my first year, and I am so excited to be a part of the Park Volleyball Club. I love all the people that make up this team. My passion in coaching females in sport is to affect positive change within our sport from the inside out. I am by nature an extremely competitive person but what my years on the court and more recently watching my own child in competitive sports from the sideline has taught me is, that nurturing the culture of lifting each other up is as important as winning , and teaching real team work, team spirit and work ethic Is just as important as skill. My best memories are not of winning but of the friendships, road trips, and what it taught me as a human not just an athlete. Tough losses are what kept me working and still do to this day. Winning is easy… it is what you do when you are losing or what you do after a loss is what changes you as a player and a teammate.

Be the hardest worker in the room. Lead your team from the back. Push everyone to be their best self, and most importantly fall in love with this amazing sport and the people in it.

Megan Isbister – 12U Black – Assistant Coach

Megan Isbister grew up in the Sherwood Park area, graduated from the U of A earning a teaching degree and is now a full-time teacher at Bev Facey High School. She teaches full time Mathematics but also has a love and passion for sports.

Since Megan started teaching in 2001 she has coached senior high school volleyball, nearly every season. She has coached at the high school level for 15 plus years. She recently took a few years off from coaching when she began her family. Now, that her children are grown and beginning to love sport themselves, she has returned to coaching both volleyball and soccer. She has a passion for developing and empowering young female athletes. She focuses on developing players skills while trying to create a positive but competitive environment for all her female athletes.

Megan grew up involved in several sports through-out her junior and senior high years but found a love for Volleyball. She played through her junior and senior years as a setter and took her team to the provincial championship tournament in her senior year with the Ardrossan Lady Bisons. In University, Megan went on to play provincial level Team Handball. She played on the Alberta Women’s Handball team for several years, where the team travelled and played nationally and played in a couple international tournaments. Megan continued to play Volleyball and soccer in the Edmonton Women’s competitive leagues over the last 20 years.

Mackenzie Hoppus – 12U White – Co-Coach

Mackenzie has been involved in athletics through her entire life. From gymnastics to track to swimming to volleyball, Mackenzie has done it all. She has professional experience coaching gymnastics and swimming, however her true passion is for volleyball.

Mackenzie started her volleyball career at 12 years old as an outside attacker. She played various positions on her Sherwood Heights and early club teams until settling down in the middle position for her final years of club and her three years on the Senior Women’s Volleyball team at Salisbury Composite High School.

After graduating in 2018, Mackenzie returned as an assistant coach to her high school team. She currently plays in multiple leagues within the Edmonton area and often works with Volleyball Alberta as event staff during the Premier Tournaments.

Mackenzie is excited to contribute her knowledge, passion, and energy to the team. She is committed to assisting in the development of athletes, helping them grow both as players and individuals. Mackenzie looks forward to being a part of the Park Girls Volleyball Club this season!

Madison Diewert – 12U White – Co-Coach

Madison is new to her role as an assistant coach for a club volleyball team, but comes with previous experience as assistant coach of Ross Sheppard’s Junior Women’s volleyball team in 2021. She fell in love with volleyball during her years playing club, school, and beach volleyball throughout U13-U18, which has given her a deep understanding of the game.

Madison recently earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a focus on Human Resources and an accounting minor. She continues to play volleyball in the EVA league, demonstrating her unwavering passion for the sport.

Excited to join Park Girls volleyball, Madison is eager to work with the Park 12U team to help young athletes develop both on and off the court.

Hallie Rosnau – 12U White – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

Dean Rozema – 13U White – Head Coach

Dean went to school in Sherwood Park at SCA where he played volleyball and basketball. He played post secondary volleyball for four years at Columbia Bible College in BC. His team went to Provincials three times and finished with bronze his final year at Nationals. In his fourth year, Dean received the President’s Award, given to one male and one female athlete having achieved excellence in their sport while maintaining an honours grade. Dean’s 30+ years of playing volleyball has included men’s league, beach, and co-ed.

In 2006, Dean graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Outdoor Leadership.

Dean has coached club soccer, Senior Varsity boys, Grade 9 boys, and Grade 6 coed volleyball. This past spring, Dean coached Park Elite 13U and peaked at the right time to win bronze in Division 1 Provincials.

Meghan Rozema – 13U White – Assistant Coach

The first time Meghan played organized volleyball was at F.R Haythorne where her journey began with Jr. girls volleyball tryouts. Throughout school she tried multiple sports – cross country running, track, badminton, handball, and rugby, but soccer and volleyball have always been her top two.

From 1996 to 1998, Meghan played for the Sherwood Park Volleyball Club coached by Ken Briggs. In 1997 their team qualified for Nationals where they won gold in Brandon, Manitoba. Following the 1997 Club season Meghan also made Team Alberta. In her Grade 10 year her Bev Facey team won the Jr. Women’s Metro Edmonton volleyball championship. In her Grade 12 year Meghan played in both the Metro Edmonton Volleyball All-Star Game, and Alberta Shooting Stars Girls Basketball All-Star Game. She also was part of Bev Facey’s Sr. Women’s Handball City Championship team. Meghan was invited to try out for basketball at Red Deer College. Her high school athletic career came to a nice conclusion as she received Female Athlete of the Year.

In 1999 while enrolled at Grant McEwan College, Meghan tried out for both the soccer and volleyball teams, unsure how far she’d make it before getting cut from volleyball. Meghan made both teams. Though it was a tough decision, she chose soccer. In 2004 Meghan graduated from the U of A with her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Since then, Meghan has played EDSA women’s soccer and EVA volleyball until recently. She joined the Sherwood Park Adult Volleyball League in 2017.

Meghan’s coaching experience includes coaching high school volleyball while attending college, and recently club soccer. She believes it is important to create a positive and safe environment where athletes want to be, and look forward to returning to.

ARIELLE O’BRIEN – 13U White – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

Carmen Klose – 13U Black – Head Coach

This is Carmen’s third year with Park Girls Volleyball Club. She previously coached 13U in 2017/2018 and 14U in 2018/2019. After taking a break she is looking forward getting back on the court and working with our 13U’s again.

Carmen grew up in Red Deer AB, playing volleyball and various other sports throughout her school years. She played with Team Alberta for 4 years and finished her competitive volleyball career playing for UofC Dinos while attending post secondary education.

Volleyball has always been a passion for her. She transitioned from player to coach in the mid 90’s. She has coached both Jr. and Sr. High school teams, various clubs teams including Dinos, Sylvan Lake, and Park ranging in ages from 13U – 17U.

She is super excited to work with the 13U girls again. Fundamentals are a key component for success, but equally important is enjoyment of the game. Each day is a chance to improve and learn something new.

Glen Klose – 13U Black – Assistant Coach

Glen joined the volleyball scene with Park Girls Volleyball in 2017 as an assistant coach with 13U girls, then again in 2018 with 14U girls.

He has a passion for teamwork, believes in a strong work ethic and a desire to play. He is trained in Guided Imagery and has been successful in utilizing these skills with many competitive athletes and teams.

When not at work or coaching, Glen can be seen playing co-ed volleyball. He looks forward to getting back on the court for another successful season with the Park 13U girls.

Aaron Bauder – 13U Black – Assistant Coach

Hello, my name is Coach Aaron.  Mental training is the heart and soul of what we do in volleyball, and I am fiercely dedicated to making it a cornerstone of my coaching skillset. The pressure of high-level competition can either make or break a player, and that’s where mental toughness truly shines. I am deeply committed to helping our athletes forge an unbreakable mindset, one that fuels their focus, drive, and unwavering confidence. Through mental conditioning, we transform challenges into opportunities and setbacks into comebacks. The mental strength we build as a team isn’t just about winning games; it’s about forging champions who rise above adversity, inspire their teammates, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. In volleyball, as in life, it’s this relentless mental fortitude that truly sets us apart.

Jamie Olsen – 14U White – Head Coach

Bio coming soon…

Ryan Marshall – 14U White – Assistant Coach

Ryan Marshall is a Certified Advanced Development Coach for Volleyball. He has his Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education Degrees from the University of Alberta.

Ryan has been coaching volleyball for over 20 years. His coaching resume includes 4 years of coaching U18 Men’s Club volleyball with both The Bears program as well as Park Elite Boys Volleyball Club, including a birth in the tier-one national semi-finals. Ryan has also coached high school senior men’s programs for 7 years. A highlight of his high school coaching career was winning a 3A provincial championship. Most recently he has coached junior high girls volleyball at both the senior and junior levels. Ryan has also been involved in coaching volleyball camps for students as young as 10 years old.

Ryan started playing volleyball for F.R. Haythorne junior high school in grade 7. In grade 10 he started every game, as a right side, for the Bev Facey Falcons senior team and by grade 12 he became captain of his high school team. He also played club volleyball throughout junior high and high school. Although two colleges approached him to play post-secondary, Ryan decided to attend U of A to complete his education degree and began his coaching career. Since then, he has played on competitive men’s and coed adult teams. Ryan recently hung up his playing shoes to spend his time coaching.

Ryan has been coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club since the 2019-2020 club season. Ryan believes that it is imperative that young volleyball players develop the proper skills and techniques while growing a passion and love for the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork and building character is essential to the success of his teams.

Brad Olsen – 14U White – Assistant Coach

Bio coming soon…

Jill Mellor – 14U Black – Co-Coach

Hey, I am Coach Jill. I think the most important thing you need to know is I am a beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, road biking, cross country skiing, gym going, flower gardening, poutine and popcorn loving enthusiast. By occupation I am a personal trainer and part of the crazy girl mom tribe.

As for my street cred sadly, I have a bit and my achy bones can attest to that but I won’t tell you it all just the basics. Before college I went to an Academic All Girls Boarding school, so my athletic route is very different from the standard high school. I played in every school team and at the end of my high school years I had to choose between basketball and volleyball for post secondary. I chose volleyball of course. I played post secondary for two years and have continued to play indoor in Tier 1 women’s (and coed until children changed my free time). I have played every position on the court but in college I was a middle and libero. I have played beach volleyball competitively for too many years to count including the NBVL and compete in as many ladies open tournaments in and around Alberta as I can. I am lucky enough to have a court at my house so training is never a problem, except for with my husband, as me and a bunch of other women can be found training 5 days a week from spring to fall so I can be very unhelpful.

As for coaching indoor club volleyball, 2023 was my first year, and I am so excited to be a part of the Park Volleyball Club. I love all the people that make up this team. My passion in coaching females in sport is to affect positive change within our sport from the inside out. I am by nature an extremely competitive person but what my years on the court and more recently watching my own child in competitive sports from the sideline has taught me is, that nurturing the culture of lifting each other up is as important as winning , and teaching real team work, team spirit and work ethic Is just as important as skill. My best memories are not of winning but of the friendships, road trips, and what it taught me as a human not just an athlete. Tough losses are what kept me working and still do to this day. Winning is easy… it is what you do when you are losing or what you do after a loss is what changes you as a player and a teammate.

Be the hardest worker in the room. Lead your team from the back. Push everyone to be their best self, and most importantly fall in love with this amazing sport and the people in it.

Dennis Weber – 14U Black – Co-Coach

Coaching Philosophy:
Part of my coaching philosophy is the recognition that each athlete is different, and building strong coach – athlete relationships is important to understand their individual needs for performance excellence. Positive psychology, growth mindset as well as intrinsic motivation theories work well together and form part of my coaching philosophy. When an individual sees themselves as their greatest competition and the goal is to improve on past performances, they have a higher ceiling and greater potential. This growth mindset is facilitated through positive psychology as well as being internally motivated.

Every athlete is unique and special, it is always a privilege to get to work with them and be a part of their growth and development.

• Masters degree in sport and performance psychology with a concentration in positive coaching and leadership in sports. MS-SPP)
• Masters degree in Health Studies (MHS)
• 5 years coaching with PGVC
• 8 years coaching junior high
• Developmental coach (trained)
• Still actively playing

Chris Mellor – 14U Black – Assistant Coach

Chris went to High School in Morinville (just north of Edmonton) where he played volleyball, basketball and whatever else was offered from the school. He played club volleyball with NAVC and was a member of the 1997 Juvenile National Champions and played Post Secondary volleyball at NAIT and SAIT as a Setter. While attending Post Secondary Chris received ACAC All Conference awards for 3 of the 4 years and in his final year while attending SAIT they were the CCAA Silver medalists losing in the Championship Final at Nationals.

After wrapping up Post Secondary in 2002 Chris played in a variety of competitive leagues for Volleyball and Basketball; now a Father of 2 girls he has turned his time and passion into supporting their athletic endeavors.

Chris has coached hockey for the past 7 years and is now spreading his wings and giving back to the sport that gave him wonderful experiences and life lessons while growing up.

Chris believes that young athletes need to be surrounded by a positive and supportive environment where growth is made through successes and failures. In a young athletes development, fun and confidence is key especially as you learn to play the game.

Paula Stiles – 14U Black – Assistant Coach

This will be Paula’s second year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club, although she has been involved in the sport for 30 years.

Paula grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta where she was a multi-sport athlete throughout school. These sports included volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field. Her accomplishments in those sports include MVP – basketball and she still holds a city record in the shot put. She played Club volleyball for LVC and the Lethbridge Selects, and high school at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

Paula went on to play volleyball at Lethbridge College for two years, and then SAIT Polytechnic for two years, playing both middle and left side. She was named as an ACAC First Team All-Star in her final two years and was also named SAIT’s Female Volleyball MVP.

Paula has been a volleyball official for almost 20 years and has several years of coaching experience. She is currently the Jr. Women’s Head Coach at Strathcona High School. Her team won the Metro Athletics Division 1 City Championship last year, incredibly with only one match lost the entire season.

Paula is excited to join Park Girls Volleyball as Head Coach of our 13U-White team!

Tara Dunsmore – 15U White – Head Coach

This is Tara’s sixth year coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and fourth as a head coach. She is a trained Development Coach with Volleyball Canada.

Tara has successfully earned two diplomas from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, including Personal Fitness Trainer.  As part of this path at NAIT, she took courses in Movement Mechanics, Physiology of Exercise, Nutrition, Applied Physiology of Exercise, Functional Training and Assessment, Resistance Training and Assessment and received her AFLCA (Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association) and CPAFLA (Canadian Physical Activity and Lifestyle Approach) certifications.

Being involved in the sport of volleyball for over 30 years, Tara brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge.  She began coaching volleyball during the 1998/1999 season as an assistant coach for the NAIT women’s volleyball team while completing her Personal Fitness Training diploma.  It was not until recently that she continued her passion for coaching volleyball when her oldest daughter was eligible to play volleyball in Junior High school.

In her first year as head coach in 2022 Tara finished top 10 in Division 1 in each 13U Volleyball Alberta Premier tournament placing 3rd, 4th, and 6th place respectively. This past season her 13U-White team placed 1st in Division 1 in both Premier 1 & 2, and 4th place in Provincials. Tara has also assisted 4 seasons for the Lakeland Ridge’s Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams in Sherwood Park with her husband Patrick.  Together, their primary goal is the long-term player development of their athletes by focusing on strong fundamental and technical skills.  In addition to coaching volleyball, Tara has coached four seasons of soccer at the U6 and U8 age level where she completed a Canadian Soccer Association course for developmental athletes.

Tara played the setter position for NAIT during her 3 seasons from 1995-1998.  In her final season, she was awarded the Silver Torch Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. In that same year, she was selected to the All-Star team for the ACAC North Division.

Patrick Dunsmore – 15U White – Assistant Coach

This is Patrick’s seventh year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his 2nd year coaching with our U15 girl’s program.

Patrick has been heavily involved in athletics his entire life. While growing up in Calgary he played every sport possible, winning City Championships in soccer, basketball, and hockey. He was introduced to volleyball in Jr. High and immediately developed a passion for the sport which has carried forward over 30 years later. From grade 7 through grade 11 he played as a setter, and after a growth spurt throughout High School, he eventually transitioned into an outside hitter for Grade 12. In 1996 he was a walk-on for the SAIT Trojan men’s volleyball team where he competed for four seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Over the span of those four years playing for the Trojans, he helped build the men’s volleyball program from 2nd last place in the ACAC South Division, to become the No. 1 ranked team in Canada.

After moving to Edmonton in the summer of 1999, he became involved in several Men’s, Co-ed, and Beach volleyball leagues where he eventually met his wife, Tara. Together they shared the same love of the sport and competed in local leagues & tournaments throughout Western Canada for more than a decade, winning 10 Tier 1 league championships and multiple co-ed tournaments. They are now sharing their same passion for the sport of volleyball with their 3 daughters while residing in Sherwood Park.

As a coach, Patrick is focused on long-term player development with an emphasis on proper technique and fundamental skills. He demands the best from his players through constant effort while keeping a positive team culture. Patrick’s vision for his players is to achieve both individual and team success, and he prides himself on his outstanding ability to bring out his player’s full potential as confident athletes while challenging them to become stronger mentally as well as physically. Prior to coaching volleyball, Patrick gained valuable experience coaching 16 seasons of soccer for the SPDSA, 5 of those as head coach with the girl’s Phoenix program. Patrick holds multiple Canadian Soccer Association coaching certificates and is a Certified Development Coach with Volleyball Canada.

Highlights of his Volleyball Alberta Premier Tournament coaching career include:
-Division 1 Bronze in 2022 in Premier 1 with 13U-White
-Back-to-back Division 1 Gold in 2022 in Premier 1 & 2 with 14U
-Back-to-back Division 1 Gold in 2023 in Premier 1 & 2 with 13U-White
-Division 1 4th Place in Provincials in 2023 with 13U-White
-Division 1 Silver in 2024 in Premier 2 with 14U-White
-Division 2 Silver in 2025 in Premier 2 with 15U-White
-Division 2 Gold in 2025 in Premier 2 with 17U-White
-Division 1 4th Place in Provincials in 2025 with 15U-White

As a player, Patrick has achieved impressive team and individual success. Partnering with Mike Funk in 1999, they were the Alberta Men’s Beach Doubles Provincial Champions. While competing for SAIT, he was part of the 1999 ACAC Provincial bronze medalist, 2001 ACAC Provincial silver medalist, and 2001 CCAA National silver medalist teams. His individual accomplishments include being named the SAIT Men’s Volleyball team Most Valuable Player for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, being selected to the ACAC All-Conference team for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, and being awarded All-Tournament Team honors at the CCAA 2001 National Championship. Patrick also still currently holds 3 ACAC individual statistic records.

Ashika Letto – 15U White – Assistant Coach

This is Ashika’s second year coaching with Park Girls Volleyball Club. She is known as a dedicated and passionate sports enthusiast whose athletic journey is nothing short of inspiring. With a lifelong dedication to sports, Ashika found her true calling in volleyball while excelling in various sports like badminton, handball, track and field, and cross country in her high school years.

As a standout athlete, Ashika received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Metro All-Star Award for volleyball in 2023. Her leadership qualities shone bright as she captained multiple teams, fostering a supportive environment and uplifting her teammates. Her expertise extends to the club level, having played for esteemed teams like Park U16, Edmonton Elite U16, SAS U17, and ending her club years with Park U18, earning many MVP awards along the way.

She is currently pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at the University of Alberta. Ashika combines her academic knowledge with practical experience in the coaching world. As it is her first year with Park Girls Volleyball, it is not her first time coaching athletics while she is the assistant coach for the senior varsity women’s volleyball team at Ardrossan Junior Senior High School where she graduated in 2023.

Ashika’s dedication, skill, and sportsmanship continue to inspire both players and enthusiasts, making her a driving force in the world of volleyball. With a focus on excellence and a passion for the game, she is shaping the future of athletes and hoping to help with her well-known knowledge to the Park Volleyball sports community.

Jeff Palichuk – 16U White – Head Coach

Jeff was born and raised in Edmonton, with sports being a constant. He played every sport he could growing up, including hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and snowboarding.

This will be Jeff’s second year coaching at PGVC, and sixth year coaching club volleyball in the Edmonton area. He has also coached school volleyball at the Jr. High and Sr. High levels. He had the opportunity to head coach the Varsity Girls at SCA for two seasons, with two city finals, a zone championship, and a top 4 finish at provincials. This year he is switching to help coach the Jr. High senior girls team at SCA.

He has coached other community and school sports (baseball, softball, soccer, and archery) as well for the last 16 years.
He enjoys teaching the technical and tactical side of the game. He encourages players to continually progress in their individual skills, at the same time how to best contribute to team success. He cares about the player as a whole, providing a supportive and encouraging environment to grow, develop, and compete.

Jeff is really excited to continue coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball family, with hopes to build a strong competitive 15U team this season.

Kayla Reierson – 16U White – Assistant Coach

Kayla is a passionate volleyball coach with a genuine love for the sport and commitment to giving back to the community. With over 10 seasons of playing experience and first year of coaching under their belt. Kayla brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to every coaching season.

Her dedication to coaching stems from a desire to share her expertise, inspire a love for the game, and empower athletes to reach their full potential.

Luci Marshman – 16U White – Assistant Coach

Luci has helped out at PGVC before, but is excited to play a bigger part on the 16U coaching team this year. She played club volleyball from u13 to u17 at NAVC and PGVC and is so excited to get to give back to the volleyball community. She has been a setter, right side, and middle but is passionate about passing and was a libero for most of her volleyball career.

Luci is a second year nursing student at Macewan University, and has a deep passion for helping others on and off the court. She loves volleyball and the positive and encouraging environment it can create, especially one that helps athletes grow and thrive.

Luci loves many sports and played volleyball, basketball, and soccer in high school. One of her favourite things is to see athletes improve and find joy in the sport she loves and for that reason is so excited to be a part of the athletes journey this year!

Sam Palichuk – 16U White – Assistant Coach

Sam is excited to start her second season coaching with Park. She has lots of coaching experience including head coaching the SCA high school Jr team and assistant coaching multiple seasons along the way. With 12 seasons of playing volleyball under her belt, Sam has a wealth of knowledge that she is excited to share with the next generation of athletes.

Sam is going into her first year of personal fitness training at NAIT and excited to embark on that new journey.

Sam has an eye for the technical side of the game and is always looking for ways to help players improve while encouraging them along the way. Sam takes pride in the little details that will help athletes grow and reach their full potential.

Abby Birkholz – 16U White – Assistant Coach

Abby has 8 years of volleyball experience with different schools and clubs, and she currently plays in the ACAC for The King’s University. Growing up as a multi sport athlete, Abby has developed a passion not only for the physical side of athletics but also the mental. Working well with others and developing team dynamics can be almost as important as strength and skill, so Abby takes joy in bringing enthusiasm and leadership to any court or gym.
She finds working with younger athletes to develop high level skills and competitive mindsets really rewarding, so she is so excited to be coaching with PARK.

Patrick Dunsmore – 17U White – Head Coach

This is Patrick’s seventh year with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and his sixth year as head coach.

Patrick has been heavily involved in athletics his entire life. While growing up in Calgary he played every sport possible, winning City Championships in soccer, basketball, and hockey. He was introduced to volleyball in Jr. High and immediately developed a passion for the sport which has carried forward over 30 years later. From grade 7 through grade 11 he played as a setter, and after a growth spurt throughout High School, he eventually transitioned into an outside hitter for Grade 12. In 1996 he was a walk-on for the SAIT Trojan men’s volleyball team where he competed for four seasons in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Over the span of those four years playing for the Trojans, he helped build the men’s volleyball program from 2nd last place in the ACAC South Division, to become the No. 1 ranked team in Canada.

After moving to Edmonton in the summer of 1999, he became involved in several Men’s, Co-ed, and Beach volleyball leagues where he eventually met his wife, Tara. Together they shared the same love of the sport and competed in local leagues & tournaments throughout Western Canada for more than a decade, winning 10 Tier 1 league championships and multiple co-ed tournaments. They are now sharing their same passion for the sport of volleyball with their 3 daughters while residing in Sherwood Park.

As a coach, Patrick is focused on long-term player development with an emphasis on proper technique and fundamental skills. He demands the best from his players through constant effort while keeping a positive team culture. Patrick’s vision for his players is to achieve both individual and team success, and he prides himself on his outstanding ability to bring out his player’s full potential as confident athletes while challenging them to become stronger mentally as well as physically. Prior to coaching volleyball, Patrick gained valuable experience coaching 16 seasons of soccer for the SPDSA, 5 of those as head coach with the girl’s Phoenix program. Patrick holds multiple Canadian Soccer Association coaching certificates and is a Certified Development Coach with Volleyball Canada.

Highlights of his Volleyball Alberta Premier Tournament coaching career include:
-Division 1 Bronze in 2022 in Premier 1 with 13U-White
-Back-to-back Division 1 Gold in 2022 in Premier 1 & 2 with 14U
-Back-to-back Division 1 Gold in 2023 in Premier 1 & 2 with 13U-White
-Division 1 4th Place in Provincials in 2023 with 13U-White
-Division 1 Silver in 2024 in Premier 2 with 14U-White
-Division 2 Silver in 2025 in Premier 2 with 15U-White
-Division 2 Gold in 2025 in Premier 2 with 17U-White
-Division 1 4th Place in Provincials in 2025 with 15U-White

As a player, Patrick has achieved impressive team and individual success. Partnering with Mike Funk in 1999, they were the Alberta Men’s Beach Doubles Provincial Champions. While competing for SAIT, he was part of the 1999 ACAC Provincial bronze medalist, 2001 ACAC Provincial silver medalist, and 2001 CCAA National silver medalist teams. His individual accomplishments include being named the SAIT Men’s Volleyball team Most Valuable Player for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, being selected to the ACAC All-Conference team for the 1997/1998 & 1998/1999 seasons, and being awarded All-Tournament Team honors at the CCAA 2001 National Championship. Patrick also still currently holds 3 ACAC individual statistic records.

Tara Dunsmore – 17U White – Assistant Coach

This is Tara’s sixth year of assistant coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club and is a trained Development Coach with Volleyball Canada.

Tara has successfully earned two diplomas from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, including Personal Fitness Trainer.  As part of this path at NAIT, she took courses in Movement Mechanics, Physiology of Exercise, Nutrition, Applied Physiology of Exercise, Functional Training and Assessment, Resistance Training and Assessment and received her AFLCA (Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association) and CPAFLA (Canadian Physical Activity and Lifestyle Approach) certifications.

Being involved in the sport of volleyball for over 30 years, Tara brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge.  She began coaching volleyball during the 1998/1999 season as an assistant coach for the NAIT women’s volleyball team while completing her Personal Fitness Training diploma.  It was not until recently that she continued her passion for coaching volleyball when her oldest daughter was eligible to play volleyball in Junior High school.

In her first year as head coach in 2022 Tara finished top 10 in Division 1 in each 13U Volleyball Alberta Premier tournament placing 3rd, 4th, and 6th place respectively. This past season her 13U-White team placed 1st in Division 1 in both Premier 1 & 2, and 4th place in Provincials. Tara has also assisted 4 seasons for the Lakeland Ridge’s Jr. & Sr. girls volleyball teams in Sherwood Park with her husband Patrick.  Together, their primary goal is the long-term player development of their athletes by focusing on strong fundamental and technical skills.  In addition to coaching volleyball, Tara has coached four seasons of soccer at the U6 and U8 age level where she completed a Canadian Soccer Association course for developmental athletes.

Tara played the setter position for NAIT during her 3 seasons from 1995-1998.  In her final season, she was awarded the Silver Torch Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player. In that same year, she was selected to the All-Star team for the ACAC North Division.

Annika Beamish – 17U White – Assistant Coach

Annika is in her second year of Economics at the University of Alberta, and has been involved in sports from a young age. With a rich background in volleyball, she began playing club (with PGVC) in 13U and has captained her club team every season since. Her school volleyball experience culminated in a Metro D1 City championship in her senior year of high school, and a silver medal at ASAA Provincials. A multi-sport athlete, she has also excelled in gymnastics, basketball, and team handball, where she has a few more city and provincial championship
titles.

Her passion for sports goes beyond personal achievement-she believes in empowering athletes to reach their full potential. She believes in the power of competition and the strength of team. With a kind, empathetic, and enthusiastic approach, she’s committed to giving back to the
volleyball community that has shaped her into the athlete and person she is today.

Ryan Jewell – 17U Black – Head Coach

This is Ryan’s second year coaching with Park Girls Volleyball Club. He is excited to bring 25+ years of coaching experience to the U17 program.

Ryan has lived in Sherwood Park his entire life and has been heavily involved in the community through sports, volunteering, and operating businesses. Ryan has also been involved in the community. He was a founding member of the “Strathcona Youth Leadership Council”. Served as the youngest Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce president. He has served as president of the County Clothesline board and also on the Sherwood Park Baseball board as Treasurer.

Ryan started his own volleyball career in grade 5 as a Hawk at the original St Theresa school. He played all the way through to grade 12 at Archbishop Jordan where he was named Men’s Volleyball MVP, and Male Athlete of the Year. He is still planning on continuing his volleyball career but is waiting for his growth spurt to kick in…

Ryan started coaching volleyball at ABJ right after he graduated. He even taught current 17U Coach Ryan Marshall everything he knew as a player, and then brought him on as an assistant coach. They coached ABJ to the only male Provincial Championship in school history. Over the years Ryan has also coached volleyball, basketball, baseball, and rugby, winning multiple provincial and league championships. Recently Ryan has returned to coaching volleyball at St Theresa and the ABJ grade 9 teams, helping to win multiple tournaments and championships. Last year he co-coached Ft. Sask Sonic, a new girl’s program, where they finished top 3rd in the province. Ryan is looking forward to taking what he learned coaching a club team last year and putting it to work.

Craig Bachman – 17U Black – Assistant Coach

Craig Bachman
Assistant coach Park Gils 17U Black
 
As the assistant coach for 17U Black, Craig brings a passion for volleyball and a commitment to supporting the growth and development of the players. Drawing from personal experience as a competitive player starting in junior high, winning cities in High school, Craig continues to play rec Volleyball today, Craig focuses on helping players hone their skills, build confidence, and develop a strong team dynamic.
 
“I believe that teamwork and effort are the foundation of success both on and off the court, and I want our girls to have some fun playing this great game”. “My goal as an assistant coach is to provide guidance and support while empowering each player to reach their full potential.”
 
Outside of volleyball, Craig enjoys golfing, camping and spending time with his family, I look forward to a successful year helping the girls grow as athletes and individuals.

Jordan Sulit – 17U Black – Assistant Coach

Meet Jordan, a 2019 ABJ High School graduate and a volleyball and soccer enthusiast! She played for the Scots for three years and competed with the PGVC from U14 to U18. After graduation, Jordan embraced her love for the sport by coaching the junior varsity team for three seasons while studying hairstyling.

Her coaching is all about growth and having fun while inspiring young athletes to excel both on and off the court.

Dennis Weber – 17U Black – Assistant Coach

Coaching Philosophy:
Part of my coaching philosophy is the recognition that each athlete is different, and building strong coach – athlete relationships is important to understand their individual needs for performance excellence. Positive psychology, growth mindset as well as intrinsic motivation theories work well together and form part of my coaching philosophy. When an individual sees themselves as their greatest competition and the goal is to improve on past performances, they have a higher ceiling and greater potential. This growth mindset is facilitated through positive psychology as well as being internally motivated.

Every athlete is unique and special, it is always a privilege to get to work with them and be a part of their growth and development.

• Masters degree in sport and performance psychology with a concentration in positive coaching and leadership in sports. MS-SPP)
• Masters degree in Health Studies (MHS)
• 5 years coaching with PGVC
• 8 years coaching junior high
• Developmental coach (trained)
• Still actively playing

Ryan Marshall – U18 White – Head Coach

Ryan Marshall is a Certified Advanced Development Coach for Volleyball. He has his Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education Degrees from the University of Alberta.

Ryan has been coaching volleyball for over 20 years. His coaching resume includes 4 years of coaching U18 Men’s Club volleyball with both The Bears program as well as Park Elite Boys Volleyball Club, including a birth in the tier-one national semi-finals. Ryan has also coached high school senior men’s programs for 7 years. A highlight of his high school coaching career was winning a 3A provincial championship. Most recently he has coached junior high girls volleyball at both the senior and junior levels. Ryan has also been involved in coaching volleyball camps for students as young as 10 years old.

Ryan started playing volleyball for F.R. Haythorne junior high school in grade 7. In grade 10 he started every game, as a right side, for the Bev Facey Falcons senior team and by grade 12 he became captain of his high school team. He also played club volleyball throughout junior high and high school. Although two colleges approached him to play post-secondary, Ryan decided to attend U of A to complete his education degree and began his coaching career. Since then, he has played on competitive men’s and coed adult teams. Ryan recently hung up his playing shoes to spend his time coaching.

Ryan has been coaching with the Park Girls Volleyball Club since the 2019-2020 club season. Ryan believes that it is imperative that young volleyball players develop the proper skills and techniques while growing a passion and love for the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork and building character is essential to the success of his teams.

Shawn Crosby – 18U White – Assistant Coach

Shawn started coaching with the Park Girl’s Volleyball Club at the U14 level in 2021, after coaching for 2 years with the Park Elite Boy’s Volleyball Club. He coached the Sr. Girl’s volleyball team for 2 seasons at F.R. Haythorne and is currently coaching the Sr. Girl’s Volleyball team at Bev Facey High School.

Shawn began playing volleyball in grade 5 while living in the Okanagan. He has played volleyball for 20+ years in youth and adult leagues in the Okanagan and in Edmonton. He also competed in track and field, BMX, basketball, rugby, football, and soccer, and he coached his two kids’ indoor and outdoor soccer teams for 6 seasons.

When not playing or coaching volleyball Shawn can be found on one of his many bikes… mountain, fat, or spin. He is a level 2 C.O.R.E. certified spin instructor (since 2014) currently teaching online spin classes in Sherwood Park.

Shawn earned his Bachelor of Phys. Ed. and Bachelor of Ed. degrees from the University of Alberta. Classes included both 100 and 300 level Volleyball, Athletic Injuries, Sport Psychology, Coaching, Biomechanics, and many more. From 2009 to 2022 Shawn worked in pre-school education.

In recent years, Shawn has been challenging himself mentally and physically with endurance mountain bike racing. He has competed in many team and solo races in the 6, 8, and 24 hour distances. He has earned multiple podium finishes including a first place win in a solo 24 hour event.

Shawn’s top priority when coaching is to create a fun and positive environment where athletes feel comfortable challenging themselves to constantly improve. For Shawn, effort and coachability are key attributes he looks for in athletes.

Cassidy Manly – 18U – Assistant Coach

This will be Cassidy’s second year as an assistant coach with the Park Girls Volleyball Club. She has previously coached 2 seasons of 15U with PGVC & NAVC.

Cassidy was born and raised in Sherwood Park, and fell in love with the sport of volleyball in junior high. Failing her first tryouts, Cassidy was determined to learn, understand, and excel as a player of such a beautiful sport. Over the years she went to camps, had one-on-one training, and soon played for her Jr. & Sr. High schools and for NAVC in all positions except for libero. In her grade 12 year she began coaching volleyball and fell in love with the world of teaching.

After a year of upgrading, Cassidy is now beginning her first year at UofA, where she is pursuing a teaching career. She hopes to teach the future generation on sciences and hopefully some volleyball too!

Cassidy is super excited to continue with Park Girls Volleyball as an assistant coach of our 18U team!