Last update: November 1, 2018 (may be subject to minor changes)
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Jeremy Swann
Leslie Ray
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JEREMY SWANN - OWNER / ROVING COACH
Jeremy is owner of the Xceleration Volleyball Club. He is in his 11th season at Xceleration and in his 15th season of coaching junior girls’ volleyball. Jeremy will also serve as roving coach of the 12Blue team this season with Gayle Swann and Haley Glass. Prior to joining Xceleration, Jeremy spent two seasons at Odyssey VBC. Jeremy was also the Head Coach at Monte Vista HS in Danville for two seasons and led his teams to North Coast Section (NCS) appearances each season. Jeremy played volleyball at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA and soccer at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA. LESLIE RAY - CLUB DIRECTOR Leslie returns for her second year as Club Director for the 2018-2019 season. Leslie is responsible for all operational activities and needs of the club, including management of the support and coaching staff, finance, and detailed tournament, practice, and travel planning. Leslie also has dual roles as head coach of the 17Blue and 14Blue. |
ADVISORY STAFF
Jim Ross
Paul Harrison
Rob Browning
Ruth Lawanson
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JIM ROSS - CONSULTANT / COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Jim is in his 10th year with Xceleration. He began his involvement with Xceleration as a volleyball parent during his daughters’ participation in club volleyball. His initial role was the establishment of the club’s College Development Program that helps athletes navigate through the often-daunting world of college athletic recruiting. That program currently has over 500 coaches and programs in its database and is nationally recognized for its role. He picked up the additional role of Xceleration’s Club Director in 2009 through 2016 to handle the day-to-day operations of the club that included planning, administration, and managing the teams and coaching staff. During that time Xceleration has doubled in size from 6 to 12 teams. PAUL HARRISON – COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Paul is an Xceleration Volleyball Club veteran; first, as a parent of two daughters that had gone through the Xceleration program, followed by his stint as an assistant coach to Andy Schroeder and the 18Blue for two years (making Junior Nationals appearances in Atlanta, GA in 2011 and Columbus, OH in 2012 where the team placed 5th), and in 2018 as Practice Coach while also serving as one of the club’s two College Development (CD) Program directors. Paul has been involved with Xceleration’s CD Program since 2009, where he prides in the joy of seeing Xceleration players reach their potential and achieve tremendous success throughout the years. His current duties with Xceleration are ways for Paul to give back to the club that has helped shape the lives of many young volleyball athletes, including his own. ROB BROWNING – INDOOR COACHING TECHNICAL ADVISOR/BEACH DIRECTOR Rob Browning, head women’s indoor and beach volleyball coach at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA joins Xceleration Volleyball Club to further strengthen its coaching staff and beach program. As the Indoor Coaching Technical Advisor, as well as Beach Director, Rob meets with club management on skill technique and implementation procedures, assists with the design and implementation of club wide practice plans, and assists with the running a series of “Coaches Training Clinics” for all Xceleration coaches prior to the start of the season. Read more. RUTH LAWANSON – LESSSONS COACH As the Club's lessons and clinics coach, Ruth will be available to all players to work on all skills and techniques to prepare for or during the season. Ruth Lawanson has been involved with volleyball for over 35 years as a player, coach, and clinician. She has coached at the University of Nevada, U.S. Air Force Academy, Fresno State, Angelo State, and Purdue University. In her career, she has helped coached 25 all-conference players, one all-region selection, and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) honorable-mention All-American. She has also helped mentor 90 academic all-conference student-athletes. A setter and hitter during her career she was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team that won the bronze medal in Barcelona, Spain. She spent four seasons with the U.S. National Team, playing on the 1991 World Cup squad that earned a bronze medal in Japan and the 1990 World Championships team that won a bronze medal in China. She was also honored with the national team's 1991 Judy Bellomo Players Award and won a gold medal with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Festival West Region team. Read more. |
COACHING STAFF
Much of what makes up our club is the result of our tremendous coaching staff. They are skilled volleyball players and coaches who are trained by the Xceleration staff in the methods that we want them to develop in our players. In addition, we make sure to only employ coaches that are being good role models on and off the court. We have very high standards for our staff that ensures that your daughters are being taught good life lessons both in and out of competition.
There is more to being a good coach than just an extensive knowledge of the game – you also have to be able to teach the girls how to effectively identify and work towards goals. We make sure to have coaches that not only preach it, they live their own lives by it.
There is more to being a good coach than just an extensive knowledge of the game – you also have to be able to teach the girls how to effectively identify and work towards goals. We make sure to have coaches that not only preach it, they live their own lives by it.
Andy Schroeder
Brett Leggitt
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ANDY SCHROEDER - HEAD COACH 18BLUE
Andy is entering his 11th year with Xceleration and 14th year as a club volleyball Head Coach. Prior to joining Xceleration, Andy spent four seasons coaching at Odyssey VBC and NorCal VBC. As a player, Andy played D-1 volleyball for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He was an AA-ranked beach volleyball player and, in 2007 was voted into the Seaside Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame. In 2015, Andy was named a finalist for the PrepVolleyball.com National Club Coach of the Year. In the last nine years, Andy has coached Xceleration’s 18Blue teams that have consistently qualified for the USA Volleyball (USAV) Junior National Championships, with three teams finishing in the Top 5 in 2010, 2012, and 2013. During his coaching career at Xceleration, more than 140 of his former players have gone on to play in college. BRETT LEGGITT - ASSOCIATE COACH 18BLUE Vacaville native Brett Leggitt is in his 2nd year coaching with Xceleration. Growing up he played basketball and ran track at Canyon HS in New Braunfels, TX. He then attended Southwest Texas State University, now known as Texas State. After studying Agriculture Business, Brett later joined the U.S. Air Force and spent four years on active duty, and another six years as an active member of the Reserves. He fell in love with the sport and learned to play while serving in the Air Force. He played Middle Blocker for his squadron’s team. Brett joins the Xceleration staff with nine years of coaching experience. He also served as the Head Coach of the freshman team at Vanden HS in Fairfield, CA for the 2012 season. He has coached all levels of club from 13U through 18U. Brett has been volunteering for the USA Volleyball High Performance National Team Tryouts for the past six years. Brett has been invited to work USAV High Performance Training Camps the past two summers as an assistant coach. Brett loves coaching as it allows him to be a part of the lives of so many amazing young people. He enjoys seeing athletes succeed both on the court and off as they move on through the different phases of their lives which he finds rewarding. |
Salomon Leon
Haley Glass
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SALOMON LEON – HEAD COACH 18WHITE
Salomon joins Xceleration for his 2nd season after coaching the 15White in 2018. He was a four-year letterman at Ygnacio Valley HS in Concord, CA. At Ygnacio he trained as a Setter, Outside, and Libero. As a player he has earned Bronze at Boys Junior National Championships and MVP honors. He played club volleyball for PacRim VBC. Salomon has been coaching club for six years. He has coached at PacRim, Solano, and Core VBCs. As a coach he has earned a bronze medal at nationals. Salomon loves to watch his athletes grow. He finds joy in the overall process of player development throughout the season. Salomon has a strong love for the game and wants to share this passion with his future team. HALEY GLASS – ASSOCIATE COACH 18WHITE Xceleration alumnus Haley Glass returns to the club as the 12Blue co-head coach and 18White associate coach after a storied volleyball career as a Defensive Specialist at both Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and then at Portland State University (PSU) in Oregon where she was a two-time Big Sky Fall All-Academic honoree in 2016 and 2017. She earned her degree from PSU in History in 2018. Prior to her college career, the Las Lomas HS (Walnut Creek, CA) graduate lettered in volleyball three times as a DS/Libero and Outside Hitter. There she was featured by Cal High Sports in its Top 4 Plays of the Year and won the North Coast Section (NCS) Division II Championship in 2012, earned 2nd team All-League in 2013, and 1st team All-League and MVP in 2014. Haley was a college recruit out of Xceleration after her time with the 18Blue team. Haley said, “It will be nice to be able to experience a different side of the game. I also am looking forward to helping girls learn the tools they need to be successful at a high level.” Her favorite sports figure is Olympian and all-around athlete Jim Thorpe. |
Leslie Ray
Lindsey Ray
Jade Sanford
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LESLIE RAY – HEAD COACH 17BLUE
Leslie returns to Xceleration for her 6th season with the Club. Leslie is also in her 6th season as an assistant coach at Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward, CA. Leslie was a starting Libero at CSUEB for two seasons before graduating with a degree in Child Development. Prior to CSUEB, Leslie attended Golden West JC and prepped at Long Beach Poly HS, where she was a high school All-American. Leslie played six seasons of club volleyball with the prestigious Mizuno Long Beach VBC. A fierce competitor on the court, Leslie brings a love of the game to her coaching. She is an excellent student of the game and is able to convey both the skill and passion to her players. LINDSEY RAY – ASSOCIATE COACH 17BLUE Lindsey is back for her 6th season with Xceleration. Lindsey is currently playing for the Cal State East Bay volleyball team after completing a celebrated high school career in Southern California at volleyball powerhouse Long Beach Poly. She capped her prep career in 2012 by being named “Long Beach Century Club Player of the Year” and “Long Beach Press Telegram All-Area Player of the Year” after leading Poly into the 3rd Round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championships. An exceptional talent, Lindsey is looking forward to teaching volleyball and working with Xceleration’s players in a sport she loves and is passionate about. JADE SANFORD – ASSOCIATE COACH 17BLUE Jade joins Xceleration for her 5th season with the club – all five seasons coaching with Leslie and Lindsey. Jade prepped at Skyline HS in Dallas, TX, where she was recruited by and attended South Carolina State University (SCSU). She earned Radford Conference All-Tournament honors in her first season at SCSU. Jade transferred to Cal State East Bay for her sophomore season, where she finished her career. She was a team captain and starting Middle Blocker her senior season. Jade has a Masters degree in Sports Management from Texas A&M-College Station’s distance program. |
Lucas Abbott
Jade Santos
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LUCAS ABBOTT – HEAD COACH 16BLUE
Lucas returns for his 8th season with Xceleration and has coached or played volleyball for over 20 years. His Xcel 15Blue team last season finished Top 5 in the Open Division at the AAU Girls' Nationals in Orlando. Also, in the 2018 Final National 15s Club Rankings, Prepvolleyball ranked his team at #45 (of 80 ranked) in the nation and was the highest ranked 15s team in the NCVA! Lucas was a Middle Blocker and All-League performer at Las Lomas HS in Walnut Creek, CA before heading off to play D1 volleyball at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. While at Humboldt, Lucas was the team’s starting Middle Blocker for four seasons and team captain his last two seasons, and led the squad to Nationals twice. His playing career continued until 2013, culminating with a season playing professionally with the PVL/NCVA’s NorCal Premier. Lucas is currently Girls’ Varsity Head Coach at Berean Christian HS in Walnut Creek, CA. He has taken his team to the NCS playoffs all four of his seasons as the Head Coach including making it to the semi-final round of the CIF State playoffs last season. He has also served as the assistant coach for the PVL/NCVA Men’s NorCal Premier in previous seasons. Away from volleyball, Lucas has dedicated his career to youth development, which he incorporates into his coaching. He is the program director for a youth outreach program at the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, called Boost@BerkeleyHaas. JADE SANTOS – ASSOCIATE COACH 16BLUE Jade returns to Xceleration for her 4th season. Jade played for the club’s 18Blue team in 2012, when the team qualified for the USAV Junior Nationals and placed 5th in the country. Prior to joining Xceleration, Jade played five years of competitive volleyball for Endline VBC. She excelled at the Opposite and Defensive Specialist (DS) positions at Moreau HS in Hayward, CA earning 1st Team All-League honors from the Mission Valley Athletic Conference in her junior and senior seasons. Jade was named Moreau’s MVP and team captain in her senior year and was consistently on the Honor Roll. Jade was recruited from Xceleration to play DS at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, CA before transferring to Orange, CA to set for Chapman University in 2014. Jade is a versatile athlete as she completed her collegiate career as the starting Libero for the Panthers, leading the team in digs. Jade received a degree in Psychology from Chapman University in 2015. |
Natasha Gayle
Kristen Root
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NATASHA GAYLE – HEAD COACH 16WHITE
Natasha returns for her 10th year with Xceleration after having previously coached at the 14s, 15s, and 18s levels. This will be her first season coaching the 16s, after completing her 4th straight season leading the 14White team last season. As a player, Natasha prepped at Holy Names HS in Oakland, CA where she was an all-league performer her last two seasons. She played club volleyball for Golden Bear, East Bay Connections, and City Beach. Her City Beach team won the Volleyball Festival in two of her years with the club. She went on to attend the University of Oregon, where she was a member of their nationally ranked club volleyball team. In her free time, Natasha spends time with family, reads, and is a HUGE Oregon Ducks fan. Her volleyball philosophy is to teach and work her players hard in skill development in a fun and healthy environment. KRISTEN ROOT – ASSOCIATE COACH 16WHITE Kristen returns to Xceleration as associate coach of the 16White after a two-year stint as coach of Xceleration’s 13White and 14White a few seasons ago. With four years of coaching experience, the Libero/DS at Oakland's Holy Names University (HNU) and Sacramento's American River Community College loves helping people reach their goals. She loves the game and enjoys helping girls gain confidence and skills that apply to every aspect of life. At HNU she was named to the PacWest Conference All-Academic team. Before that in high school, Kristen was named the Best Defensive player during her senior year and played club volleyball for Force, Gold Cal Jrs., and Precision. Kristen has a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University and B.A. in International Relations from HNU. Kristen’s favorite athlete is basketball legend Michael Jordan for his quote, "Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion." |
Michael Doherty
Isabel Villalobos
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MICHAEL DOHERTY – HEAD COACH 15BLUE
With more than nine years of volleyball coaching experience, Michael joins Xceleration for his 1st year as the head coach of the 15Blue. Hailing from Walnut Creek, CA the De La Salle (Concord) setter, and now a coach at his alma mater played for and coached at various club volleyball teams in the East Bay and Northern Nevada. With respect to his coaching, Michael said, “I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to work for four prominent programs (and now my 5th) in the NCVA. I also have had the privilege to coach kids at every level of this game, from a kid who’s 10 years old with no prior experience to college athletes. Along the way, I have kept an open mind which has allowed me to gain an extensive amount of information about the game which I use in my coaching.” Michael also proclaims to be a “pretty big volleyball nerd and can (will) talk your ear off about the history and philosophy of the game.” Michael said, “I started playing when I was 12 and coaching when I was 15, so this early exposure led me to cultivate a passion, as well as a skill for developing kids into better players, leaders, and friends.” He continued, “I can give kids tools that can positively impact their experience with the game. Whether that is a competitive advantage to making a team, being part of a community they can call home, or the opportunity to play the game at a higher level. It's a real cool feeling watching kids grow up to be successful and thinking I might have made a difference.” Outside of volleyball Michael is an outdoors enthusiast, “I try to backpack any weekend I have free. Other than that, my life is all volleyball. When I am not coaching or being a student, I am actively seeking out more opportunities to play!” And if he isn’t busy enough, Michael is currently pursuing an Economics degree from Saint Mary's College in Moraga, CA. His favorite athletes are basketball’s Larry Bird and Klay Thompson, and Brandon Crawford of the San Francisco Giants. ISABEL VILLALOBOS – ASSOCIATE COACH 15BLUE This will be Isabel’s 2nd year of coaching with Xceleration. Isabel had also coached at St. Patrick-St. Vincent (SPSV) in Vallejo, CA for the JV Boys team and the Diablo Valley 14s girls team. Isabel went to SPSV HS and played on the Varsity volleyball team all four years, making Tri-Counties Athletic League (TCAL) All-League for two years and also as the Vallejo Times Herald Athlete of the Week her senior year. She has played all positions on the court but has been a true outside hitter since the beginning of her volleyball career. She played at Xceleration her senior year on the 18White team as a captain. Isabel played two seasons at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA where she was captain of the volleyball team. Isabel is excited for this season. She truly enjoys coaching because she has a passion for volleyball and loves to see every player grow to become a great player, teammate, and family. |
Ashley Mulshenock
Michaela Gardner
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ASHLEY MULSHENOCK – CO-HEAD COACH 15WHITE
Ashley returns for her another season as coach of the 16White. She enjoys being able to bring the gift of volleyball to other people and be a step in their path to get them where they want to be. The Oakland native has been coaching since 2015 for CYO, Jr. Club, Club, High Performance, and Clinics. She previously coached at Core and played Middle in college. Her favorite athlete is Nyjah Huston. MICHAELA GARDNER – CO-HEAD COACH 15WHITE Michaela returns to Xceleration as a first-time coach after playing on the club’s 18-1 team. Michaela has assisted at Diablo Valley VBC and Premier VBC in Nebraska and has also coached at multiple volleyball camps for kids. She prepped at St. Patrick-St. Vincent, first playing middle and then finished as an outside hitter. In college, Michaela was an outside hitter all four years. In her first collegiate season at Ashford University in Iowa, she earned Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Conference for the NAIA, followed by a year at Cal State East Bay, and then at Bellevue University in Nebraska. During her junior and senior years at Bellevue, her team made it to nationals both years. She is currently finishing her psychology degree. Michaela said, “I first fell in love with the game of volleyball my freshman year of high school, after I was asked by the coaches to join because I’m so tall. I told them I didn’t know how to play but they convinced me to try. From my first practice my love for the game grew profoundly. I started out on the freshman team; the game seemed so much more fun and easier to get the hang of than basketball, which I had been playing since the third grade. By the end of my freshman season I was pulled up to varsity for post- season and I was determined to play volleyball in college. I was able to accomplish this goal by hard work and the guidance of the Xceleration family.” She followed, “I enjoy passing on the knowledge that I’ve learned throughout my volleyball experience and seeing how that knowledge positively impacts the girls’ skills I’m coaching. It also gives me the opportunity to stay connected to the sport I love. I enjoy being able to bring the gift of volleyball to other people and be a step in their path to get them where they want to be.” Her favorite athlete is Serena Williams. |
Leslie Ray
Taylor Patton
Todd Ajari
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LESLIE RAY – HEAD COACH 14BLUE
Leslie returns to Xceleration for her 6th season with the Club. Leslie is also in her 6th season as an assistant coach at Cal State East Bay (CSUEB). Leslie was a starting libero at CSUEB for two seasons before graduating with a degree in Child Development. Prior to CSUEB, she attended Golden West JC and prepped at Long Beach Poly HS, where she was a high school All-American. Leslie played six seasons of club volleyball with the prestigious Mizuno Long Beach VBC. A fierce competitor on the court, Leslie brings a love of the game to her coaching. She is an excellent student of the game and is able to convey both the skill and passion to her players. TAYLOR PATTON – ASSOCIATE COACH 14BLUE Taylor joins Xceleration for her 2nd year with the club. She has played volleyball for four years at Northgate HS in Walnut Creek, CA followed by two years while she attended Diablo Valley College (DVC) in Pleasant Hill, CA. Taylor has also coached for the Diablo Valley VBC and helps the DVC girls out at their practices. Taylor has played all front row positions, but considers herself to be a true Outside Hitter. Taylor coached the 12s girls club team for Diablo Valley VBC and is big on fundamentals. What Taylor enjoys most is recognizing the potential in each player, bringing it out, and watching them grow. Taylor is passionate, enthusiastic, and devoted to the team. TODD AJARI – ASSOCIATE COACH 14BLUE Todd is in his 1st season with Xceleration as associate coach of the 14Blue. Originally from Hawaii, Todd is now a Benicia, CA resident where he has coached at the club, and high school JV and Varsity teams at Benicia HS. As an assistant coach, Todd has taken two of his club teams to Junior Nationals in Minneapolis in 2017 and Detroit in 2018. Todd has also coached fast-pitch softball, baseball, and wrestling. Todd has overcome many challenges, including struggling academically and being a late starter in the game of volleyball. With determination, focus, hard work and extra effort, he raised his bar hitting the books and sharpened his skills at College Park HS in Pleasant Hill, CA. He also played for Golden Bear VBC his senior year and in high school made the Diablo Valley Athletic League (DVAL) All-League Team as a Setter. After high school, Todd played men's club volleyball and coached at Sport Health for one season before enlisting in and playing for U.S. Air Force team where he also made the All Armed Forces Team in his last year in the military. Todd then continued to play men’s club teams until 2007 when he focused on coaching his kids in sports. Todd said, “I enjoy coaching sports in general because I like the challenge of finding ways to communicate with individual players and teams, so they are able to understand and perform better. I put a lot of effort into volleyball as a player and I like to share my experience to help other players improve and develop passion as an athlete and for volleyball.” His favorite athletes are Brandon, Amanda, and Dayna Ajari. |
Patrick Samples
Makayla Johnson
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PATRICK SAMPLES – HEAD COACH 14WHITE
Patrick is in his 1st season with the club as head coach of the 14White. A former Setter and Outside Hitter, Patrick has over eight years of coaching experience at the club and high school levels for both girls and boys. Patrick attended Vacaville HS and later earned an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. He enjoys teaching and watching players progress. Patrick’s favorite athlete is tennis great Roger Federer. MAKAYLA JOHNSON– ASSOCIATE COACH 14WHITE Makayla is in her 1st year with Xceleration. She has been playing volleyball for 11 years, two of which were at Solano Junior College where she also coached various clinics and was an Honorable Mention. She earned her Liberal Studies degree from Solano JC and currently is a student at Sacramento State University pursuing a BS in Kinesiology. The Stockton native attended American Canyon HS where she played Outside and Right Side while also playing at Club Solano 18-1. Makayla enjoys coaching “to see players grow and learn, especially at an impressionable age where their minds are able to absorb information. I also enjoy learning from other coaches because this is a job profession I hope to pursue once I’ve completed by studies.” Makayla keeps a busy schedule; she is currently an assistant to Coach Darla Williams at Solano College. Her favorite athlete is Penn State alum Simone Lee who is currently on the USA volleyball team. |
Nicole Kuhnle
Michelle Branner
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NICOLE KUHNLE– HEAD COACH 14GRAY
Nicole is in her inaugural year at Xceleration with both indoor and beach volleyball coaching experience. Hailing from a town called Esparto in Yolo County, Nicole grew up in 22-acre farm to care for and farm animals. She played for Club Woodland, Esparto HS, and Los Medanos College volleyball teams as an OH and DS, and has coached for Bay Area VBC. Describing her coaching philosophy, Nicole said, “I love watching people grow and learn new things which bring joy and happiness into their lives. I really enjoy helping athletes reach their goals and become better people on and off the court. It’s a pretty amazing feeling when you can teach someone something, whatever it may be. Volleyball and fitness are so important to me and a big part of my life, being able to help athletes in those specific areas brings so much warmth to my heart. It’s very rewarding and I’m a very passionate person, so seeing someone else find and grow within their own passion is priceless.” Nicole has a degree in dental assisting. She is also an athlete who loves to play beach volleyball and coach indoor/outdoor. Her favorite athlete is nutrition and fitness guru Natacha Oceane, so naturally she’s big into fitness and health and will be taking her personal training exam in less than a month. Some of her favorite things to do besides volleyball are to hiking, lifting heavy things, training and singing. MICHELLE HECTOR BRANNER– ASSOCIATE COACH 14GRAY Michelle is in her first year with Xceleration and in her second at the club and middle school levels. The Oakland resident played high school volleyball at George Washington HS in San Francisco where she was an All-City Middle Hitter. Most recently, her 12U team won its regional championship while at Club Kalani. Michelle said, “Leadership and motivating people to be their best self is what I do. Fun is a necessity to life and I love the outdoors.” She followed, “I enjoy coaching, to assist girls in becoming the best player they can be. Teaching girls the true meaning of team. We win together, we lose together. Success is what you make it.” In addition to volleyball, her favorite sports are water and snow skiing. Michelle has a BA in Psychology and an MBA, and is currently working on a doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Her favorite athletes are Serena Williams and Klay Thompson. |
Ricky Santos
Anthony Carlos
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RICKY SANTOS – HEAD COACH 13BLUE
Ricky returns to Xceleration as coach of the 13Blue team after initially leading the club’s first-ever 12s team a few years ago. Ricky has over 12 years of club, CYO, and high school coaching experience, with the most recent being at James Logan HS in Union City, CA where the Colts were crowned the Northern California Division I champions in 2017, and he is currently coaching at Tennyson HS in Hayward. Ricky’s team has also won two Oakland Diocese CYO championship titles while he coached at Holy Spirit. The Union City, CA resident played as a Setter and Opposite for his high school team in the Philippines. Ricky enjoys coaching volleyball because he loves seeing the girls develop their skills and have fun. Ricky is the father of 16Blue coach Jade Santos and Xceleration athlete Ruby Santos. His favorite athletes are his daughters (and Tiger Woods). ANTHONY CARLOS – ASSOCIATE COACH 13BLUE Anthony joins Xceleration for his 1st season as associate coach of the 13Blue. Anthony attended James Logan HS in Union City, CA where he played point/shooting guard for the Colts basketball team, and then John F. Kennedy HS in Fremont, CA where he currently resides. Anthony describes himself as “a really caring person who wants to help others get better and achieve their goals.” Anthony has two years of coaching experience and his favorite athlete is Boston Celtic guard Kyrie Irving. |
Jeremy & Gayle Swann
Haley Glass
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JEREMY SWANN – ROVING COACH 12BLUE
Jeremy is in his 11th season at Xceleration and is in his 15th season of coaching junior girls’ volleyball. Jeremy will also serve as roving coach of the 12Blue team this season with Gayle Swann and Haley Glass. Pror to joining Xceleration, Jeremy spent two seasons at Odyssey VBC. Jeremy was the Head Coach at Monte Vista HS in Danville for two seasons and led his teams to North Coast Section (NCS) appearances each season. Jeremy played volleyball at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA and soccer at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, CA. GAYLE SWANN – CO-HEAD COACH 12BLUE Gayle is a Bay Area native that played basketball and ran track at then Cal State Hayward. She worked as an athletic trainer and a teacher in sports medicine at California HS (Cal High) in San Ramon, CA for 10+ years. Gayle also served two years as Assistant Coach of Cal High’s varsity boys’ volleyball program and two years as Assistant Coach for Monte Vista high school’s varsity girls’ volleyball program in Danville, CA. Last year, Gayle ran Xceleration’s first-ever Winter Workout and Co-Ed Beginners programs. She also has assisted with the program’s Beginner’s Club for girls 12-and-under. HALEY GLASS – CO-HEAD COACH 12BLUE Xceleration alumnus Haley Glass returns to the club as the 12Blue co-head coach and 18White associate coach after a storied volleyball career as a Defensive Specialist at both Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and then at Portland State University (PSU) in Oregon where she was a two-time Big Sky Fall All-Academic honoree in 2016 and 2017. She earned her degree from PSU in History in 2018. Prior to her college career, the Las Lomas HS (Walnut Creek, CA) graduate lettered in volleyball three times as a DS/Libero and Outside Hitter. There she was featured by Cal High Sports in its Top 4 Plays of the Year and won the North Coast Section (NCS) Division II Championship in 2012, earned 2nd team All-League in 2013, and 1st team All-League and MVP in 2014. Haley was a college recruit out of Xceleration after her time with the 18Blue team. Haley said, “It will be nice to be able to experience a different side of the game. I also am looking forward to helping girls learn the tools they need to be successful at a high level.” Her favorite sports figure is Olympian and all-around athlete Jim Thorpe. |
SUPPORT STAFF
Normie Pineda
Tomas Pineda
John David
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NORMIE PINEDA – TRAVEL COORDINATOR
Normie makes team travel arrangements for Xceleration. She has been part of the Xceleration family since 2010 when her daughter Dana started her club volleyball career. You will often see Normie cheering for our teams at tournaments and will be keeping our teams organized with respect to tournament travel. TOMAS PINEDA – MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY Tomas came to Xceleration in the 2010 season when his daughter, Dana, began her club volleyball career. During the six seasons that Dana competed for Xceleration, Tomas shared his photography with the club, visiting court-side with teams during tournaments. After Dana graduated in 2015, Tomas stayed on to continue taking photographs for Xceleration. You will see him at tournaments capturing court action while cheering for our teams, documenting other club events, and collaborating with Xcel’s Media & Communications Director to produce visual and print media for the club. His digital images of teams and athletes are made available to Xceleration families free of charge. JOHN DAVID – MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS John has been affiliated with Xceleration since 2011 when his daughter Sam joined the club, and ever since the media team was created in 2013, he has become the club’s historian, archiving and reporting on highlights and accomplishments of its current and former athletes. John also supports the club’s various online registration and communications needs, such as content development for and management of its website, presence in social media circles, creation of marketing and digital materials (e.g., Player Recruitment Profiles and Team Information sheets), and publication of the club’s monthly newsletter, XCELlent NEWS, which currently is in its 6th season. |
