NOVATO YOUTH VOLLEYBALL


Katie Lucey

 

Founder and Director of Novato Youth Volleyball Association

Katie Lucey founded NYVA seeing the need to introduce, offer and further the sport of volleyball to the young athletes of Novato. Katie is an active community member, highly involved in the public school system, and the community at large.  She is a mother of two daughters who have embraced Katie's love of the sport, and through her nurturing and encouragement of bettering their skills, Katie found herself invited to coach youth volleyball through CYO and other organizations. Katie coached her (then) Beginner 5th grade CYO Team to take 1st place in the  North Marin Divisional Championship, placing second in their overall county division.  The following season, her team went undefeated placing first in both their section and county. Katie could not have been more proud of her girls, nor more elated seeing the smiles on their faces as they held their trophies high for their beaming parents!
 
Katie has been on the volleyball court since her elementary school days.  She played Varsity Level her sophomore through senior years of high school and continued playing through her college years.  From the floor where she plays, to the sidelines where she coaches, to the referee stand, Katie never loses focus of her commitment to the youth, their self-esteem and feeling of success. Katie created Novato Youth Volleyball Association and is proud for all it stands for. 

Co-Head Coach Kari Whalen

 

Kari's volleyball career started in her middle-school years and continues on today through coaching youth and actively participating on adult leagues. Kari attended La Miranda High School in Southern California where she not only played at the varsity level, she was nominated Team Captain two years in running.  Both years, she led her team to their league and regional championships.  In her senior year, Kari's team went to the California State Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championships, where they made it to the second round.  Kari was selected two-time MVP and named to the All-Suburban League. 


After high school, Kari went on to play for Sonoma State University, once again nominated Team Captain.  After obtaining her B.A. Degree in Sociology and a Minor in German, she traveled abroad where she continued her studies at University of Tubingen, Germany.  There, she was selected and played for TSV Rottenberg Volleyball Verein, a semi-pro volleyball club! 


Coach Kari's personal skills are as bright as those of her professional volleyball. She is a part-time substitute teacher for Marin and Sonoma, and a Kindergarten Teacher at the German Language School of Marin.  She volunteers her time for their Community Outreach Program. 


Kari is passionate about seeing young athletes succeed, but never at the expense of their self-worth or self-esteem.  She is committed to youth, their education, and their overall physical health.  NYVA is proud to have her leading our coaching staff.

Co-Head Coach Stephanie Peters

 

Stephanie began her volleyball career in middle school and continues playing today in her post-college years.  She attended Terra Linda High School where she played J.V. her freshman year and Varsity her sophomore, junior and senior years.   Stephanie played as her team�s starting Setter, nominated Team Captain three years running, and received the �Most Valuable Player� and �Most Inspirational Player� awards in her senior year. She led her team to MCAL Playoffs and second round of the North Coast Section Conference. In her off seasons, Stephanie played Club and Grass Doubles� Volleyball.


In 2006, Stephanie was recruited by The University of California, Berkeley for Division I Intercollegiate Volleyball.  She sustained a serious and college athletic career ending injury.  She was Athletic Chair of Alpha Delta Pi, Psi Chapter and continued playing for Cal Berkeley in their Premier Intramural Volleyball League winning 5 consecutive Intramural Championships.  In 2010, Stephanie graduated from Cal Berkeley receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree.  


In her post-college years, Stephanie continues volleyball through coaching youth and actively playing in adult leagues and tournaments. She is certified in First Aid and CPR. Having grown up with both her parents working as high school physical educators and accredited coaches, Stephanie has a sincere appreciation of the positive effects athletics has on our youth.   


"From a very early age, I grew up in the gym watching my mother administer and coach an incredibly successful volleyball program. I saw the relationships she formed with her players, the enthusiasm they developed for the game, and the genuine appreciation and respect they had for her.   I love teaching and sharing my experience and passion for the game with others, particularly young athletes, and I�m proud to follow in my mother�s footsteps�.    -Stephanie Peters
Jacqueline Woodall - NYVA Coach

Jacqueline has been a student of volleyball since she could first grab one with her hands and now that coaching is part of her life she couldn't be happier! She grew up in a very athletic family with a mother who put volleyball in her life and now it is something she has been in love with since she was 8 years old. She started out playing Marin Juniors 12s and continued my career until 18s. She played 4 years at Marin Catholic being captain her senior year and earning MCAL 1st Team All League in 2005. She continued her journey at Dominican University in San Rafael playing all 4 years earning Most Inspirational player and Captains Award. During her time at Dominican she worked volleyball summer camps every year and fell in love with coaching and watching her love for the sport glow through a young kid. She graduated May 2010 from Dominican with a BA in Digital Art and pursued a goal of something she loves and now she has added coaching volleyball into the mix. She has gone back to her roots of Marin Juniors and started coaching a 16-2s team and can not wait to start filling more lives with her love for volleyball. A lot of people know her as the Dominican Camp Director "super star" or the CYO ref from Marin Catholic, but now it feels good to put the word teacher/coach behind her name for something she loves so much.
Ryan Burke - NYVA Coach

Ryan Burke developed a passion and fell in love with the game of volleyball when he was only 12 years old. Since then he has been obsessed with the ins and outs of what he calls the greatest game in the world. Ryan played three years of varsity volleyball, as an outside hitter, at Westlake High School, in Southern California. He was the team captain his junior and senior years, voted the teams most valuable player, named the Marmonte League’s most valuable player and was an all Ventura County first team member in 2003. Ryan chose not to play collegiate volleyball but could not stay away from the sport for too long. He returned to volleyball after graduating from the University of California, at Riverside. He was an assistant varsity coach at his high school alma mater from 2008-2010. As a coach, Ryan, was voted the Ventura County coach of the year and won a league championship in 2010. Ryan is also an avid volleyball player and finds himself playing twice a week in adult leagues and the occasional tournament on the weekends. Ryan is currently teaching math at Bayside Middle School, in San Mateo. He is also the 8th and 6th grade boys basketball coach at Bayside Stem Academy, in San Mateo.

Jenna Sudlow - San Marin High School Varsity Player & NYVA Student Coach

Jenna started playing CYO volleyball in the 7th grade and hasn't stopped since.  While only a sophomore in high school, Jenna found herself a starter on the San Marin High School Varsity Team.  Due to her unique jumping abilities and strength, she leads her team as Middle Hitter. During the off season, Jenna plays club volleyball and student coaches for NYVA.  

Jamie Lavitoria - Marin Catholic High School Varsity Player & NYVA Student Coach 


Jamie started playing CYO volleyball in 7th grade. Today she plays for the Varsity Marin Catholic High School Team as their starting Right Side Hitter/Setter. Jamie was instrumental and a key player in her team winning their section and advancing to the 2010 Norcal finals. She has received several awards from her high school coaches.  During the off season, Jamie plays club volleyball and student coaches for NYVA. 

Rene Hooper-Peters - NYVA coach

 

Rene Hooper-Peters� 27 year volleyball coaching career began at Terra Linda High School where she created the program in 1974.  Her teams were MCAL champions and North Coast Section qualifiers numerous years.  Her 1986 Terra Linda team went to the California State (CIF) semifinals. Her coaching experience varies from junior high school to Head Coach at College of Marin and Dominican College, where her teams were 3rd place Golden Valley Conference champs (COM), and CVC Conference champions (Dominican) in 1989. Many of her athletes went on to play volleyball at Division I, II, and III colleges. In 2003, she was elected North Coast Section Honor Coach, and she is listed In Who�s Who of American Teachers. She has been an American Sport Education Coaching Instructor and she is past director of the 62 year old Cal Poly State University�s Physical Education, Athletics, Coaching and Health workshop. In 2010, Rene retired from a 36 year Physical Education teaching career.

Allie Vierra-Watson - San Marin High School Varsity Player & NYVA Student Coach


Allie started playing volleyball in 7th grade and has a wide range of experience in the many positions of thesport.  In her freshman year, Allie played Middle Hitter for Marin Catholic High School. She moved to Novato and joined the JV team for San Marin High School as their Setter.   In her junior and senior years, Allie played Varsity Libero (back row specialist) and Setter.  During the off season, Allie has played club volleyball, assistant coached the San Marin Boys Varsity Volleyball Team and student coaches for NYVA.

Kristi Langenbacher - NYVA Coach


Coach Kristi Langenbacher began playing volleyball in middle school, and developed a love for the sport which has lasted for many years. She played in high school and in Europe, and continues to play in adult recreational leagues. She has coached at the middle school and high school levels, as well as numerous volleyball camps and programs. As the wife of a Coast Guard officer, she has lived in many different states around the country where she has immersed herself in the sport of volleyball. She has officiated high school volleyball for nearly 20 years in Washington State, Alaska, Michigan, Indiana and North Carolina. Kristi is the mother of two, a daughter and a son. She hopes that her children will develop a lifelong love of volleyball, as she has.