The AVCA T.E.A.M. Awards—which promote Togetherness, Empowerment, Accessibility, and Mentoring—are a demonstration of the association’s commitment to the volleyball coaching profession and the sport itself. The AVCA, in collaboration with the newly established AVCA Ad Hoc T.E.A.M. Committee , is driven to foster a strong sense of community for coaches, deliver meaningful value, and empower them as leaders at all levels of the sport—while also supporting their growth and long-term success in their coaching careers.
The committee is pleased to announce the 44 recipients of this year’s T.E.A.M. Awards. The coach development program, which originated in 2015, will bring these volleyball leaders to the 2025 AVCA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. At the event, recipients will participate in a series of educational seminars—many of which focus on professional and personal development for coaches—and take part in additional relationship-building experiences during the Convention.
“We are very excited to be honoring these 44 volleyball coaches, and future coaches, with the T.E.A.M Awards,” said Committee Chair Charita Stubbs, who is the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Arizona. “Bringing the 2025 recipients to the AVCA Convention is a very tangible example of the committee living into its mission to empower coaches and provide meaningful experiences where they can further develop their skills and grow as leaders in our community.”
2025 AVCA T.E.A.M. Award Recipients:
Phylis Anyango
Jackson Juniors
Club Director
[Sponsored by Delta Region of USAV]
Madison Beasley
Alabama State University
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Southwestern Athletic Conference]
Alexandria Becerra
Western Illinois University
Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
[Sponsored by Ohio Valley Conference]
Karly Berkland
South Dakota State University
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by Summit League]
Kaitlynn Biassou
Rio Rancho High School (NM)
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Mountain West Conference]
Katie Butler
Western Carolina University
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by Southern Conference]
Taylor Davenport
Temple University
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by American Athletic Conference]
Maya Duckworth
Iowa State University
Student-Athlete
[Sponsored by Big 12 Conference]
Erin Fairs
Rice University
Assistant Coach
`
Erin Golden
Omaha Starlings Volleyball
Assistant Director
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association]
Deja Harris
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
[Sponsored by Mountain West Conference]
Ainise Havili
Butler University
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Big East Conference]
Nicole Heard
SWAG Volleyball
CEO/Founder of SWAG Volleyball
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Rachel Henderson
Bethune Cookman University
Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
[Sponsored by Southwestern Athletic Conference]
Torri Henry
Columbia University
Assistant Volleyball Coach
[Sponsored by Ivy League]
Cami Hicks
Louisiana Tech University
Assistant Coach
`
Timira James
Mattie T. Blount High School/Mobile Starlings Volleyball Club
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Gulf Coast Region of USAV]
Tricia Kama
Lahainaluna High School (HI)
Varsity Head Coach & Program Director
[Sponsored by Shoji Family]
Andrew Kim
Binghamton University
Volunteer Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by America East Conference]
Kristin King-Winfrey
Skye Sports Academy
VP of Volleyball Operations & Club Director
[Sponsored by Gateway Region of USAV]
Felicia Marshall
Fremont High School (UT)
Assistant Coach
`
Jordan Molina
Long Beach State University
Assistant Coach
`
Luanna Luiza Moreira Emiliano
Georgia Institute of Technology
Player Development Assistant
`
Karen Morgan
Texas Legacy/The OCR
Coach
[Sponsored by Atlantic Coast Conference]
Ashleigh Nicoll
Gardner-Webb University
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by Big South Conference]
Christiana Oyawale
Stony Brook University
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Coastal Athletic Association]
Alexander Phan
Badger Region Volleyball Association
Communications Coordinator
[Sponsored by Badger Region of USAV]
Hadley Pride
Providence College
Student-Athlete
[Sponsored by Big East Conference]
Dante Pulphus
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by Ohio Valley Conference]
Riley Rabedeaux
Southern Illinois University
Graduate Assistant
[Sponsored by Missouri Valley Conference]
Ron Reyes
Eastlake Starlings Volleyball Club
Director
[Sponsored by Junior Volleyball Association]
Isaac Rivera
Davis Senior High School (CA)
Varsity Head Coach: Boys & Girls
`
Jesse Santos
Bourgade Catholic High School (AZ)
Head Coach
`
Grace Smith
Willamina Volleyball Club
Director
[Sponsored by Columbia Empire Region of USAV]
Darryle Smith-Blair
Fostering Dreams Volleyball
Master Coach
`
Walter Spurlock
University of Virginia
Volunteer Technical Coordinator
`
Shannon Thompson
Road Runner Volleyball Club
Club Owner
[Sponsored by Southern Region of USAV]
Ignacio Valdemoros
Mississippi State University
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Southeastern Conference]
Diana Villalpando
Portland State University
Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
[Sponsored by Big Sky Conference]
Haley Walz
California State University, Northridge
Assistant Coach
[Sponsored by Big West Conference]
Storm White
Tennessee State University
Graduate Assistant
`
Alexis Williams
Prairie View A&M University
Volunteer Assistant
`
Isabel Zelaya
Pacific Coast Volleyball Club
Club Director
`
Penelope Zepeda
Bakersfield College
Interim Indoor/Beach Head Volleyball Coach
[Sponsored by Atlantic Coast Conference]
The AVCA T.E.A.M. Committee seeks to elevate the sport through the AVCA T.E.A.M. Awards Program by embracing the power of recognition and the transformational effect of professional and personal development programming. This is in step with its overall mission of focusing on open, meaningful dialogue and action aimed at eliminating barriers to advancement in the volleyball coaching profession and to participation in the sport of volleyball.
This year’s AVCA Convention, to be held Dec. 17–21, will feature over 125 educational sessions, a Volleyball Marketplace, and activities such as a silent auction that raises funds for the AVCA T.E.A.M Awards program.
