2025/26 Beach Coaches
Chan Esperas
Club Director
Chan Esperas has over 28 years of experience in volleyball. While most of it is from the indoor scene, he has transitioned to coaching beach volleyball. With coaching beach as a new discipline, he spent endless hours analyzing the game. He studied core fundamentals, strategies, and tactics from multiple resources. Chan has established a network of coaches and attends clinics and formal coach training programs to develop his coaching style. As a member of USAV, JVA, AAU, AVPA, AOC, and AVCA he has access to a vast library of resources to help develop himself and his athletes. This commitment has lead his team to win multiple national bids over the past few years. Kōkua Beach Volleyball Club was formed when he saw an opportunity to help (kōkua) the athletes of the beach community grow their game. We have gathered the greatest minds available to provide the best training and opportunities for our ohana to compete at the highest level they can achieve.
McKayla Ferris
Coach and Mindfulness Trainer
McKayla Ferris is entering her 4th year with Kōkua. McKayla recently finished her first year as Volunteer Assistant Coach with Gonzaga University’s indoor volleyball program. Prior to joining the staff at Gonzaga, McKayla spent her fifth year of NCAA D1 volleyball eligibility competing on the top team for No. 12 ranked Loyola Marymount Beach Volleyball Team. While there, she received All-WCC First Team honors and nomination for the WCC Female Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award. McKayla spent all four years of her indoor career as a six rotation outside hitter at Gonzaga University. Individually, she achieved the goal of surpassing 1,000 career kills while also being recognized for her commitment to academics as a two-time WCC All-Academic First Team member and two-time WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention. Throughout her collegiate career she has participated in numerous ERVA beach events, several AVPnext tournaments, the 2016 USAV Beach HP Championships and the AVP tour. She had the opportunity to study under many FIVB and AVP legends including John Mayor, Betsi Flint, Diane Nelson, Billy Allen, Stafford Slick, Stanford Beach Head Coach, Andrew Fuller, and Hawaii Beach Associate Coach, Evan Silberstein. She is very excited to join the Kōkua. ohana and play a part in their mission to grow this amazing game!
Angie Tieman
Coach
Born and raised in Colfax, WA, Angie grew up on a wheat farm and came from a family of athletes. She and her two siblings all played and thrived as three-sport athletes, and all later played at the Division I level. Angie played volleyball at Eastern Washington University, where she earned 2nd Team, Honorable Mention Big Sky Honors, as well as All-American Academic honors while playing on the Hall of Fame Eastern Eagle team. Following her stint there, she spent time coaching at the University of Maine, then relocated to San Diego, where she coached for The Bishop’s School and San Diego Volleyball Club before discovering a love for beach volleyball! Angie then trained and competed on several local tours as well as the AVP tour from 2006-2010, where she finished 17th five times. After getting married to her husband Chris in 2011 and starting a family, she has since maintained a consistent practice and love of playing sand volleyball weekly. She and her family have recently relocated back up to Angie’s home in the great PNW! She looks forward to sharing her love of the game here at Kokua and assisting players in building a solid, well-rounded foundation, and continuing to develop as a joyful student of the game!
Mack Tate
Coach
Coach Mack (Aka "Tot") has been part of Kokua Beach Volleyball from its earliest days, starting as a volunteer when the club had just two athletes and one coach. His commitment and passion for the sport have grown alongside Kokua, and today he serves as a beach coach. A former collegiate athlete and current competitive beach, grass, and indoor player, Mack brings a wealth of experience and an ongoing drive to learn from the best. Over the years, he has gained valuable knowledge from elite players and coaches, and credits Billy Allen (Stanford), McKayla Ferris (Boise State), Andy Fulenwider (CSUB/AVP), and Alex Venardos (Boise State) for their mentorship, and continues to study the game through a variety of college and pro-level resources. In addition to his volleyball expertise, Mack is a certified strength and conditioning coach, working both with Kokua athletes and at a local gym to develop explosive power, speed, and overall athleticism and aerobic capacity. He aims to prepare athletes both mentally and physically for the demands of Collegiate beach volleyball. Born and raised in Spokane, Mack is passionate about growing the sport here in the PNW and guiding the next generation.
Kylie Beckett
Coach
Kylie Beckett is entering her 6th year with Kōkua. Kylie played collegiate beach volleyball at College of the Desert in beautiful Palm Springs, CA. She has been playing sand volleyball and indoor volleyball for 7 years. Kylie competed in Evergreen Region's junior sand volleyball league and placed 1st three out of the four years. She is now competing in adult sand tournaments and leagues where she regularly finishes in the top three. Kylie has placed 1st at Seaside Beach Tournament three times, and 2nd once. As a student of the game she is looking forward to coming home and sharing skills and experience with her ohana at Kōkua Beach VBC.
Abby Tompkins
Coach
Abby is entering her 5th year with Kōkua. Abby Tompkins is an accomplished beach volleyball player and coach with a passion for the sport that has been with her since childhood. Growing up in Alaska, Abby played volleyball from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she discovered her love for beach volleyball. She finds the sand courts to be a unique challenge that requires a combination of skill, strategy, and communication to succeed. Over the years, Abby has honed her skills through hard work and a dedication to learning from the best. She has surrounded herself with experienced coaches and talented players, constantly seeking to improve her game. Her efforts have paid off, as she has won numerous beach volleyball tournaments and leagues, including the Alaska beach volleyball championships several times. Abby has been an active member of the beach volleyball community in Spokane, Washington for nine years, where she has had the opportunity to play with and against some of the best athletes in the sport. Her success on the court has translated into her coaching style, as she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her players. Abby understands that beach volleyball is a game of strategy and communication, where quick thinking and teamwork are essential to success. As a coach, she emphasizes these skills and works tirelessly to help her players develop them. Her dedication to the sport and her players has earned her a reputation as an exceptional coach, and she is a valuable asset to Kōkua and its players..
Kate Palelek
Coach
Bio coming soon
Mak Beckett
Coach
Bio coming soon
Joel Evans
Coach
Joel Evens is entering his 5th year with Kōkua and he is one of Spokane’s amazing athletes. While he has only been playing beach volleyball since 2008, he has evolved as an athlete and a coach. Joel has been active in the beach and indoor scene competing in Seaside, Spike2Care, ERVA, and various tournaments and leagues in the area. Joel is no stranger to process of college recruiting and the high-level training it takes to make the next step after high school. Joel Graduated from North Central HS and was offered a scholarship to play Division 1 baseball in San Diego. After weighing all his options, he chose to attend Junior college at Big Bend C.C. and soon transferred to Whitworth to finish out his college career. His commitment to hard work and development landed him a coaching position at Whitworth. As a father he has focused his coaching to volleyball. He has been coaching indoor for the past 3 years and is looking to expand his knowledge by adding beach. Joel is a positive and kindhearted person which blends well with his coaching style to give candid feedback and always be honest with the kids. His love and passion for coaching players on and off the court make him a great fit for our Kōkua Ohana. One of Joel’s rules to live as a coach and a player- “Never talk about how good you are. Show it. That extra rep, every drill, coming early stay late, be that team leader. Coaches notice”
Tabi Mabrey
Coach
Tabitha Mabrey is entering her fourth season coaching with Kōkua. Volleyball has been a major part of her life since middle school, when she set her sights on competing at the collegiate level. She played her first two years at UNLV before transferring to the University of Mary, where she finished her collegiate career. During her time at UNLV, Tabitha was introduced to beach volleyball and competed in her first Southern California tournament, sparking a passion that has stayed with her ever since. Over the past 15 years, Tabitha has coached across high schools, clubs, and camps while continuing to compete in both indoor and beach volleyball. She has played in tournaments such as Seaside and has a deep appreciation for the unique physical, technical, and mental challenges of the beach game. Tabitha brings a wealth of experience to Kōkua and is passionate about helping athletes grow their skills, confidence, and love for the game. She emphasizes strong fundamentals, strategic thinking, and a positive team-first mindset on the court and in the sand.
Katie Schueman
Coach
Katie is entering her second season coaching with Kōkua. She has spent the last few years in Illinois coaching indoor at Quincy University and Bradley University. She also has prior experience coaching club in both the Spokane area and Orlando, FL area. As a player, she spent two years at North Idaho College from 2012-2014. She finished her collegiate career at Webber International University in Babson Park, FL where she had the opportunity to compete on both their indoor and beach teams. Her indoor career ended with multiple Sun Conference selections, an undefeated conference record, and an appearance in the 2016 opening round of the NAIA National Championship. On the beach, her team won the inaugural Small College National Championship in 2017. Katie is looking forward to getting back on the court and sand to sharing her passion for the game with her athletes.
Allie Flynn
Coach
Allie Flynn is entering her second year with Kokua Volleyball Club. She received State Honorable Mention setter while playing at Mead HS. She then went on to play five years of indoor volleyball and one year of beach at Northwest University. During her fifth year, she served as team captain and helped lead her team to earn the NAIA Champions of Character Team Award for Sportsmanship. Allie will also be volunteering with the Gonzaga Women’s Volleyball Team as their team statistician this upcoming season. Allie is very excited to help athletes reach their goals by growing their volleyball IQ, confidence, and performance. She encourages athletes to compete with effort, integrity, and joy.
Kalyn Menzies
Coach
Bio coming soon
Ashley Boswell
Coach
Ashley brings a wealth of volleyball experience to her coaching role at Kokua Volleyball Club, where she coached 14s Competitive in Summer 2025 and previously assisted with youth volleyball and basketball camps from 2019 to 2023. Her extensive playing career includes collegiate beach volleyball, where she is about to begin her senior year at Austin Peay State University after a successful junior year at Stephen F. Austin State University, primarily playing in the 4s pairing during their program's most successful season. Ashley also has a strong background in beach tournaments, having competed multiple years at the Seaside Beach Volleyball tournament, in ERVA youth and adult leagues, and with CPA Volleyball's Beach program. Prior to her beach career, Ashley played two years of indoor collegiate volleyball at Westmont College, where she competed in the 2022 NAIA National Championships. During her time at Freeman High School, she was a decorated three-sport varsity athlete in volleyball, basketball, and tennis. She led her volleyball team to three WIAA State Championship placements (2018, 2019, 2021), earning First Team WIAA All-State and District MVP honors as a senior, and First Team All-League as a junior and sophomore. Additionally, she placed fourth in Tennis Doubles at the 2022 WIAA State Championships and was a two-time District MVP for tennis. Ashley is passionate about sharing her love for the sport and giving back to the volleyball community that has significantly impacted her life.
Julianne Hemphill
Coach
Bio coming soon
Mac Chandler
Coach
Mac is entering his second year of coaching. He spent this summer coaching both boys and girls on the sand and has spent the majority of the summer training and playing in tournaments himself. Mac played as a men’s practice player for the Whitworth University Women’s volleyball team and is returning to this fall to be apart of the team as a volunteer coach.
Evan Connolly
Coach
For about two and a half years, Evan has been dedicated to volleyball, a sport he deeply loves. His passion for the game is evident in his commitment to continually learning and improving, often diving into the intricate details of the sport. He has competed in various cash prize tournaments and participated in major events such as the Sizzler, USAV Men's Nationals, and the Western Cup. Evan is currently preparing for his second season of sand volleyball. In addition to playing, he also coaches for Idaho Impact, where he works with 14s and 16s girls teams and an 18U boys team. He finds coaching to be a rewarding experience that has deepened his appreciation for the game. To Evan, volleyball is more than a sport—it’s a valuable source of life lessons, personal growth, and community. The game has taught him about resilience, teamwork, and the importance of perseverance. He is a strong advocate for the sport and all that it represents. He is coaching at Ridgeline this season and will have a headshot available for media day, which is scheduled for a week and a half from now. He does not currently have any individual headshots on his phone.
Berkeley Neilson
Junior Coach
Berkeley will be entering her 3rd season at Kokua. She will continue her athletic career playing D1 beach volleyball at Boise State. She goes to Mt. Spokane High School, where she plays on the varsity volleyball team. She has been 1st team twice in the GSL league as well as being on the All-State Tournament Team. In beach, she got BVCA best offensive player twice as well as MVP at the Arizona BVCA Open Club Challenge. Alongside her team, she just won BVCA Nationals in the club division. Berkeley is stoked to be continuing to coach young athletes to help them strive for success and become confident in the sand. She is grateful to continue her athletic and coaching journey in her Kokua ohana!
Lizzy O’Connell
Junior Coach
Bio coming soon
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Addyson Putz
Junior Coach
Addyson has been passionate about volleyball since she was eight years old. Now 18, she brings over a decade of experience to the court, including four years of competitive beach volleyball. She’s also been coaching for the past two years, sharing her knowledge and love of the game with younger athletes. Addyson has been a dedicated part of the Kōkua Volleyball family for the last four years, growing as both a player and a coach. She will continue her athletic and academic career by playing beach volleyball at Ottawa University at Arizona. Addyson is so excited to continue coaching young athletes to help them become the best version of themselves as athletes and as people.
Abby Siebert
Junior Coach
Abby is entering her 3rd year coaching beach volleyball, and she has been playing beach volleyball for the past five years. She will continue her journey at the collegiate level with Arizona Christian University. She most recently won the BVCA Club National Championship 2025 alongside her teammates. Beyond competing, she is passionate about coaching and sharing this sport with the next generation. She enjoys teaching young athletes how to ball out, build confidence, and have fun while doing it.
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Gracie Chilimidos
Junior Coach
Gracie Chilimidos is a junior in high school from Spokane Valley and a dedicated beach volleyball athlete with seven years of experience playing for Kokua. She is currently in her third year of coaching, sharing her passion and knowledge of the game with younger players. Gracie recently helped lead her team to a Club vs. Club title at AAU Nationals in Hermosa Beach, a major milestone in her volleyball journey. Inspired in part by her brother, Daniel, a former Kokua player, Gracie continues to train and compete with the goal of playing beach volleyball at the collegiate level.
Tri-Cities Coaches
Ezequiel "Zeke" Zamora
Coach and Tri-Cities Beach Manager
Zeke is all about growing the game and building community. Founder of the Grass N' Smash Volleyball Series and manager of Kokua Volleyball’s Tri-Cities branch, Zeke brings a deep passion for expanding the sport locally. He's committed to building a positive and supportive environment where players of all levels can sharpen their skills and fall in love with volleyball. His goal is to open doors for athletes to compete, learn nonstop, and connect with the sport they love — all while preparing them for life beyond the court and, for those chasing the next level, the pursuit of collegiate competition. When not coaching or managing, Zeke’s out playing volleyball, BBQing, dominating flag football and softball, crushing pickleball, or just fueling his competitive fire. He also makes time to stay grounded, reading his Bible daily to stay centered in faith and purpose. Pumped to be part of the Kokua Ohana and excited to watch it grow and thrive in Tri-Cities
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Tim Jacobsen
Coach
Tim Jacobsen has been coaching volleyball for 10 years, 7 years of beach coaching. Tim played indoor and beach volleyball at Liberty University in Virginia. Him and his wife met playing and coaching volleyball in Michigan. Tim has coached volleyball at almost every age including national club, collegiate, and adult levels. Him and his wife just welcomed a future volleyball star to their family with the birth of a baby girl this summer. Outside of volleyball, Tim works as a PA in Trauma surgery. Tim is excited to be part of the Kokua family and help the Tri Cities grow the game of Beach Volleyball.
Ellie Jacobsen
Coach
Coach Ellie is new to the Tri-cities and is originally from Michigan. She played college volleyball at Adrian College where she tried out many positions. She learned about beach volleyball and loved getting lots of touches and only having 2 on the court! She began coaching indoor volleyball in 2016 but also began to play and coach beach volleyball in 2018 for a local club in Michigan. In her free time you can find her traveling with her husband and baby, reading, hiking, practicing yoga, teaching littles, or vegging out on Netflix.
Easton Webb
Coach
Easton finished his first season as a Tri-Cities Kōkua coach in 2025. He was born and raised in the Tri-Cities, played 13 years of baseball, 2 years of football, and 8 years of basketball before he picked up a volleyball. He’s coached volleyball for a total of 4 years while also playing for the last 8 years. He started playing volleyball at 16 years old for the TC Flyers indoor volleyball club in the 2017-2018 season followed up by his first season of beach volleyball in the summer of 2018 with Sandstorm beach volleyball. He played for 2 years at each club, then became a volunteer/assistant for SBV in 2020 and has found many ways to be a part of the Tri-Cities volleyball community since then. From playing in regular winter open gyms to organized Grass N Smash summers, Easton’s heart will always be in the sand. He enjoys the physical demand, the hustle, the skill sets, the mental challenges and toughness required to play and coach beach volleyball. He’s excited to be a part of the Kōkua family and ready to learn with each new opportunity and experience.
Laynie Erickson
Coach
Laynie moved to the Tri-Cities after playing volleyball at Central Washington University. She has three years of coaching experience and found her love for beach volleyball playing and coaching at Aloha Ball Club NW in Vancouver, WA. When Laynie is not coaching volleyball you can watch her on NBC’s local morning news show where she anchors the news Monday through Friday 4:30a.m.-7a.m. She loves volleyball so much she is willing to stay awake past her 5p.m. bedtime to coach!
Yesenia Lombera
Coach
Yesenia has over 6 years of indoor volleyball coaching experience, having coached at Connell High School and Hanford High School. She’s passionate about coaching the complete athlete and development on and off the court. She’s also the co-founder of the Grass N' Smash volleyball series. Now, she’s eager to grow her beach volleyball coaching knowledge and help expand the sport in the Tri-Cities community. Outside of coaching, Yesenia loves playing volleyball and softball, enjoying any and all water activities, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.