2026/27 Girls Coaches
(Under Consruction)
Team costs will be distributed at tryouts. Travel team means the team will play in some tournaments that require flights to be purchased. Regional team means the team will play in some tournaments that could be a day's drive away, but no tournaments that require flights to be purchased. Amount of travel tournaments will be given at tryouts on team's info sheet.
Chan Esperas
Club Director & U14 Intro to Hybrid Indoor Head Coach (Travel Team)
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.
Jeff Witherow
U18 Travel Head Coach & U12 Regional Head Coach
With over 12 years of experience as a club coach and 6 years as a high school coach, including his current role as the head coach for Central Valley High School, Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to athlete development. As a private trainer for the past decade, he has honed his skills in fostering individual talent while building team camaraderie. His coaching philosophy centers on pushing the limits of every athlete, regardless of age or skill level. He believes that players are capable of achieving more than they often realize, and this growth should always align with the joy of the game. Ultimately, teams that play for one another and share a love for the sport will consistently outshine those with mere individual talent.
Terry Veile
U18 Travel Assistant Coach - No CVHS Volleyball Players Allowed for this team.
Fairfield, Washington native Terry Veile (Vy-lee) brings nearly a decade of coaching experience across collegiate, high school, and club volleyball. A former NCAA Division I athlete, Terry competed at the collegiate level while developing the discipline, preparation, and competitive mindset that continue to shape his coaching approach. He also set his university's javelin record during his career. Terry has coached at the NCAA Division I, NAIA, Junior College, high school, and club levels, providing athletes with insight into both player development and the college recruiting process. As a recruiting coordinator, he evaluated and recruited athletes from across the United States and Internationally while helping student-athletes navigate their path toward collegiate volleyball. He also helped guide an NCAA Division I program to a postseason NIVC Sweet 16 appearance. Throughout his career, Terry has had the opportunity to learn from and coach alongside Olympic and International Volleyball Hall of Fame athletes. He has earned a bronze medal at USA Volleyball Nationals with a sitting volleyball team, competed nationally and internationally, and helped lead the ERVA All-Star program to its first silver medal at the USA Volleyball All-Star Championships. Terry enjoys helping athletes grow through skill development, volleyball IQ, and creating a positive training environment where players are challenged, supported, and able to enjoy the process of becoming better.
Liz Knight
U17 Travel Head Coach and U14-2 Regional Head Coach
Liz has been in the volleyball world since 7th grade. In high school, she played as an all-star six rotation pin hitter and did a little bit of setting. She started coaching right out of high school in 2014, and has coached a variety of age groups and levels up through varsity. Currently, she coaches the freshman team at Post Falls High School. As an undersized hitter, Liz learned the importance of using your natural gifts to become the best athlete you can and finding a way to fulfill your role on the team with those gifts, and this is something that she loves to help her players find in themselves. She is very excited to be joining the Kokua team this season and looks forward to helping athletes reach their goals!
Kalista Lukovich
U17 Travel Assistant Coach
Kalista Lukovich is entering her first season with Kokua Volleyball Club and is really excited to be a part of the Kokua community. She grew up in Happy Valley, Oregon and finished her club days at Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy (OJVA). Kalista graduated from Adrienne C. Nelson High School in 2023, after playing varsity all 4 years and earning an All-State First Team reward her senior year. Kalista now plays at Eastern Washington University as a 6 rotation OH, and will be a junior this fall. After her college eligibility is finished, Kalista plans on continuing her volleyball career by playing professional volleyball overseas. After that, she wants to stay in the volleyball world and coach, so she’s super excited to get a head start on her future career. Kalista can’t wait to help spread knowledge to younger girls and be their biggest cheerleaders!
Meghan Rockwood
U16 Hybrid Indoor Head Coach
With nearly 20 years of playing experience, Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every practice. Over the course of her playing career, she has qualified for the USAV National Championships an impressive seven times, demonstrating consistent dedication and elite-level performance. She understands the commitment and drive it takes to compete at a high level. Now Meghan is back for her fifth year of coaching with Kokua. She specializes in setting and defensive training, helping athletes sharpen their technique, court awareness, and confidence in key positions. Her coaching style blends high-level skill development with a strong emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and fun. Above all, Meghan is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love for the game. She strives to create a positive, supportive environment where players not only grow as athletes but also as teammates and individuals. Her goal is to inspire the next generation to find the same joy in volleyball that has fueled her for nearly two decades.
Hannah Reiman
U16 Hybrid Indoor Assistant Coach
Hannah is in her fifth year coaching for Kokua. Having grown up in the Spokane area, she played middle blocker in high school for Chan as well as at Central Valley HS. Some of her accomplishments in her volleyball career include a team place at state with CV and national bid with her club team. She was also a track and field athlete and holds the high school league record for triple jump. For college, Hannah attended the University of Idaho where she chose to continue her track and field career as a triple jumper. Since moving back to the area, she has sparked her love for coaching. She has coached volleyball at Mt. Spokane HS and track and field at CV for the last 2 years. She is so excited to share her love for competition and volleyball with Kokua, and feels so lucky to be able to come back and create more positive volleyball memories for young athletes.
Abby Tompkins
U16 Hybrid Indoor Assistant Coach
Bio Coming Soon
Kara Nitteberg
U16 Travel Head Coach - No LCHS Volleyball Players Allowed for this team
Bio coming soon
Garrett Schmerer
U16 Travel Assistant Coach - No LCHS Volleyball Players Allowed for this team
Bio coming soon
Tabi Mabrey
U15/16 Travel Team Head Coach (Will Practice in Coeur d'Alene)
Tabi graduated from Lake City High School in 2007 and continued her volleyball career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) before finishing at the University of Mary. Since then, she has coached club, high school, camps, and private lessons, and continues to enjoy playing the game herself. Tabi believesvolleyball is about much more than developing skills. It's about building confidence, communication, teamwork, accountability, and creating relationships that extend beyond the court. Her coaching philosophy is to help athletes understand the why behind the game, not just the how. She wants players to think critically, compete with confidence, embrace mistakes as part of learning, and support one another as teammates. Her goal is for every athlete to leave the gym not only as a better volleyball player but also as a more confident person who values being part of a team and loves the game.
Lexi Ellenbecker
U15/16 Travel Team Assistant Coach (Will Practice in Coeur d'Alene)
Lexi is excited to bring her diverse playing, coaching, and fitness experience to Kokua this season. With a lifelong love and passion for volleyball and a background in both indoor and beach competition, she emphasizes strong fundamentals, game IQ, confidence, and a growth mindset in every athlete she coaches. She jumps at opportunities to continue to play competitively herself, allowing her to stay connected to the game she loves while bringing current experience and perspective to her athletes. As a former multi-sport athlete with extensive fitness and performing arts training, Lexi incorporates creativity, body awareness, teamwork, and communication into her coaching. She is passionate about continuous learning and helping athletes of all levels develop both physically and mentally. Known for her positive, high-energy, and supportive approach, Lexi creates an environment where players are challenged to grow while feeling encouraged and confident. She is committed to developing not only skilled athletes, but strong individuals on and off the court.
Heather Darrough
U15 Travel Head Coach
Bio coming soon
Cassie Moeller
U15 Travel Assistant Coach
Cassie Moeller is excited to join the Kokua coaching staff as a former Kokua beach competitor. Cassie finished her club career with CPA as an opposite and graduated from Mead High School as an outside hitter, where she was awarded an All-State First Team honor her senior year and helped the Panthers clutch the 3A State Championship her junior year. After Mead, Cassie redshirted one year at Western Washington University before transferring to Spokane Falls Community College. Since graduating from Spokane Falls, she is going on to play volleyball at Eastern Washington University. Cassie is excited to give back to the community that gave to her and to sharpen her coaching skills under some great mentors with Kokua, all while sharing her passion and knowledge with the growing volleyball community!
Kalyn Menzies
U15-2 Travel Head Coach and U16 Regional Head Coach
Kalyn is excited to return for her fourth season coaching at Kokua! She loves coaching volleyball, and to share her lifelong passion for the game with young players. Kalyn feels volleyball is such a wonderful combination of teamwork and individual skill – it provides the best opportunity for the girls to learn lifelong skills like: how to work hard and challenge themselves; how to battle through tough moments and come out better on the other side regardless of wins or losses; how to be comfortable being uncomfortable and find out that they’re capable of more than they knew; how to be better friends, teammates and communicators; how to have fun and create energy even when things aren’t going your way; and of course, the team works on all these things as they improve their volleyball skills as well ;) She hopes to bring all the energy and positivity to her teams each season so that they can have the most fun, positive and rewarding time together! Kalyn is thankful for the opportunity to keep doing what she loves!
Kayce Lampman
U13 Travel Head Coach
Coach Kayce, in her fourth year with Kokua, brings a wealth of volleyball experience and a profound love for the game. Her journey into the world of volleyball started in Spokane, where the sport became an integral part of her life. Her introduction to volleyball was as a spectator, watching her sister play for a few years. Recognizing her growing passion, her parents enrolled her in a developmental team when she was just 8 years old. Thus began her personal journey with the sport that would become a lifelong love. Throughout her teenage years, Coach Kayce's dedication and skill led her to a significant milestone: receiving a bid to nationals during her U16s year, where she showcased her talents as a setter under Coach Chan's guidance. Her high school years were marked by her participation at Gonzaga Prep, and she continued her volleyball career at Spokane Falls Community College. Coach Kayce's coaching journey commenced at LC, where she has spent the three years honing her coaching skills. She has also been a dedicated club coach for the past seven years. Her enthusiasm and commitment to nurturing young talent align seamlessly with Kokua's values, and she eagerly anticipates creating lasting memories for young athletes and their families as a proud member of the Kōkua family.
Kaitlyn Royer
U13 Travel Assistant Coach
Kaitlyn is in her fourth year of coaching with Kokua and is the U16 assistant coach. She is originally from Boise, ID and moved up to Spokane to continue her volleyball career at Spokane Falls. Before moving to Spokane she played competitive club for Idaho Crush Volleyball Club starting at age 12 and was a 3 year varsity volleyball player at Eagle High School where she was captain her senior year, lead her team to a 3rd place finish at the Idaho State Championships and earned All Conference Honors both her junior and senior year. She played libero both years of her college career and was eager to move on to the coaching side where she started at Saint George’s High School for the Girl’s Varsity Team. Kaitlyn is looking to help young women feel empowered playing the sport they love and pour back into the volleyball community that helped raise her!
Kate Palelek
U14 Intro to Hybrid Assistant Coach (Travel Team)
Coach Kate brings over 7 years of beach and 8 years of indoor volleyball experience to the court. She played beach volleyball at Bushnell University in the one’s pair as a defender, where during her freshman year of college, she earned newcomer of the year for her beach volleyball team. On the indoor side, she competed in club and high school before continuing her volleyball career at the collegiate level. Competing as a dual athlete at the collegiate level has taught Kate time management, organization skills, and growth as both an athlete and an individual. Now entering her third year of coaching, Kate has experience working with athletes at a variety of levels, coaching at both the competitive and elite level with ages ranging primarily from 14-18. As a coach, Kate is passionate about helping athletes reach their full potential both on and off the court. She strives to create an environment that balances hard work with enjoyment, encouraging athletes to challenge themselves, support their teammates, and continuously grow as players and as people. Kate recently graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bushnell University, which has strengthened her understanding of motivation, learning, and athlete development. She is committed to helping every player improve their volleyball IQ, compete with confidence, and develop a lifelong love for the game.
Kenedie Witherow
U14-2 Regional Assistant Coach
A Spokane native, Kenedie Witherow brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a coach and a player. Raised with a volleyball coach for a dad, and enjoying a well rounded playing career, Kenedie has the perfect combination of skill, theory and passion to help guide the next generation. Her high school career consisted of three consecutive appearances at the Washington 4A State Championships with Gonzaga Preparatory School, she was named a breakout prospect for the 2024 PNQ Nationals in club ball, and she extended her play in college where she showed her versatility as a libero, hitter and setter. She will also be building on an impressive resume of coaching, training and reffing experience that has helped her to truly understand the game from all aspects. Kenedie is looking forward to joining the Kokua family as it is the prefect environment to support her philosophy that every player deserves to be developed to their full potential and that supporting they player as a whole is the best way to unlock that potential.
Mallory Gonwick
U13 Regional Coach
Mallory Gonwick brings over 25 years of competitive volleyball experience as a player, coach and official. She has coached from the young developmental level up to an assistant at the Varsity level. Developing fundamental skill is a key component to her coaching philosophy. Players will develop a strong fundamental base that will help them succeed at the next level.
Chanel Phillips
U12 Regional Assistant
A Spokane native, Chanel Phillips joins Kokua Volleyball Club for her first season as a coach. Chanel brings her passion, energy, and deep understanding of the game—especially from the perspective of a libero, her primary position. With years of competitive playing experience and a continued commitment to the sport as an active player, Chanel is excited to help the next generation grow in skill, confidence, and love for volleyball.
Joel Evans
Keiki Train and Play and Jump Training
Born and raised in Spokane, Joel Evans has dedicated his life to sports, discipline, and coaching excellence. A former collegiate baseball athlete, Joel’s competitive spirit and commitment to athletic performance have shaped his journey on and off the field. Since 2004, Joel has been deeply involved in the world of volleyball—both indoor and beach—competing at high levels and constantly refining his skills. In 2014, he transitioned into coaching, where he has spent the past decade mentoring athletes, building strong teams, and developing a coaching philosophy rooted in hard work, integrity, and growth. Whether training aspiring players or leading seasoned teams, Joel brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and leadership that continues to elevate the volleyball community in Spokane and beyond.