Our incredibly knowledgeable and passionate coaching staff has represented all levels of collegiate, club, and high school volleyball. In past years, this list has included coaches from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III from such conferences as the NESCAC, NEWMAC, Little East, CAA, CCC, UAA, NE-10, America East, Patriot League, and the Ivy League. This past summer, we welcomed coaches from the CC, MAC, ODAC, SUNYAC, A10, MAAC, MIAA, CCIW, Atlantic 10, Empire 8, and the NAIA conference WHAC!
This 2025 summer will be no exception as many of our previous coaches have returned along with a few wonderful new additions. Please check out the list of our great 2024 staff members, their institutions as well as their complete and impressive bios. As more coaches are confirmed for the summer of 2025, we will update this list. In addition to this wonderful group below, multiple current and former college players have assisted us in our efforts to provide the best experience for all. We are honored that so many of them will come back to work with us during the spring and summer as they are the ultimate keys to our success in running some of the best technical clinics in New England! On behalf of all of the aspiring and talented players who come through our courts in the JumboDome, we are grateful for their time and effort.
Final Staffing Note: Due to the fact that we run 16 different clinics during the spring and summer months, we truly appreciate the help of our peers and their players over a stretched-out period of time. Our 2025 staff will come together quickly as so many are ready to get back on the courts. If they are listed below when we announce the 2025 Staff, it means they are confirmed to coach at least one clinic and sometimes as many as six, and every option in between! The clinic directors will lecture/coach at every spring & summer session. However, the rest of the staff will vary by clinic throughout the July clinics based on their summer schedules. As we start to announce the 2025 JVBC Staff in the coming months, if there is a particular coach with whom you are interested in working, please e-mail us so that we can let you know the exact dates a specific coach has committed to. *Please keep in mind that WE CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT EVERY PLAYER WILL GET TO WORK WITH EVERY COACH, but our clinics are small in nature so it is very likely you will meet all of our staff members at some point. We appreciate your understanding in advance.
Tufts University – Head Coach and JVBC DirectorTufts University Head Coach, Cora Thompson, has enthusiastically guided the Jumbos to their current place among the region and country’s best. Since her first season in 2002, Tufts has compiled an outstanding 438-144 record for a .753 winning percentage. Also in that span, the Jumbos have posted a 153-37 record (for a .805 winning percentage) in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regular season play, have competed in the conference playoffs 21 straight seasons, have earned 12 NCAA Tournament berths (including five “Sweet 16” & three “Elite 8” Appearances) in the last 14 years, and have been ranked the #1 Division III team in New England during seven of the last eleven seasons. In 2021, Tufts finished with a Final AVCA national ranking of 10th in the country only to follow it up with another outstanding high ranking of 13th in 2022 out of 400+ teams overall.
Thompson has coached 60+ players to All- NESCAC honors including 3 Players of the Year, 4 Rookies of the Year, and a Defensive Player of the Year. On the regional level, she has coached 50+ players to All-New England honors including 2 All New England Players of the Year and 2 All New England Rookies of the Year, 45+ AVCA All New England Regional honorees as well as two 1st Team All American hitters, a 2nd Team All American setter, and multiple honorable mention All Americans. Most importantly, she has coached 65+ All-Academic players who successfully earned a 3.5+ GPA while competing in the incredibly demanding NESCAC.
Thompson has earned NESCAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, & 2022. Thompson was honored most recently for her efforts at the helm of the Jumbos during their incredible 23-6 run which saw her 2022 squad finish a nearly perfect 9-1 during the regular season NESCAC play. Despite a final ranking of #1 in New England, her 2nd place regular season squad got on the road and headed into the NESCAC Championship with some scores to settle. They convincingly battled to their way into their 9th NESCAC Championship final match where they earned their 2nd conference championship in 3 years! As a result, the Jumbos stayed on top of the New England NCAA regional poll earning additional hosting honors for the 2022 NCAA Regional tournament where they came up just short of their goal to return to the NCAA “Elite 8”.
After a year away from collegiate play due to the pandemic, Coach Thompson’s 2021 team returned to the court, picking up right where they left off in 2019 and then some. During their 2021 campaign, the Jumbos compiled an impressive 21-6 record with convincing wins over previously #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country, Johns Hopkins & Trinity of Texas, respectively. As a direct result of her team’s incredible effort and the work of her amazing staff, the team advanced to their 4th NCAA “Sweet 16” as the #3 seed at the Johns Hopkins NCAA Regional site. There they upset the #1 seed and hosts, Johns Hopkins, and earned the right to continue on to the NCAA D3 National Championship “Elite 8” round in St. Louis where their 2021 campaign came to an end across the net from the eventual National Champions, Wisconsin Eau-Clair.
Thompson was also named New England Coach of the Year (2008, 2016 & 2019) as well as AVCA Regional Coach of the Year 3 times in 4 years (2016, 2017 & 2019). She has also previously been tagged as ECAC Coach of the Year in 2014.
Tufts University – Associate Head Coach and JVBC Assistant DirectorCoach Resa Provanzano is entering her 4th season this fall as the 1st assistant for Tufts University Volleyball program. Shortly after Coach Resa officially joined the Tufts staff in March of 2019, she helped the Jumbos achieve great success as they went on their incredible 28-2 run in the fall of 2019. She was instrumental in helping the squad finish a perfect 10-0 again for the 3rd time in just 4 years during regular season NESCAC play. For the 6th time in 12 years, the Jumbos finished #1 in the NESCAC earning hosting rights which gave them the opportunity to earn the title of 2019 NESCAC Champions in front of their home crowd. As a result, the Jumbos stayed on top of the New England NCAA regional poll earning additional hosting honors as the #1 seed for the 2019 NCAA Regional tournament. Unfortunately, they came up just short of their goal to return to the NCAA “Elite 8” for the first time since 2016. However, as a direct result of her incredible effort during her inaugural season, Coach Resa and the Tufts volleyball staff were named the 2019 NESCAC Staff of the Year, the 2019 New England Staff of the Year (previously earned in 2008 & 2016) as well as AVCA Regional Staff of the Year for the 3rd time in 4 years (previously earned in 2016 & 2017.
Prior to arriving at Tufts, Coach Resa racked up14 years of incredible coaching and recruiting experience to our courts, most recently coming off 5 seasons as the Head Coach of the UMASS Lowell River Hawk women’s volleyball program the fall of 2018. She was named head coach of the program on February 11, 2014. Provanzano was charged with helping the DIV II program transition to DIV I in the America East Conference and guided them to a program-best conference win total in the 2018 season. The team was one of five America East teams to win the AVCA Team All-Academic Award as the River Hawks registered a 3.43 team GPA in 2016 & 2017 academic year, which was the second-highest of any River Hawk female team over the two semesters.
The River Hawks posted a 4-29 overall record (111 AE) in her first season as head coach (2014), including the team’s first ever Div. I victory on September 3rd at Quinnipiac and UMass Lowell’s first America East win on November 14th vs. Stony Brook (32) at Costello Athletic Center.
Previously, Provanzano spent six years (2008 – 2013) as an assistant coach at Northeastern University under head coach Ken Nichols in the Colonial Athletic Association. While with the Huskies, she helped the team to an impressive 113-58 overall record (.661 winning pct.), three CAA Championship Game appearances, two CAA regular season titles in 2008 and 2011 and two 20-win seasons.
Provanzano served as recruiting coordinator for the Huskies and assisted in the day to day operations of the program, which included practice plans, scheduling, scouting, budget management and team travel.
She has amassed an overall record of 185-89 with nine straight winning seasons as an assistant coach at the Division I level. Provanzano has trained 24 All-Conference selections, including three Conference Players of the Year, five Rookie of the Year athletes and one two time Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to Northeastern, Provanzano was an assistant for two seasons (2006-07) at Alabama Birmingham where she helped lead the Blazers to a 51-20 record in a two year span. In 2006, the school captured its first Conference USA championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. The Blazers followed that up with a second place finish in the Conference USA Tournament in 2007. In her two seasons, Provanzano coached three All Conference USA selections as well as two Conference USA Newcomers of the Year. Provanzano used her playing experience as a defensive specialist and outside hitter to coach UAB’s single season record holder for digs.
Prior to her stint at UAB, Provanzano spent the 2005 season as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern, where she served as the recruiting coordinator. She helped lead the Eagles to a 21-11 record and coached a first team All Southern Conference selection.
A 2005 graduate of Georgia, Provanzano was a four year letter winner and two year captain for the Bulldogs. She led Georgia in digs from 2000-02 and finished her career fifth all time in school history in digs. The Bulldogs reached the SEC Tournament semifinals twice while she was playing. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Provanzano was given the Georgia Athletics Sportsmanship Award in 2002 and was named to the SEC Good Works team in 2003.
Tufts University – Assistant CoachWith a vast resume of playing and coaching experience, Terry Condon officially joined the Tufts University volleyball staff in the Fall of 2017 and is going on her 7th season with the Jumbos. She has been instrumental in helping the Jumbos remain a top program in New England while breaking into the top 10 nationally! Condon entered her 5th Hall of Fame when the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Association inducted her in the Spring of 2021. In 2015, Condon was enshrined in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions as both a coach and a player as well!
She most recently coached at UMass-Boston, successfully turning the Beacons into one of the most recognizable programs in Division III women’s volleyball. During her 11 seasons in Boston, Condon led the Beacons to unprecedented success, including seven straight Little East Conference regular-season and six tournament championships, as well as three NCAA Division III Regional crowns, which the Beacons brought home in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
Coach Condon’s student-athletes earned multiple All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American honors. During the Condon era, a total of five players were named AVCA All-Americans. Another eight earned AVCA / New England Women’s Volleyball Association (NEWVA) All-Region honors, including two Rookies of the Year. In the Little East Conference, 15 of her players were named to either the first or second team, and UMass had seven different players nab Rookie of the Year while four others were named Players of the Year. Condon was conference Coach of the Year twice, and was selected as the top coach in the region twice. UMass achieved their highest national ranking ever on the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll at 16th under Coach Condon.
The former UCLA standout is considered one of the greatest players to ever step on the floor for the Bruins, having been named to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992. She was the first female athlete to receive this honor, and was also honored as one of the 25 greatest players in UCLA history. Her number 34 was retired by the Bruins as well. During her career the Bruins had an 89-12 record, which included a pair of national titles in 1974 and 1975 and a national runner-up placing in 1976.
She made her mark on the world stage as well, playing for the United States Volleyball National Team throughout the 1970s. She was a five-time member of the USA Women’s National team, including the 1970 World Championship team and the Pan American Games teams of 1971 and 1975. Her accomplishments were recognized by her selection to the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary Women’s All-Era Team (1949-77) and her honor as an All-Time Great Female Player by the United States Volleyball Association in 1983.
Following two years as the Head Coach of California State University at Bakersfield, she took over the reigns at Texas A&M University and in six years led the Aggies to three NCAA Tournament appearances. She coached the squad to a 180-101 mark for a .641 winning percentage. She still holds the Aggies’ coaching standard for highest winning percentage in a single-season with her 33-4 (.892) mark for the 1984 campaign.
She returned to her alma mater as an Associate Athletic Director for UCLA from 1986-1994 and received three Achievement Awards. She remained in Athletic Administration when she became a Senior Associate Athletic Director at Northeastern University in Boston in 1994 and remained with the Huskies until 1998. Condon’s selection as UMass Boston Head Women’s Volleyball Coach was in addition to a position that she already held as Senior Associate Athletic Director for the school, which she started as in February 2006.
Highly respected for her contributions to women’s athletics, Condon was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame to recognize her coaching and teaching accomplishments within the community and the college arena.
Condon graduated from UCLA in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and currently resides in Rowley.
Tufts University – Assistant CoachWe welcome Grace back to our JVBC staff in 2022! Grace most recently served as a volunteer assistant coach at Boston College. Previously, Grace Krumpack coached for two seasons as an assistant coach with the Judges of Brandeis University. She is a 2018 Brandeis graduate, having played both outside hitter and libero for the Judges in her career.
Since her graduation, Krumpack has served as a strength and conditioning coach at Brandeis and at our very own JVBC clinics. Krumpack completed a three-month strength and conditioning internship at IFAST (Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training), one of the top gyms in the country for athletic performance, development, and movement science. In 2021, started her own personal training company, Revive X Grace LCC in 2021.
Tufts University – Certified Athletic TrainerElise Fengler joined the Tufts University Sports Medicine staff in 2022 and is the Athletic Trainer for the Tufts Volleyball team.
She graduated from The University of Pittsburgh in 2016 with her B.S in Athletic Training and earned her Masters in Exercise Science at Syracuse University in 2018. Her Master’s thesis, “The Influence of Exercise and Exercise Duration of Salivary miRNA in Professional Male Soccer Players”, explored salivary miRNA as a non-invasive method of collecting objective data on exercise responses and concussion diagnosis which was used to co-author 2 articles, “Refinement of Saliva microRNA Biomarkers for Sports-Related Concussion” and “Saliva microRNA Biomarkers of Cumulative Concussion.
While at Syracuse she worked as an Athletic Trainer for Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists with various local high schools and colleges (SUNY ESF, LeMoyne, Cazenovia, and Bryant and Stratton).
Most recently she worked at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia primarily working with Men’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball, and Baseball
Sports coverage: Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball and Sailing.
Jamie AlbrechtJamie Albrecht joined the Tufts University Sports Medicine team in 2022. Prior to coming to Tufts, she was the head athletic trainer at Norwell High School in Norwell, Mass. for two years.
Albrecht graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Ithaca College in 2018 where she also had the opportunity to study abroad at the Institute of Technology Carlow in Carlow, Ireland. She then went on to earn her Master of Arts in Athletic Training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she worked with the gymnastics and softball teams.
Sport Coverage: Football, Men’s Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field
Jasmine LeeJasmine Lee joined the Brandeis Athletic Training staff as an assistant athletic trainer in the summer of 2021.
Lee came to Brandeis from Plymouth State University, where she earned her Master’s in Athletic Training the previous May. Lee worked with the Panthers’ football, men’s ice hockey, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams. She also worked at Plymouth Regional High School and New Hampton School in New Hampshire.
A native of Taiwan, Lee earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from the National Taiwan University of Sport in 2015 and 2017, respectively. She worked with the track and field team at NTUS, earning the University’s Academic Achievement and Special Contribution Awards. Lee also served as the athletic trainer for the Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association in July of 2017 and for the National Taiwan Normal University from February 2018 to February 2019.
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach – Tufts UniversityWe are so excited to introduce our Tufts Volleyball Strength Coach, Paul Stone, to all of you this summer! Coach Stone is beginning his second year at Tufts, working as an assistant strength and conditioning coach on Dan Kopcso’s staff. Our team loves how hard he pushes them in the weight room and how he supports them off court.
Coach Paul arrived at Tufts after completing a strength and conditioning graduate fellowship at Merrimack College (North Andover, MA) where he worked primarily with the men’s/women’s golf and women’s volleyball programs. Prior to Merrimack, Stone had been a full-time coaching assistant at Duke University, as well as completing a number of other internships with Mullen High School (Denver, Colorado), USA Rugby Women’s XV’s program, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Stone earned his master’s degree in May of 2023 from Merrimack College and his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in July of 2021 from MSU Denver. Stone is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and holds certifications from USA Weightlifting (USAW-L1) and Functional Range Systems (FRCms).
Welcome to the JVBC clinics, Coach Paul Stone!
Strength & Conditioning Assist/Manager Tufts Personalized Performance ProgramAlex O’Keefe has been a member of the Tufts Strength and Conditioning staff since 2012. A 2008 graduate of Springfield College, his coaching experience includes time at Auburn University, the University of South Carolina as well as Athletic Evolution. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to work with a wide variety of athletes, including those at the youth, collegiate, professional and Olympic levels.
Alex works directly with and writes programs for the Baseball team, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Men’s Track and Field, the Golf team. He also assists with the Football team, Softball, Men’s Lacrosse, and Ice Hockey, His unique approach allows him to develop a great connection with the athletes, which leads to their success not only in the weight room, but also on and off the field.
O’Keefe has a degree in Applied Exercise Science from Springfield College as well as his NSCA CSCS.
Alesia BennettAlesia Bennett (Vaccari) was named the fourth head women’s volleyball coach in program history in June of 2014.
In 2021, Lara Verstovsek ’25 became Brandeis’s first rookie named to an All-UAA team, while in 2022, she and Sydney Bent M’23 were both first-team All-Region and honorable mention All-Americans, the third and fourth All-Americans in program history. Bent was also Brandeis’s first first-team All-UAA selection since 1990. As a junior in 2023, Verstovsek became the first woman in Brandeis volleyball history to earn multiple AVCA All-America honors, landing on the honorable mention squad again.
In 2017, Bennett guided the Judges to their first postseason appearance in five years, reaching the semifinals of an expanded ECAC tournament. In 2018, she and her assistants were named the University Athletic Association coaching staff of the year after an unprecedented run in the conference tournament, entering as the eighth seed but winning a pair of matches to finish in fifth place. The fifth-place match win over NYU was especially dramatic, as the Judges came from two sets down to defeat their rivals. In addition, outside hitter Emma Bartlett ’20 became the Judges’ second All-American in program history.
Bennett came to Brandeis from Simmons College, where she had been head coach since 2011. She posted a 50-49 career record with the Sharks, reaching the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals in each of her three seasons. Bennett was named the GNAC Coach of the Year in her first season at Simmons, when she led the program to a 20-10 record. In 2012, she was honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under Thirty Award. In 2014, she was inducted into the Connecticut Scholastic Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame, and in 2015 attended the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy.
Bennett is a member of the AVCA Division III Committee and All-Region Selection Committee. She also served as the GNAC coaching representative with the New England Women’s Volleyball Association (NEWVA) poll committee while at Simmons.
Prior to her time at Simmons, Bennett was a coach at Clarkson University from 2009 to 2011. She was part of the Golden Knights’ 2010 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year, helping the program to its first-ever NCAA tournament berth.
Bennett is a 2006 graduate of Springfield College, where she twice earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors after becoming the Pride’s all-time leader in assists. She was the 2004 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Bennett was inducted into the Springfield Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Bennett and her husband, Christopher, and daughters Evie and Nora, live in the North End of Boston.
Leah GoodLeah Good will enter her 3rd season as Head Volleyball Coach in the Fall of 2025.
Good’s 2024 squad collected seven wins, including three wins in MIAA conference play. Alma qualified for the MIAA postseason tournament as the six seed. It marked the first time that the Scots had qualified for postseason volleyball in the standard MIAA tournament since 2019. Another highlight came off the court, where Madison Bott won the MIAA Senior Impact Award.
In 2023, Good led Alma to a 6 win improvement from the year before, with her team posting a 13-12 record overall. This marked the first time that the Scots registered a winning record since 2019. One of the highlights included senior libero Kolbey Boyd recording her 1,000th career dig against Saint Mary’s College. The Scots also saw team statistical improvements in just about every metric, including a 130 kill improvement from 2022.
Good was named Head Volleyball Coach on December 16, 2022.
Good joins Alma from Hiram College, where she served as the lead Assistant Coach. She joined Hiram from the Ohio Valley Volleyball Academy, where she served as the volleyball coordinator and a coach for two years. During her time with the Terriers, the program amassed a 29-28 record, with a 8–7 record in NCAC paly. The team qualified for the NCAC Tournament in both seasons. Good helped to coach one first team All-NCAC player, and three second team All-NCAC players.
Good graduated from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia in 2021. While there Good was a four-year member of the women’s volleyball team, helping the Bison to the 2018 Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship, and serving as a team captain her senior year.
A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Good earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Bethany College in May of 2021.
John CarrollJohn Carroll joins the Sarah Lawrence staff for the 2023-24 academic year as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams. He brings four years of experience to the Gryphons after stints at Regis College, Bethany College, the Highlands Sports Complex and the Ohio Valley Volleyball Academy.
Carroll most recently was the lead assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams at Regis College, leading the women’s team to back-to-back 20+ win seasons and qualifying for the GNAC tournament in both seasons with the men’s team. Carroll also held the position of head men’s volleyball recruiter during his time at Regis. He secured 27 first-year recruits over his two years with the Pride, reaching student-athletes both across the United States and internationally.
Prior to his coaching career, Carroll played collegiate volleyball at Emmanuel College where he was awarded academic all-conference honors in 2019 and all-sportsmanship team recognition in three of his four years. He graduated from Emmanuel in 2020 with a bachelors of science in international relations and earned a master of education in student success while at Regis in 2023.
Women’s Volleyball
Fall 2023
Carroll took over a previously successful women’s volleyball program and wasted no time leading the team to the Skyline tournament. The first-year coach set program bests with 14 overall wins and seven victories in conference play, securing the fifth seed in the tournament. A heartbreaking five-set match with the Rams of Farmingdale State ended the season for the Gryphons in the conference quarterfinals, but it marked the end of a very successful season for both the team and the individual student-athletes. Carroll helped push sophomore Athena Kazos to earn second-team all-conference recognition while also guiding seniors Mia Rector and Kaille Ferguson to eclipse the 1,000 assist and 1,000 dig marks, both becoming the program leaders in each category.
| Year | Overall | Conference | Postseason |
| 2023 | 14-11 | 7-4 | Skyline Quarterfinals |
| Career (Overall) | 14-11 (.560) | 7-4 (.636) |
Men’s Volleyball
Spring 2024
In Carroll’s first season at the helm of the men’s volleyball team, he brought the program their second-most overall and conference victories since becoming an NCAA program. Carroll increased the team’s win total by six in his first season, bringing the team just one spot shy of making the Skyline tournament in his first year. He also helped standout outside hitter Nate Davis to take home all-conference first-team honors as well, with the junior ranking second in the nation in kills per set and points per set. He also helped Davis earn AVCA National Player of the Week, the program’s first-ever recognition in the category.
| Year | Overall | Conference | Postseason |
| 2024 | 6-20 | 5-13 | Skyline Quarterfinals |
| Career (Overall) | 6-20 (2.31) | 5-13 (.278) |
Stacy CheneyStacy Cheney returns in 2024 for her second season as the head volleyball coach at UMass Boston.
Cheney arrived at the harbor campus in 2023 after serving as the associate head coach at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for 14 years. A former UNH Wildcat from 1997-2000, she was the starting setter on the school’s first American-East Title winning team in 1998, before later winning again as an Associate Head Coach for the Wildcats in 2002. Coach Cheney earned American East All-Conference for three consecutive years from 1998-2000, as one of the school’s most prolific playmakers in program history with 3,000 assists, and 1,000 digs.
Before UNH, Cheney served as graduate assistant coach for the University of Deleware for two seasons under Coach Bonnie Kenny. She has also coached with the Seacoast Junior Olympic Volleyball program for seven years (1999-2006).
Now, Cheney provides leadership, energy, motivation, and guidance in her role as head coach for student-athletes at UMass Boston.
She concluded her first season as head coach at UMass Boston with a 17-10 overall record, and a 5-3 Little East Conference (LEC) as she led the Beacons to the LEC Postseason tournament in her first season as head coach. Cheney led her squad over the Keene State Owls in straight sets in the first round, then bowed out in the semifinals to the #1-seeded UMass Dartmouth Corsairs.
Following her inaugural season as head coach at UMB, Cheney led two student athletes to the 2023 LEC All-Conference Second Team (Livia Trindade ’24, Taryn Broughal ’24), including a nomination to the 2023 LEC Sportsmanship Team (Ruby Ackerman ’26), proving her immediate impact following year one.
While at UNH, Cheney helped lead the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013, 2014, 2015, to 2016. During that time, the Wildcats also won four America East Regular Season Championships and four America East Conference Tournament Championships.
In addition to her coaching duties at UNH, Cheney also formerly served as the recruiting coordinator for the program. Under her watch, the Wildcats recruited and developed four America East Player of Year award recipients, four America East Setter of the Year award recipients, and two America East Defensive Player of the Year Award recipients.
Cheney was recognized along with the rest of the UNH coaching staff by their peers in the America East as Coaching Staff of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
Cheney, earned her B.A. from UNH and a master’s degree from the University of Delaware.
“This is a great day for our volleyball program. I want to welcome Coach Cheney to the UMass Boston family. As the search process developed, Stacy set herself apart from the candidate pool with her extensive knowledge of the game and her innate ability to lead and mentor young women. I am excited for her to be the next leader of our program,” said Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Jacqueline Schuman upon Cheney’s appointment.
Grace KenninghamKenningham joins Simmons from Bates College, where she served as the full-time assistant coach. Playing a pivotal role in the program’s development and competitive success within the NESCAC, Kennigham helped the Bobcats record their highest win total since 2019. Prior to her coaching career, Kenningham was a standout NCAA Division III student-athlete at Roger Williams University, where she helped lead her team to multiple postseason appearances and served as team captain her senior season. Originally from Texas, she attended high school in New Jersey and has built an impressive volleyball network across the country that will assist the recruiting efforts for the Sharks.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to lead the Simmons Volleyball Program,” said Kenningham. “Simmons’ legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to empowering women aligns deeply with my own values as a coach. I’m looking forward to continuing to build a competitive program rooted in pride and growth—both on and off the court. I’m eager to get to work with this dedicated group of student-athletes and to help them continue raising the standard for what it means to compete as Sharks!”
Known for her player-centered coaching philosophy and strong recruiting acumen, Kenningham brings a passion for developing student-athletes into confident leaders both on the court and in the classroom. Her experience as both a collegiate coach and former Division III athlete gives her unique insight into fostering a culture of accountability, resilience, and excellence.
“We are thrilled to welcome Grace to Simmons,” said Erica Schuling, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “She’s a natural leader and brings a clear vision for how to elevate our program while supporting our student-athletes holistically. We’re confident she will make an immediate impact.”
Kenningham graduated from Roger Williams in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a minor in global communications.
Paul DillOverall Record: 730-215 (Women)/328-132 (Men, 2004-17)
Winning Percentage: .772 (Women)/.713 (Men, 2004-17)
Since his graduation from Bates College in 1989, Paul Dill’s involvement in volleyball has spanned both sexes, nearly all age groups, and two continents. With the women’s team at MIT, he has built what has become one of the premier Division III volleyball programs in New England.
Dill has worked with the MIT volleyball program since 1992. He served as an assistant coach for three years for both the MIT men’s and women’s varsity programs. Named head women’s coach in 1996, Dill has guided the Engineers to 14 NCAA postseason bids, including appearances at the 2021 and 2022 national quarterfinals, as well as six NEWMAC Championships and two ECAC titles.
Entering his 29th season in 2024, Dill is currently ranked fifth out of over 400 active Division III coaches in the nation in total wins and eighth in overall winning percentage (.772), averaging 27 wins and single-digit losses per season during his career. He has never collected fewer than 20 wins in a season and has six 30-win seasons under his belt, lifting his career record to 730-215. A four-time AVCA Division III Regional Coach of the Year, Dill has also been named the NEWVA Coach of the Year three times. He also collected NEWMAC Coach of the Year honors in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2022.
Dill began duplicating this success with the MIT men’s team after being summoned to take over the reins of the program in 2004. He led the Engineers to a pair of North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division Championships and the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. At the conclusion of his 14-year tenure, Dill finished as the program’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 328-132.
Before coaching the MIT men’s squad, Dill directed the Emmanuel College men’s team to a 12-8 record in its first season of varsity competition. He also co-coached the England Women’s Junior National Team for four years and was an assistant coach for a Division I National League women’s club team in the English Volleyball Association.
Other experience includes coaching the University of Connecticut men’s volleyball club team while earning his MBA, serving as the manager of the Bates College women’s team as an undergraduate, and coaching the men’s open division of the Bay State Games.
On October 5, 2021, Dill earned his 1,000th win as an intercollegiate head coach following a sweep of Johnson & Wales University. He went on to record his 1,000th victory at MIT after the Engineers defeated Susquehanna University in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament on November 14, 2021.
Mathilda VerbitskyA former player who recently completed her collegiate career, Mathilde Verbitsky will make her coaching debut as an assistant on the sideline with Connecticut College in 2024.
“We are incredibly excited to have Mathilde joining our staff,” said head coach Josh Edmed. “Her passion for volleyball, knowledge of the sport and eagerness to help our players reach their full potential will be tremendous assets for all involved in Connecticut College Volleyball.”
Verbitsky played in 44 career matches over three seasons at Dickinson College, during which the Red Devils posted a combined record of 37-35 while earning a Centennial Conference Tournament berth in 2022. As a senior she saw action in 24 matches and logged career highs with 133 kills, 88 digs and 12 total blocks.
Prior to college, Verbitsky was a two-sport athlete at Ridgefield High School where she participated in both volleyball and ice hockey. She also played for the Northeast Volleyball Club.
A native of Ridgefield, Conn., Verbitsky graduated from Dickinson in May 2024 with a degree in international studies with a concentration in global security. She also minored in Italian studies.
Macon FryMacon Frey enters her third season at Stevens as the Head Coach of the women’s volleyball program in 2025.
Frey arrives on Castle Point after a two-season stint as a graduate assistant coach at Springfield College.
In her first two seasons at the helm, Stevens has posted a 50-17 record while winning two MAC Freedom Championships. The Ducks have advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament both seasons, while Frey and her coaching staff have been named the MAC Freedom Coaching Staff of the Year. Meg Dion (2023) and Vivian Lisboa (2024) were named the MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year, while Cleo Shannon notched back-to-back Honorable Mention All-American honors. Dion, Lisboa, and Molly Harris also garnered All-American accolades from the AVCA during the first two seasons under Frey.
During her time at Springfield, Frey helped guide the Pride to 41 victories and an NCAA appearance in 2021, where the team defeated Rowan in five sets. Frey coached one American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans with an additional four receiving an honorable mention. Additionally, a total of five student-athletes garnered AVCA All-Region accolades, including Camryn Bancroft and Natalie Billet, who were tabbed Region 2 Player and Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Prior to her position at Springfield, Frey spent three years patrolling the sidelines for her alma mater, Bridgewater College. With Frey in the fold, the Eagles amassed 47 victories over two competitive seasons, making an appearance in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) playoffs in both seasons. Under Frey’s tutelage, three players earned AVCA All-South Region honors before going on to receive honorable mention All-America recognition, including program alumna Rachel Gaston, who was the first player in program history to earn multiple all-region accolades. Gaston was also a two-time ODAC Player of the Year. During Frey’s tenure with Bridgewater, seven players earned all-conference accolades.
Off the court, the Chesapeake, Virginia native was also responsible for film analysis and scouting reports, while also developing marketing materials to assist with the Eagles’ recruiting efforts. Frey also assisted with the athletic department’s strength and conditioning efforts, while also handling event management for the booster club.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Frey amassed 470 assists and 1,670 digs with 34 kills and 77 aces over 378 career sets (110 matches) as an undergraduate. She began her career at West Chester University, where she totaled 229 assists and 190 digs, while splitting time as a setter and defensive specialist. After returning to her home state, Frey totaled 1,480 digs at Bridgewater over 286 sets to rank second in program history in career digs. She was a two-time Second Team All-ODAC selection and set a Bridgewater record with 46 digs against William Peace University on Oct. 29, 2016. An AVCA All-South Region selection in 2017, Frey was also a Second Team VaSID All-State honoree in 2016.
Away from competition, Frey interned with Michelle Lee Scecina, Springfield’s Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Well-Being and Senior Woman Administrator and participated in the AVCA Mentor/Mentee program. She also served as an event director for Special Olympics Massachusetts.
Frey earned her Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise science with a minor in nutrition and wellness from Bridgewater in 2018 and earned her Maser of Education degree in sport management from Springfield in May.
Joey PacisJoey Pacis is in his 11th year as Bentley University’s head volleyball coach after leading the Falcons to their first ever NCAA East Regional championship and Elite Eight appearance in 2023.
As a result of the outstanding season, Pacis was named the 2023 Sandy Hoffman NE10 Coach of the Year. It was the third time in his Bentley career he has earned the award, 2014 and 2019 were the other years, and the fifth time overall in his career.
Entering the 2024 season, his career record at Bentley is 167-100 and 88-31 in NE10 matches. He has 259 career wins overall.
Pacis has led the Falcons to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, in the 2019, 2021 2022 and 2023 seasons, and five NCAA appearances overall.
In 2022 the Falcons were Northeast-10 Conference co-regular season champions, and in 2019 Pacis guided the program to both the NE10 tournament championship and the regular season championship.
The 2019 season saw Pacis earn both the NE10 Coach of the Year award and the AVCA Division II East Region Coach of the Year. The Falcons went 26-6 overall and posted a 16-match winning streak.
Pacis was previously cited as the NE10 Coach of the Year in 2014 after directing the Falcons to a 19-12 record, a share of the NE10 regular season title, a berth in the NE10 championship match and the semifinals of the NCAA Division II East Regional.
Pacis initially came to Bentley in 2013 as an assistant to AVCA Hall of Famer Sandy Hoffman and took over as head coach when she stepped aside for health reasons prior to the 2014 season.
Prior to Bentley, The University of Illinois graduate was the head coach at Merrimack College for eight years, from 2003-10. He’s the winningest coach in Merrimack’s volleyball history, with a career record of 117-116, and guided his team to the program’s first two NCAA tournament berths, in 2007 and 2008.
Pacis was the Northeast-10 Coach of the Year in both of those seasons, and his team twice had the highest cumulative GPA among Merrimack’s varsity teams (2007, 2008). His 2009 team set a school record for wins with 21. Prior to being named Merrimack’s head coach in February 2003, Pacis served as an assistant with the program for three years.
Pacis was an outstanding player for the University of Illinois, serving as the team’s starting setter for four years. In 1994, he helped the Fighting Illini win its first Big Ten men’s volleyball championship and earned second team All-Tournament honors. Illinois finished No. 17 in the nation. While attending Illinois, Pacis volunteered as a student coach for the women’s Division I volleyball program under the direction of Mike Hebert, and also coached at the Fighting Illini summer volleyball camps.
A native of Southern California, Pacis graduated from Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering. He resides in Watertown with his wife, Holly, their son, Ryan, and their chocolate lab, Jack.
Stephanie KazmierczakKazmierczak comes to Assumption after spending two seasons as head women’s volleyball coach at Merrimack College.
“I am humbled and honored to join the Assumption community as the next Head Women’s Volleyball Coach,” stated Kazmierczak. “I would like to thank Vice President for Enrollment Management William Boffi, Director of Athletics Eric Gobiel, and the entire search committee for trusting me to lead Assumption Volleyball into the future. It is wonderful to return to the NE-10 now as a coach and work towards bringing an NE10 Championship to Assumption. When I visited campus, it was evident that Assumption deeply cares about the student-athlete experience and that we share the same values. I’m excited to work with these talented, hard-working players in building this program.”
COACHING CAREER
PLAYING CAREER
PERSONAL LIFE
Taylor StevensTaylor Stevens joined Bowdoin as assistant coach of the volleyball program in the summer of 2019. A graduate of Stonehill College, where she was the primary setter her junior and senior seasons, Stevens was most recently an assistant coach at Wheaton College, where the Lyons enjoyed the two finest seasons in program history. She also served as head boy’s volleyball coach at Norton High School and at the Lockdown Volleyball Club.
Prior to her collegiate playing career at Stonehill, Stevens was the Rhode Island High School Gatorade player of the year while attending Ponaganset High School. She was named to the Rhode Island All-State team during both her junior and senior seasons.
Annie DeLoidAnnie DeLoid finished her third season at the helm of the Union College women’s volleyball team in 2024.
In her third season with the team, Union posted a 19-11 record and a 4-4 Liberty League record, the most wins both overall and in conference play since 2016. The team finished fourth in the Liberty League to earn its first home postseason match since 2008, doing so with a young roster that included only one senior and three juniors. Three players earned All-Liberty League honors for the second straight season, marking the first time since 2015 and 2016 with back-to-back years of at least three All-League performers, and junior Shannon McGrath earned the program’s first All-LL first-team honor since 2016 with her third straight All-Conference selection.
DeLoid made an immediate impact in her first season as head coach, winning her first four matches of the year, more than doubling the team’s win total from the previous season, and seeing marked improvement in all facets of the program. She helped guide the team to its first Liberty League Tournament appearance since 2016 and the team made its presence known, becoming the first volleyball sixth seed to knock off a third seed (and just the second sixth seed to win against a third seed in any Liberty League sport) with a thrilling 3-2 win on the road at William Smith. First-year Shannon McGrath was named to the All-Liberty League second team following a season in which she earned four weekly conference awards, including the only rookie to be named conference Player of the Week.
DeLoid came to Schenectady following three years as the first full-time assistant women’s volleyball coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. In two seasons of competition, she helped guide the Ducks to a combined 48-18 record and a pair of MAC Freedom Tournament championships, as well as a run to the NCAA Regional semifinals in 2019. She also helped to coach the first AVCA All-American in program history. Shortly after her hire at Union, DeLoid was recognized with the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s prestigious Thirty Under 30 Award, recognizing some of the top young coaching talent in the country.
In addition to her full-time duties at Stevens, DeLoid also served as Recruiting Director of the DIGS Volleyball Club and coached the club’s 17 Red team.
She previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Averett University in Danville, Virginia, helping the Cougars to a combined 48-19 record and a 2018 USA South East Division championship, while coaching a pair of Cougars to AVCA All-America honors and seven players to All-USA South recognition.
As an undergraduate, DeLoid was a four-year letterwinner on the volleyball court at Framingham State University from 2012-15. The Rams went a combined 98-39 and captured three MASCAC Tournament championships in her four seasons with the team, including recording 160 kills and 56 blocks in helping the Rams to a 25-9 record and a MASCAC Tournament title as a senior in 2015. She earned All-MASCAC second-team honors as a junior after finishing the season with 230 kills and 51 blocks, and for her career put down 658 kills on .221 hitting with 247 digs and 175 blocks.
A native of Plymouth, Mass., DeLoid graduated from Framingham State in 2016 with a degree in business administration, and also earned a master’s in business administration from Averett in 2019.
Keelin SevertsonKeelin Severtson joined the Macalester volleyball coaching staff in March of 2024. Prior to coming to St. Paul, Severtson spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Albion (Mich.) College.
While at Albion, Severtson was involved in recruiting, player development, practice and in-game coaching, and video analysis. During her four seasons she helped the Britons compile a 70-27 overall record, including a 25-7 mark in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Severtson coached 15 All-MIAA performers, including three All-Region players, two All-Americans and an Academic All-American. She also participated on the Albion Athletics’ diversity, equity and inclusion committee and the Blueprint for Belonging committee.
Severtson began her coaching career at UMass Boston in 2018, focusing on recruiting, practice planning and in-game coaching during her two years as an assistant coach. She played a role in helping the Beacons win the 2019 Little East Conference championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“I want to thank Coach Mary Johnston and the Macalester College community for this exciting opportunity to join the volleyball staff,” Severtson said. “I am looking forward to playing a part in the growth of this program that Coach Johnston has been developing. I am passionate about the role that college sports have in the development of student-athletes, and am thrilled to continue to play a part in that role here at Macalester.”
Severtson was a standout volleyball player at the University of New Hampshire, where she helped the Wildcats win four consecutive America East regular-season and tournament titles and make four appearances in the NCAA Division I Tournament. She earned All-America East first team and America East Setter of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016, and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2016 America East Conference Tournament.
A native of Delray Beach, Fla., Severtson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology exercise science from New Hampshire and a Master of Science in exercise and health sciences from UMass Boston.
After finishing up a four-year All-Conference career on the court, Sydney Neff joins Union College for her first season as an assistant coach in 2025.
Neff completed a decorated four-year career with Liberty League rival Rochester Institute of Technology in 2024. Neff was the third player in program history to earn four straight All-League honors, including three spots on the first team, and ended her time in Rochester seventh in program history with 3,907 career assists.
Neff earned AVCA All-America honorable mention and first-team All-Region honors as a first-year, in addition to being named the AVCA Region III Freshman of the Year and the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. She went on to earn All-Region honorable mention as a sophomore with a conference-best 976 assists. As a senior, she earned a third All-Conference first-team honor and recorded a career-high 1,095 assists to rank 22nd in Division III, while totaling 15 double-doubles.
A native of Latham, Neff was a four-time Colonial Council All-Star at the Academy of the Holy Names, earning CC Offensive Player of the Year laurels in both 2018 and 2019 and earning Setter of the Year honors as a senior as well.
A three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, Neff graduated from RIT with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design in 2024 and went on to earn a master’s in industrial design from RIT in 2025.
