2026 SUMMER COACHES COMING SOON!

Our incredibly knowledgeable and passionate coaching staff has represented all levels of collegiateclub, 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 2026 summer will be no exception with many of our previous coaches returning, along with a few wonderful new additions. Please check out the list of our great 2025 staff members listed below, their institutions, as well as their complete and impressive bios. As coaches are confirmed for the summer of 2026, 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 20+ 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 2026 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 2026 staff, it means they are confirmed to coach at least one clinic and sometimes as many as six or more! The clinic directors, Coach Thompson and Coach Resa, will lecture/coach at every spring & summer session on this website. However, the rest of the staff will vary by clinic throughout the clinics based on their schedules. As we start to announce the 2026 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 and or you can reach out directly to them. *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

Cora Thompson
Scheduler & Contracts / Head Coach

BIOGRAPHY

A eight-time New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Coach of the Year and three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Cora Thompson runs one of the top women’s volleyball programs in New England. Thompson’s teams have won three NESCAC titles with her at the helm, while also making 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. 

Having finished her 22nd season as head coach at Tufts in 2024, Thompson’s teams have compiled a 465-166 overall record during her tenure. The .737 career winning percentage ranks her 18th on the NCAA’s winningest active coaches list for Division III. It’s the 27th-best winning mark among Division III coaches all-time.

AS TUFTS HEAD COACH

  • 465-166 overall record as the head coach of the Tufts volleyball program
  • .737 winning percentage
  • 166-44 NESCAC record
  • 18-11 in NCAA Tournament matches
  • 2 NESCAC titles
  • 8 NESCAC Coach of the Year honors
  • 3 AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year accolades
  • 56 All-NESCAC Performers
  • 40 AVCA All-Region honorees
  • 30 AVCA All-Americans
  • 12 NCAA Tournament appearances 
  • 3 NCAA Elite 8 appearances
  • Program record 31 wins in 2009
  • Hosted NCAA Regionals 5 times
  • 16 20-win seasons
  • 9 NESCAC Finals appearances
  • Highest program ranking in AVCA Top 25 poll of No. 10 in 2021
  • 39 weeks ranked in the AVCA Top 25 poll 

HONORS & AWARDS

  • NESCAC First Team (27)2002: Amy Cronin (MH); 2003: Kelli Harrison (OH); 2004: Kelli Harrison (OH); 2005: Courtney Evans (MB), April Gerry (MH); 2006: Kelli Harrison (OH); 2007: Katie Wysham (OPP); 2008: Dena Feiger (S), Natalie Goldstein (L); 2009: Dena Feiger (S), Caitlin Updike (OH); 2010: Caitlin Updike (OH); 2011: Kendall Lord (S); 2012: Kendall Lord (S); 2013: Isabel Kuhel (MH); 2014: Hayley Hopper (OH), Isabel Kuhel (MH); 2015: Maddie Kuppe (OH); 2016: Elizabeth Ahrens (MH); 2017: Mackenzie Bright (OH), Kelly Klimo (L); 2019: Maddie Stewart (OH), Brigid Bell (OH), Christina Nwankpa (MH); 2021: Cate Desler (OH); 2022: Jenelle Yarwood (OH), Maddie Yu (S)
  • NESCAC Second Team (25)2004: Courtney Evans (MB), Emily Macy (L/OH); 2005: Caitlin Dealy (OH); 2006: Katie Wysham (MB); 2008: Kate Denniston (MH), Dawson Joyce-Mendive (OH); 2009: Brogie Helgeson (OPP), Dawson Joyce-Mendive (OH); 2010: Audrey Kuan (L), Kendall Lord (S); 2011: Audrey Kuan (L), Isabel Kuhel (MH), Cara Spieler (OPP); 2012: Kelly Brennan (OH); 2013: Hayley Hopper (OH); 2014: Maddie Kuppe (OH); 2015: Elizabeth Ahrens (MH); 2016: Kelly Klimp (L); 2018: Cate Desler (OH), Heather Holz (MH), Maddie Stewart (OH); 2019: Cate Desler (OH), Rachel Furash (S); 2022: Stephanie Lee (L), Grace Legris (MH); 2023: Rileigh Farragher (RS); Tori Goldin (OH); 2024: Claire Castor (OH), Emma Heckman (RS)
  • NESCAC Player of the Year (3)2009: Dena Feiger (S); 2011: Kendall Lord (S); 2019: Maddie Stewart (OH)
  • NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year (1)2008: Natalie Goldstein (L)
  • NESCAC Rookie of the Year (3)2004: Kay Lutostanski (OH); 2011: Isabel Kuhel (MH); 2018: Cate Desler (OH)
  • NESCAC Coach of the Year (8): 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022
  • AVCA All-Region First Team (28)2003: Courtney Evans; 2004: Kelli Harrison; 2005: Kaitlin O’Reilly; 2006: Kelli Harrison; 2008: Dena Feiger, Natalie Goldstein, Dawson Joyce-Mendive; 2009: Dena Feiger, Caitlin Updike; 2010: Caitlin Updike; 2011: Audrey Kuan, Kendall Lord; 2014: Hayler Hopper, Isabel Kuhel; 2015: Maddie Kuppe; 2017: Mackenzie Bright, Heather Holz, Christina Nwankpa; 2019: Brigid Bell, Cate Desler, Christina Nwankpa, Maddie Stewart; 2021: Cate Desler, Stephanie Lee; 2022: Stephanie Lee, Grace Legris, Jennelle Yarwood, Maddie Yu
  • AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention (11)2003: Kelli Harrison; 2004: Courtney Evans; 2005: Natalie Goldstein; 2006: Katie Wysham; 2009: Broghan Helgeson, Dawson Joyce-Mendive; 2013: Isabel Kuhel; 2018: Heather Holz; 2019: Rachel Furash; 2021: Maddie Yu; 2022: Christine Audette; 2023: Rileigh Farragher
  • AVCA Regional Coach of the Year (3): 2016, 2017, 2019
  • AVCA Regional Player of the Year (2)2019: Maddie Stewart; 2021: Cate Desler
  • AVCA Regional Rookie of the Year (1)2005: Kaitlin O’Reilly
  • AVCA All-American First Team (2)2019: Maddie Stewert; 2021: Cate Desler
  • AVCA All-American Second Team (2)2009: Dena Feiger; 2015: Maddie Kuppe; 
  • AVCA All-American Honorable Mention (26)2003: Courtney Evans; 2004: Kelli Harrison; 2005: Kaitlin O’Reilly; 2006: Kelli Harrison; 2007: Katie Wysham; 2008: Deba Feiger, Natalie Goldstein, Dawson Joyce-Mendive; 2009: Caitlin Updike; 2010: Caitlin Updike; 2011: Audrey Kuan, Kendall Lord; 2014: Hayley Hopper, Isabel Kuhel; 2016: Elizabeth Ahrens, 2017: Mackenzie Bright, Heather Holz, Christina Nwankpa; 2019: Brigid Bell, Cate Desler, Christina Nwankpa; 2021: Stephanie Lee; 2022: Stephanie Lee, Grace Legris, Jennelle Yarwood, Maddie Yu
  • New England Women’s Volleyball Association Coach of the Year (4): 2004, 2008, 2016, 2019
  • AVCA Team Academic Award (9): 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll (4): 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Assistant Coach, Volleyball, Tufts University (1999-2002)

CAREER RECORD

Year School Overall RecordConference RecordPostseason
2002Tufts20-136-4NESCAC Quarterfinals
2003Tufts20-116-4NESCAC Quarterfinals
2004Tufts28-69-1NESCAC Finals
2005Tufts29-79-1NESCAC Finals; NCAA Regional Finalists
2006Tufts23-87-3NESCAC Quarterfinals
2008Tufts29-410-0NESCAC Semifinals; NCAA Regional Second Round
2009Tufts31-58-2NESCAC Finals; NCAA Quarterfinals
2010Tufts22-117-3NESCAC Finals; NCAA Regional First Round
2011Tufts26-69-1NESCAC Finals; NCAA Regional Second Round
2012Tufts13-136-4NESCAC Quarterfinals
2013Tufts20-87-3NESCAC Semifinals
2014Tufts22-99-1NESCAC Finals; NCAA Regional Second Round
2015Tufts17-87-3NESCAC Quarterfinals
2016Tufts27-410-0NESCAC Finals; NCAA Quarterfinals
2017Tufts23-710-0NESCAC Finalists; NCAA Regional Second Round
2018Tufts16-106-4NESCAC Semifinals
2019Tufts28-210-0NESCAC Champions; NCAA Regional Second Round
2020Tufts0-00-0CoVID-19 Postponement Of Season
2021Tufts21-68-2NESCAC Finals; NCAA Quarterfinals
2022Tufts23-69-1NESCAC Champions; NCAA Regional Finalists
2023Tufts14-116-4NESCAC Semifinals; NCAA Regional First Round
2024Tufts13-117-3NESCAC Quarterfinals
Totalsat Tufts452-155159-511 NESCAC TITLE, 12 NCAA TOURNAMENTS
 1 SCHOOL452-155159-511 NESCAC TITLE, 12 NCAA TOURNAMENTS

PERSONAL

  • 1999 graduate of Tufts University
  • Played four seasons for the Jumbos volleyball and softball teams 
  • Part of first-ever NCAA Tournament squad for Tufts volleyball in 1996
  • Played in three NCAA Tournaments at shortstop of the softball squad
  • Earned a Masters in education from Tufts in 2001
  • Lives in Stow, MA with her wife Kendra and children Taedyn and Tucker

Resa Provanzano
Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator

BIOGRAPHY

Resa Provanzano officially joined the Tufts University volleyball staff in March 2019. Provanzano has been part of a fantastic stretch for the Jumbos, handling recruiting coordinator duties as well during her time on staff for Tufts.

She brought 14 years of coaching and recruiting experience to the courts, coming off five seasons as the head coach of the Division I UMass Lowell River Hawk women’s volleyball program.

Provanzano was named head coach of the UMass Lowell program on February 11, 2014. She led the team’s transition from a Division II program into Division I and the America East Conference. She guided the River Hawks to a program-best conference win total in the 2018 season. The team was one of five in America East to earn the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team All­-Academic Award as the River Hawks registered a 3.43 team grade point average in 2016­ and 2017, which was the second highest of any River Hawk female team over the two semesters.

Previously, Provanzano spent six years (2008-13) as an assistant coach at Division I Northeastern University in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). While with the Huskies, she helped the team to an impressive 113­-58 overall record (.661 winning percentage), three CAA championship game appearances, two CAA regular­-season titles in 2008 and 2011 and two 20­-win seasons. She 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.

Amassing 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 Rookies 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 (UAB) 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 Southeastern Conference (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.

Resa and her husband Anthony currently live in Peabody, Massachusetts with their son, Tre, and their daughter, Marley.

Grace Krumpack
Associate Coach

BIOGRAPHY

Grace Krumpack officially joined the Tufts University volleyball staff in August of 2022, hailing from a career as a strength coach and previously a volunteer assistant coach at Boston College. Krumpack played four years at Brandeis University, her first two seasons as a 6-rotation Outside Hitter, her last two seasons as a Defensive Specialist/Libero. In her final 2019 campaign, she helped lead the Judges to their best UAA Conference finish the program had seen in a decade. She graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Health: Science, Society & Policy.

Krumpack started her volleyball and movement coaching career at the Jumbo Volleyball Clinics in 2017, which gave her a peak into the world of coaching for the first time. Upon learning she loved teaching the fundamentals of movement in sport and building meaningful relationships with athletes of all ages, Krumpack took a hiatus from coaching volleyball to pursue a personal training career. Beginning her tenure in Boston’s Financial District, she taught movement and fitness to athletes of many ages and abilities. When COVID shut the gym’s doors, she turned to virtual training and continued her professional development with various online mentorships. After a year, the gym permanently closed, and Grace was left with all of her former clients and an opportunity for her own training business — Revive By Grace-Training was born, where Krumpack now specializes in increasing fitness, athletic capabilities and recapturing ranges of motion.

At the start of running her own business, Krumpack was invited to return to her alma-mater as assistant coach for the 2021 spring season. She traveled to Indianapolis in-between seasons for a 3-month strength & conditioning internship focused on sports performance and biomechanics.

Returning to Brandeis in the fall for her first competitive season coaching proved to be full of joy, growth and challenge. Krumpack knew she must to continue in the world of volleyball, but desired to broaden her experience in different divisions and programs. She joined the Boston College Volleyball staff as a Volunteer Assistant for the spring of 2022, where she helped coach their ball control and blocking.

Other Camp Staff

Alesia Bennett
Brandeis University – Head Coach

Alesia 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 Good
Alma College – Head Coach

Leah 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 Carroll
Sarah Lawrence College – Head Coach

  • 2024 Skyline Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year

John 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. 

YearOverallConferencePostseason
202314-117-4Skyline 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.  

YearOverallConferencePostseason
20246-205-13Skyline Quarterfinals
Career (Overall)6-20 (2.31)5-13 (.278) 

Stacy Cheney
UMASS Boston – Head Coach

Stacy 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 Kenningham
Simmons College – Head Coach

Kenningham 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 Dill
MIT – Head Coach

Overall 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 Verbitsky
Conn College – Assistant Coach

A 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 Fry
Stevens Institute of Tech – Head Coach

Macon 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.

Stephanie Kazmierczak
Assumption College – Head Coach

Kazmierczak 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

  • Head Coach at Merrimack College for two years
    • Guided the Warriors through the second and third years of their NCAA Division I reclassification period from 2020-21 as a member of the Northeast Conference
    • Helped develop a program that was honored with the 2021 USMC-AVCA Team Academic Award and 27 NEC Academic Honor Roll selections
  • Assistant Coach at Niagara for two years
    • Kazmierczak was involved in all aspects of the program that advanced to consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournaments in 2018 and 2019
    • Her roles included assisting with drill design, practice plans, video analysis, student-athlete development, setter training, serving as offensive coordinator during matches, and aiding in recruiting
  • Head Coach at D’Youville College for four years
    • Guided Spartans to consecutive Allegheny Collegiate Conference Championship appearances, including a run to the AMCC Semifinals in 2016
    • She won 34 matches as the D’Youville Head Coach

PLAYING CAREER 

  • She competed at Pace University at the Division II level and Buffalo State College (DIII) as a student-athlete
    • Ranks 13th all-time in Setter’s history in career digs with 1,377 and was named to the NE10 All-Championship Team in 2009
    • At Buffalo State, she was a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) all-conference second-team selection after a team-best 935 assists and 40 aces

PERSONAL LIFE

  • In 2018, she completed her Master of Science in sport management from SUNY Cortland
  • Kazmierczak graduated from Buffalo State with a business administration and management degree in 2011

Taylor Stevens
Bowdoin College – Associate Head Coach

Taylor 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 DeLoid
Union College – Head Coach

Annie 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 Severtson
Macalester College – Assistant Coach

Keelin 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.

Sydney Neff
Union College –  Assistant Coach

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.

Former College & HS Coach

Former College Coach