16 GOLD
Greg
Roberts – 16 Gold Head Coach
email: greg.roberts@peninsulajuniors.org
Greg is returning to
Peninsula Juniors after coaching the 18’s power team at Palo Alto Elite
in 2011. He brings an extensive coaching background to the club, with
coaching experience mostly at the higher levels, including Junior
College.
Greg began his
competitive volleyball career in 2000 playing for the Humboldt State
University Men's Club Volleyball team. As a middle blocker, he helped
lead his team to an 11th place finish in Division II at the 2000
National Club Championships in Reno, NV. The following year, due to low
budget, he took over the team as Captain and Coach for the Lumberjacks
and led the team in kills for the next two seasons averaging 242 kills
per season. In his last two years at HSU, he received 2nd team all
conference in NCCVL.
While playing at HSU,
Greg continued his urge to coach and assisted for 2 years at the
College of the Redwoods before taking over as the Head Coach for the
Women's Volleyball team for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. After moving
back to the SF Bay Area, he became the assistant coach at Skyline
College for the 2006 and 2007 season. Shortly thereafter he decided to
look towards the club scene, taking on an assistant coaching position
mid way in the season for the 16-1 Power team at the Peninsula Juniors
Volleyball Club. Prior to the NCVA Qualifiers the team was seeded at
64th. He played an integral role in helping the 16 Gold Team to move up
the ranks where they placed in the top 3 at each of the NCVA league
tournaments, finishing off the season at 32nd overall of 108 teams.
Following the girl’s club season, he became the Head coach for the
Peninsula Tribe’s 18-1 Boy’s Volleyball Club Team. In his one season as
head coach for the 18’s Tribe team, he incorporated a 3 Middle Quick
attack offense that helped the team to a 2nd place finish in Flight One
at the NCVA Championships. After taking a year hiatus, Greg joined the
coaching staff at Palo Alto Elite heading the 18 Power team.
Greg continues to be
very active in his competitive volleyball career, competing in NCVA
Adult Men’s Volleyball and on several adult IVL (Industrial Volleyball
League) teams from Mountain View to San Francisco. In the last 5 years,
he has helped lead his teams to 15 league Championships and 2 NCVA
Men’s Championships. He strives as a universal player, being able to
play any position that benefits his team’s the most.
He is IMPACT certified
coach and Double-Goal Coach Certified (Positive Coaching Alliance).
Ashley
Borba – 16 Gold Assistant Coach
email: ashley.borba@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Ashley's second
year with Peninsula Juniors, having coached the 16 Blue team in 2011.
Ashley is a graduate of St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School,
where she played three years on the varsity team as the team's libero.
In 2008, Ashley was a key factor in the team's run through the
post-season, winning the Division V CCS Championship and becoming a
Northern California CIF finalist, missing the CIF State Finals by one
match. Ashley also earned a number of All-Tournament awards as libero
for St. Francis, and she played for two years for Pacific Performance
Volleyball Club, both for coach, Denise Sheldon.
For Ashley's senior year
of high school she played club for Imua Volleyball Club under Hartnell
College volleyball coach, Jamie Pedroza. Ashley is currently
a student at University of San Francisco, where she is also playing
intramural volleyball, along with playing in the Foster City adult
league with several other PJV coaches.
15 GOLD
Chantel
Ross – 15 Gold Head Coach
email: chantel.ross@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Chantel’s fifth
year with Peninsula Juniors, and she returns as the 14 Gold coach.
Chantel attended St. Gregory's School and earned Most Valuable Player
honors in her final year. Chantel earned three varsity letters in
volleyball from Mercy High School in Burlingame. After graduation,
Chantel attended Canada College and was one of nine players on Canada's
inaugural volleyball team. Unfortunately after a successful rookie
season, Chantel was sidelined with to a career-ending shoulder injury.
She continued to attend Canada where she received her Associates Degree
in Early Childhood Education.
In addition to having
coached for Peninsula Juniors, Chantel has coached teams at St.
Gregory's School at the junior high school levels. When Chantel is not
coaching or working with children she enjoys taking her two dogs to the
beach, being outdoors, spending time with friends, and reading.
Favorite quote:
"Players must learn to give everything they have for today, whether it
is in practice or a game. Anything they save has been lost forever." —
Unknown
Alyssa
Maitoza – 14 Gold Assistant Coach
email: alyssa.maitoza@peninsulajuniors.org
Alyssa is very excited
for her first season coaching with Peninsula Juniors. She has
previously been a part of the coaching staff for the Peninsula Juniors
summer camps and has coached and played with many of the PJV veterans.
Alyssa has been playing volleyball competitively for eleven years and
although she is a multi-sport athlete, volleyball is her favorite. She
has worked as a coach for other camps throughout the Santa Cruz County
and has also volunteered as an assistant coach for Moreland Notre Dame
in Watsonville.
Alyssa was co-captain
and setter for her varsity team with fellow PJV coach Kasey Tyler at
St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School. As captain, she helped
lead her team to the first CCS and CIF State tournament appearance in
the program's history. Alyssa and the rest of the 2006 St. Francis
Sharks surpassed the expectations of many and placed second in the CCS
tournament and fell three points short of a Northern California State
Championship. Alyssa graduated from the University of California, San
Diego in June 2011 where she was captain of her Intramural co-ed
volleyball team for four years. She will be attending the University of
San Francisco in January 2012 to receive her Masters in Sport
Management.
Lisa
Cuellar - 15 Gold Assistant Coach
email: lisa.cuellar@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Lisa’s second
year as a coach with Peninsula Juniors and last season she was our 16
Blue assistant coach. A bay area native, Lisa played as a defensive
specialist for Menlo School, helping her high school team win 3 CCS
titles, 4 Norcal Championships and reach 4 California State finals. She
began her club career with the Belmont Volleyball Club and also played
for City Beach, Aloha, and San Francisco Juniors Volleyball Clubs. Lisa
continued her career as a libero at the NCAA Division I level, earning
4 Varsity letters at Davidson College in North Carolina. Awarded “Most
Inspirational Player” her senior year, Lisa’s energy and passion for
the game constantly guided Davidson College. Most proud of her passing
skills, she is also known for her strategizing and serving techniques.
After graduation, Lisa continued to play on various New York City
league teams. She is very excited and looking forward to sharing her
enthusiasm and knowledge with the Peninsula Juniors players.
16 BLUE
Samisoni
Latu – 16 Blue Head Coach
email: samisoni.latu@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Soni's third
year coaching with Peninsula Juniors. Soni is originally from the
Friendly Island of Tonga in the South Pacific, where he was a standout
high school outside hitter and Division I men's club player at Tonga
College. After finishing his playing career, Soni started coaching at
the freshman level and then served as a varsity assistant coach for two
seasons. Soni moved to the United States in 2004 and began coaching at
JLS Middle School in Palo Alto, where he has served as the head coach
for five years. Soni also works as the head volleyball coach at Mid
Peninsula High School in Menlo Park. When he is not coaching, Soni
enjoys playing volleyball and relaxing at home with his family. Soni is
also an international level rugby player.
Favorite Quote:
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph
over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who
conquers that fear." – Nelson Mandela
Stephany
Swenson – 16 Blue Assistant Coach
email: stephany.swenson@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Stephany's
second year year as a coach with Peninsula Juniors. She has played
volleyball locally for seven years, at Mount Carmel Grade School, Notre
Dame High School, and three years for PJV. She has played a number of
positions, but her passion lies in playing defensive specialist. During
high school, Stephany discovered a love for theatre performance which
limited the amount of time she had to play volleyball. However, the
desire to be involved with the sport never left her, this past spring,
she became involved with Peninsula Juniors.
Stephany worked as a
volunteer assistant coach for the 14 White team for Peninsula Juniors
in 2010 and has a new passion for coaching volleyball. She continued
her coaching career in 2011 as the head coach for the 13 Blue team. She
also has worked multiple Peninsula Juniors clinics this summer.
Stephany is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and excited to be working with
PJV this year. She is currently coaching the 7th grade team at St.
Charles while attending Foothill College.
Favorite quote:
"Nothing is accomplished with tears."
14 BLUE
Kasey
Tyler – 14 Blue Head Coach
email: kasey.tyler@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Kasey’s second
year with Peninsula Juniors, but Kasey has been coaching volleyball as
long as she has played the sport. Kasey is a graduate of St. Francis
High School in Watsonville, where she was a four year varsity starter
and earned numerous accolades for her performance as a setter and an
outside hitter. In 2006, Kasey lead her St. Francis team to be the
Division V CCS Runner-up and through the CIF State tournament, losing
in the Northern California final match by three points in game 5.
Throughout junior high and high school, she competed for Main Beach
Volleyball Club in Aptos. She continued her volleyball career as a
coach with Peninsula Juniors last season as the 17 Gold assistant
coach. She also returned to her alma mater and coached the freshman
team for the fall 2011 season. She graduated from USF in May 2011 with
a degree in African History and minor in Peace and Justice Studies.
Kasey spent the spring of 2010 studying in Cape Town, Africa.
Favorite quote:
"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you
don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're
always in the same place." – Nora Roberts
Antonio
Romeo – 13 Blue Assistant Coach
email: antonio.romeo@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Antonio’s
second year with Peninsula Juniors and assisted his cousin Stephany
Swenson on the 13 Blue team. Antonio has been an active supporter of
volleyball and PJV his whole life. He enjoys playing the game and he
loves how volleyball requires players to work together and play as a
team to be successful. Antonio is also active in martial arts and has
been teaching karate since he was 14 at Twin Dragon Academy. Antonio
loves working with young people and he really enjoys teaching and
watching players develop. Most of all, Antonio understands that
volleyball is a fantastic game and it should always be fun!
Favorite quote:
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -
Thomas Alva Edison
13 BLUE
Kristen
Ridout – 13 Blue Head Coach
email: kristen.ridout@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Kristen's
second year of coaching for Peninsula Juniors- she helped coach the 12
Gold team last year. Kristen has worked at a number of volleyball and
basketball camps, including the 2011 PAL camp with PJV this summer. She
has played volleyball for seven years in Pacific Grove, California,
where she played as a setter, opposite hitter, and defensive
specialist. She was honored by the Mountain Trail League for her
accomplishments at Pacific Grove, earning all-league accolades. Kristen
is enrolled currently at San Jose State University where she plays
intramural volleyball and is studying hospitality and business
administration.
Favorite quote:
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."- Wayne Gretzky
Nicole
Soutar – 13 Blue Assistant Coach
email: nicole.soutar@peninsulajuniors.org
This is Nicole’s first
year of coaching at Peninsula Junior Volleyball Club. She is very
excited to begin working with the coaches, parents, and players. She
comes from a small town in the central valley and currently is a
student at San Jose State University where she is studying to be a
teacher. Nicole has played volleyball since sixth grade and continues
to do so for the San Jose State Woman’s Club Volleyball Team. In high
school, she coached the boy’s senior team as well as the junior boy’s
team. She has a love for the game and can’t quite get enough of it.
Favorite quote:
“Don’t get down if somebody says no to you, or if you get cut. Michael
Jordan was cut his first year, but he came back and he was the best
ever. That is what you have to have. The attitude that I'm going to
show everybody, I'm going to work hard to get better and better.” ~
Magic Johnson
