Lanier Volleyball Coaches
Samantha Kirby
Head Coach 13-Kirby |
Samantha is originally from North Carolina and moved to Georgia in January 2015. She was a student-athlete in college and named a Division III All American and National Statistical Champion before transferring to play at the Division I level. After graduating from UNC-Greensboro she traveled around Europe playing volleyball before pursuing her Master’s Degree at UNC-Chapel Hill in Sports Management. This will be her 7th year coaching competitive club volleyball and her coaching experience ranges from 9 years old to collegiate athletes. The highlight of her coaching career was working with Misty May-Treanor and working as a Volunteer Assistant at High Point University. Samantha now works for Adventures in Missions, pursuing her passion of world missions and discipleship.
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One of the founders of Lanier Volleyball Club, Mary Beth has a true passion for the sport of volleyball which has transferred from being a player to a coach. Her volleyball resume includes 7 years as a player and 7 seasons as a JV, Varsity and Club coach as well as countless hours of private lessons, camps and clinics. She has a heart for teaching young women about volleyball technique and tactics while impacting their lives to make them more successful on and off the court. She has been married to her husband, David, for 5 years and has 2 precious children, Emma Grace and Isaac.
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Amanda "Sam" Pipkin
Head Coach 16-Kelsey/Sam |
Amanda “Sam” Pipkin has been involved with the sport of volleyball since high
school where she played for Oconee County in Watkinsville, Ga. She received an athletic scholarship to play for Brewton-Parker College in south Georgia where she played 4 years as a defensive specialist and after graduation spent 1 year as a grad assistant. Since graduation she has ran several camps and clinics, coached a middle school team as well as years of club ball. Sam works as a physician assistant for a local orthopedic sports medicine practice. She loves the game of volleyball and the ability it gives her to teach and prepare young ladies about life lessons on and off the court. She and her husband Adam recently welcomed their newest addition, a sweet little boy, Grant in November. |
Kim Van Meter
Head Coach 17-Kim |
Kim was born and raised in southeast Iowa where she played club, high school, and college volleyball. She spent 10 years in Omaha, Nebraska playing local competitive co-ed indoor and sand volleyball while coaching for Volleystrong and Impact volleyball clubs as well as Holy Cross Middle School and Mercy High School freshman and JV teams. She has experience coaching all age levels and enjoys teaching both the physical skills as well as mental aptitude. She is truly blessed to share her love of volleyball through coaching, but her real passion is teaching girls how to use what they learn on the court to be successful off the court.
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Heather LaPrade
Head Coach 17 - Heather |
Heather is from Acworth, GA. She was a 2013 honors graduate of Kell High School. She played volleyball at Kell as well as club throughout high school. Heather started for her high school team as a sophomore. She currently plays on Piedmont College's Lady Lions Volleyball Team where she was named to the USA South Academic All-Conference Team during the 2013 season. Heather has helped at various camps and clinics throughout her career as a player and was a coach for the 16-1's team during Lanier's inaugural season. Heather brings to Lanier Volleyball Club staff a passion for and an elite knowledge of the sport of volleyball.
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Kelsey Woodard
Head Coach 16-Kelsey/Sam |
Kelsey was active with volleyball all throughout High School. She played for North Hall High school in Gainesville where she was a defensive specialist. While in college, she participated in several seasons of indoor and sand intramural volleyball at the University of North Georgia. In the past, Kelsey was the head coach for North Georgia Christian School's middle school program and most recently the assistant coach for LVC's 15-1s. She loves competition and is excited to coach with LVC and help young athletes reach their full potential. She got married last fall to her husband Zach and especially likes whipping up on him in sand volleyball whenever she gets the chance.
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Melinda Gute
Head Coach 15-Melinda |
Melinda grew up in a south suburb of Chicago, Illinois. She began playing volleyball in 6th grade and her passion for the game has grown ever since. She played as setter throughout high school and was actively involved in the intramural program at Liberty University and various recreational leagues post-college. Melinda served as the 15-2s assistant coach at Lanier during our inaugural season. She is excited to see her team's love and talent for volleyball grow throughout the season. Melinda has had coaches in the past who have had a large impact on her life, both on and off the court, and hopes she can do the same for the team.
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Bailey Smith
Head Coach 12-Bailey |
Bailey played volleyball all through middle school and high school and participated in 2 years of club volleyball. Her last two years of high school volleyball at Flowery Branch High School she was voted captain of the varsity team. She has a deep passion for the game of volleyball and strongly believes that it has helped shape the woman she is today. Bailey served as the assistant coach for the 14-1s at Lanier during our inaugural season and is excited to have the opportunity to continue to be a part of molding these young girls on and off the court. She is currently a sophomore at the University of North Georgia working towards a degree in marine biology. She also works part time for a State Farm agency in Flowery Branch.
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Bailey Towles
Assistant Coach 14-Allison |
Bailey started playing volleyball in middle school and culminated her playing career with a starting role for 4 years on the varsity team. During her Senior season, she broke the 1000 assist record at Lakeview Academy. Receiving MVP Awards and being recognized for the All-Region Team during both her Junior and Senior seasons years are among her accomplishments throughout her volleyball career. Bailey also participated in 2 years of club volleyball. Her coaching experience includes working numerous camps during summers and coaching for another local volleyball organization. Bailey further has served Lanier as the head coach for the developmental team and a coach for L3. She looks forward to working with Lanier Volleyball Club this season to bring her passion and love for volleyball to the girls she will coach.
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Kylie Blanton
Assistant Coach 17-Kim |
Kylie is from Woodstock, GA. She graduated with honors from Etowah High School in 2015. She has spent the last two years playing middle and right side for Piedmont College, where she finished the 2016 season ranked 9th overall for Middle Blockers in the USA South Conference. Her passion and love for the sport of volleyball is evident when looking at her present contributions to the Piedmont Lions, as well as her past history with the sport. During her Varsity volleyball playing time at Etowah she played as a middle blocker, and holds the school record for blocks in a single season and most career blocks. At the end of her senior season, Kylie was ranked 1st in the state Area 5 - 6A, and finished second in the entire state of Georgia for Senior Middle Blockers. She played her club ball for North Atlanta Volleyball Club and was on the 18’s team that made NAVC history by being the first team in the club to qualify and attend Nationals. Kylie has coached various camps and clinics for NAVC, and last year was the assistant coach here at Lanier Volleyball Club for the 17’s team.
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Michelle Tallman
Head Coach 14-Michelle |
Coach Tallman played competitive volleyball for 8 years, starting in New Britain, CT at New Britain High School. She continued on as a player at Suffolk University, and
participated in numerous open level outdoor and indoor tournaments. Her coaching career began at her alma mater as a recruiting coach and has included Milton Academy and Gainesville Middle school. Her teams have been very successful, she has coached All-Americans, and won a regional championship. |
Sarita Madera
Assistant Coach 14-Michelle |
Sarita is from Gainesville, GA and has been playing volleyball since middle school.
She played for North Hall High School in Gainesville where she was a right side hitter. She was captain of her JV team freshman year and captain of her varsity team senior year where she was recognized for the All-Region Team. While in college, she went on to participate in intramural volleyball at Valdosta State University. Sarita is excited to be assisting this year and helping her team develop a passion and skill set for volleyball. |
Bill Bush
Director of Youth Programs Assistant Coach 15-Melinda |
Bill grew up in Valdosta, GA and went to university at the University of Georgia. He began playing volleyball as a freshman in college when trying out for the UGA Club team. He played for 4 years at Georgia with experience as both an outside hitter and an opposite. He has been actively involved in the volleyball community here in Gainesville playing in several leagues over the past 5 years. Volleyball taught him a lot about the importance of a team, and he is excited to help encourage and develop team dynamics amongst Melinda and his team this year. #16-2salltheway
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