OUR PEOPLE
Meet the coaches and leaders who make Inspire Volleyball Club what it is. Our staff is committed to developing athletes, building strong teams, and creating an environment where every athlete can thrive.
Sarah Callis
Founder, Director, 17 National Assistant CoachSarah is a founding member of IVC with 30 years of playing and 20+ years of coaching experience. A former Division I player at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, she has coached athletes of all ages across four states. She loves helping athletes find opportunities to continue playing beyond high school and has a big-picture vision for growing the game in Alaska. When she’s not in the gym, she enjoys camping, fishing, reading, and chasing her two kids around.
Briana Theis
Founder, Assistant Director, 15 National Head CoachBri is a founding member of IVC and a lifelong Alaskan with over 19 years of coaching experience. A former setter at College of the Southern States, she has coached athletes ages 5–18 and spent many years coaching in the Anchorage School District. She brings her experience in both volleyball and fitness to help athletes develop the skills, strength, and confidence to compete at a high level. Outside of volleyball, Bri helps run her family’s business, Jitters’.
Lindsey Wilkins
Founder, Setting Specialist Lindsey is a founding member of IVC and brings extensive playing experience to the club. She began her collegiate career as a setter at the University of Oregon before transferring to Southern Oregon University, where she became a three-time All-American. Lindsey is passionate about empowering athletes to bring their authentic selves to the program and recognize how their unique strengths contribute to the team. Outside of volleyball, Lindsey is a mom of two and a Family Nurse Practitioner at Yagheli Shesh Qenq’a – Alaska Native Primary Care Center.
Caroline Bartel
Assistant Director, 16 National Head CoachCaroline is an Assistant Director entering her fifth season with the club. A former libero, she continued playing club volleyball at Missouri S&T, where she helped restart the women’s club team. She began coaching in St. Louis and has coached at both the high school and club levels. Her favorite part of coaching is helping athletes build confidence, find their voice, and discover what they are capable of. Outside of volleyball, Caroline enjoys exploring Alaska’s outdoors with her husband.
Shelby Fields
CrossFit Iron Refined CoachShelby works with IVC athletes through strength and conditioning, helping them build strength, resilience, and confidence both on and off the court. Through the partnership between Inspire and CFIR, she combines off-court training with on-court volleyball development to help athletes reach their full potential. She especially enjoys watching athletes discover they are stronger, faster, and more capable than they thought, and giving them the tools to perform at a high level.
Julie Whitmore
Home Team Master CoachJulie is in her fourth season with IVC and serves as the Master Coach for the Home Team program She first started coaching through her own children’s involvement in volleyball, and has continued coaching as her family has grown, including a daughter who went on to play in college. Julie enjoys watching athletes develop, discover new skills, and gain confidence along the way. Outside of volleyball, she is a wife, mom of four, and an active member of the Eagle River community.
Joy O’Brien
14 National Head CoachJoy is entering her seventh season with IVC and began coaching while her daughter was playing. She learned to play volleyball in the Philippines, where she also continued competing at the collegiate level. Joy loves connecting with athletes and building strong relationships with both players and their families. Creating a welcoming community is at the heart of what she brings to the gym. Outside of volleyball, Joy is a wife, mom of four, and works as a counselor.
Colleen Ruggles
15 National Assistant CoachColleen is in her seventh season with IVC and has been playing volleyball for 25 years, including winning a national championship while playing intramurals at BYU. She loves getting to know her athletes and watching them grow, work hard, and reach their potential both on and off the court. Colleen first connected with IVC when the club was getting started and eventually made the transition from tutoring math to coaching volleyball. Outside of the gym, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, reading, and cheering on her kids in their sports.
Rochelle Burcell
16 National Assistant CoachRochelle started playing volleyball at 13 and played club, high school, and college volleyball in Southern California. She has coached since 2006 across clubs and high school programs in Washington, Texas, and California, bringing nearly two decades of experience and game knowledge to IVC. She loves watching athletes grow over the years and being part of a strong coaching community. Outside of volleyball, Rochelle is a hockey mom who loves cheering on her family.
Darrell Delacruz
18 National Head CoachDarrell has been playing volleyball for many years, beginning in high school and continuing through city league. He has been coaching for 3 years with IVC, earning Coach of the Year honors in his first season. Darrell wants his athletes to enjoy the game, learn lessons they can carry beyond the court, and grow into good citizens. Outside of volleyball, he enjoys the outdoors, fishing, hunting, playing just about any sport, and spending time with friends and family.
Neil Warren
13 National Head CoachNeil has been part of IVC since the club’s beginning, first as a volleyball dad and later stepping into coaching three years ago. In his second season coaching, he was named Coach of the Year. Now coaching the C team at West High School, he enjoys teaching the movement and strategy of the game while bringing out a competitive spirit in his athletes. Outside of coaching, Neil enjoys being a volleyball dad and cheering on his daughter as she continues her college career.
Kevin Huynh
18 National Assistant CoachKevin is in his fourth season with IVC and brings a wealth of playing experience and volleyball knowledge to the gym. His volleyball journey began as a manager for the girls high school team in Unalaska, and he has since become a standout setter and active adult league player who regularly travels for tournaments. He loves helping athletes understand the game beyond the basics. Kevin also founded the Grand Sass volleyball tournament, with proceeds supporting local charities and nonprofits.
Emily Herrera
17 National Head CoachEmily is in her third season with IVC and her fourth season coaching. She played libero at a community college in West Texas and is now in her second season as a head coach. She loves watching athletes develop on and off the court and become the best version of themselves. Emily values the friendly, welcoming environment at Inspire and enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with friends, and taking her dog for long walks.
Brinkley Peterson
13 National Assistant CoachBrinkley is in her second season with IVC and brings years of coaching experience to the club after moving to Alaska last summer. She has coached athletes of all ages and currently serves as the head coach at Eagle River High School. With a strong knowledge of the game and a huge love for volleyball, Brinkley especially enjoys teaching passing and helping athletes develop their skills. She is also a mom of five, with two daughters in the IVC program.
Natalie Hopkins
14 Regional Head CoachNatalie is in her first season with IVC and brings 10 years of playing experience, including time at Eagle River High School and with the University of Arizona club team. With four years of coaching experience, she enjoys helping athletes build confidence, develop their skills, and grow through the sport. Having grown up in the Eagle River volleyball community, Natalie is excited to now coach with a club she has known for years. Outside of the gym, she enjoys working out, hiking, backpacking, and spending time with her family.
Danielle Willis
15 Regional Head CoachDanielle is in her second season coaching with IVC and brings a strong volleyball tradition with her from Kodiak, where she grew up playing the game. Coming from a family of volleyball coaches, she has a natural connection to the sport and loves teaching the next generation. Setting is her favorite skill to coach, and she brings creativity, energy, and a fresh perspective to the gym. Danielle especially enjoys building relationships with athletes and finding new ways to make practices engaging and fun.
Tai Chan
15 Regional Assistant CoachTai has been playing volleyball for about eight years and is entering his second year with IVC. He began coaching to build experience as a youth coach and enjoys watching athletes grow and succeed in the sport. Tai believes strong fundamentals are the foundation of great volleyball and loves helping athletes build those skills from the ground up. Outside of volleyball, he enjoys fitness, weight training, and staying active. For Tai, coaching volleyball is both a passion and a way to step away from the stresses of everyday life.
Julia Bretan
16 Regional Head CoachJulia is entering her second season with IVC and brings experience as both a player and coach. She played volleyball throughout high school, club, and beach, primarily as a libero, with a season as a setter. Julia loves watching athletes grow in the sport they love and hopes to pass along both her knowledge and her passion for the game. Outside of volleyball, she enjoys puzzles, cheering on her favorite New York teams, spending time outdoors, and working as a preschool teacher on base.
Madel Sundita
14 National Assistant CoachMadel is in her first season coaching with IVC after playing volleyball recreationally for nearly 20 years, including for her high school in the Philippines. She enjoys watching athletes grow throughout the season and hopes to help them develop mental toughness, confidence under pressure, and a strong work ethic. Her daughter plays on an IVC National Team, and Madel loves the sense of community she has found through the club. Outside of volleyball, she enjoys volunteering at church and spending time with her family.
Want to know more about Inspire?
Whether you have a question about a program, team, tryouts, or just want to learn more about Inspire, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!