SC War Eagles Coaching Staff
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Coach Valerie Long brings over twenty-five years of coaching experience to the sport of volleyball. With a distinguished career as a director or co-director in clubs spanning the Carolina and Palmetto Regions, her expertise and dedication have left a lasting impact.
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Valerie's fervent passion for the sport shines through in every aspect of her coaching. Whether on the practice court or in the midst of intense tournaments, her enthusiasm and encouragement uplift her teams, fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie.
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As a visionary leader at SC War Eagles, Valerie aims to expand the love for volleyball across the York County region. Her mission is to introduce players to the sport, nurturing their talents, and helping them become highly competitive forces, not just locally, but regionally and nationally as well.
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With Coach Valerie Long at the helm, we are confident that our athletes will soar to new heights, embracing the sport of volleyball with ardor and determination. Together, we will build a legacy of excellence, empowering our players to become extraordinary athletes and ambassadors of the game.
Coach Chelsea Jones
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Coach Chelsea played volleyball at Alleghany High School in Sparta, NC. She then played Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC where her team was the GSAC Conference Tournament Champions in 2012. During her time with Salem volleyball, they were the first sport to earn a bid to the NCAA DIII Tournament and Chelsea was the first ever Conference MVP (2012) in school history.
Coach Jones started her volleyball coaching career in 2010 at Alleghany Volleyball Club in Sparta, NC. She then worked at Fluid Volleyball Club in Winston-Salem, NC where she became a Master Coach and Assistant Club Director over a four-year span. In 2014, she went back to her Alma mater, Salem College, to be the Assistant Volleyball Coach and helped lead the team to their second GSAC Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA DIII Regional Tournament bid.
Coach Jones was then given the opportunity to start a volleyball program at Laurel University in High Point, NC in 2015. She took the John Wesley University (previously named Laurel University) volleyball team to the NCCAA South Regional Tournament in both 2016 and 2017. She is now the Director of Athletics and Head Volleyball Coach at Carolina University in Winston-Salem where she led the team to become the NCCAA South Regional Champions and National Tournament participants in 2018 and 2022. She has also had multiple athletes earn All-Region, All-Academic, and All-American honors. Coach Chelsea is not coaching at SCWE this year.
Coach Amy Berlak
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My name is Amy Berlak and I have been coaching ages 13-17 for SCWE since 2019. I absolutely love volleyball! Growing up in Charlotte, my passion for the sport began in 5th grade. I played for CJV from age 12 and played 4-years of Varsity Volleyball at Charlotte Catholic Highschool. Our team won the State Championships my sophomore, junior, and senior year. In college, I played right-side at Florida Tech where I set the school record for aces in a match.
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I also enjoy competing in the adult volleyball league out of Rock Hill, SC. My goal as a coach is to train, inspire, and empower players to reach new heights in their own volleyball endeavors. I strive to create a positive, lasting impact on players' lives, just like my club coaches did for me.
Coach Corey Long
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Plays D1 at North Greenville University.
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USA NTDP Coach
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Assisted the Wofford college Elite program
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SCWE 23-24 season Coach of the year
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South Carolina High performance Coach
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South Carolina All region Coach
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4 years assistant club coach and 2 years head coach
Words of wisdom…
“If you respect the game, the game will respect you”
Coach Mae McKinney
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Hi, I’m Mae and I am excited to coach 13u SN this season at War Eagles! This will be my fourth season with the club, as I have coached 12’s, 14’s and 16’s in previous years. This will also be my fourth year coaching at a local middle school. I am a senior at Winthrop, majoring in middle level education. I have been an Eagle all my life, from playing as a War Eagle, clover eagle, and now studying as a Winthrop Eagle. I am passionate about creating an effective, supportive, and fun experience for players. Volleyball is more than competition- it’s family!
Coach Laurie Parker
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Hello, I'm Laurie Parker, a proud Hoosier born and raised in a charming Indiana town. In 2004, I relocated to Columbia, South Carolina, after tying the knot. Recently, my family and I settled in the serene Lake Wylie area
in 2019, relishing the lake life, excellent schools, and the vibrant city of Charlotte.
Volleyball has been an integral part of my life since high school and college, including club ball, where I honed my skills as a setter and gained experience in the back row. Passionate about the sport, I had the privilege of coaching the 15U team in 2022 and am currently leading two teams: 13U and 16U with the esteemed War Eagles.
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As a coach, my primary focus is to witness the girls' growth in volleyball skills, knowledge, and technique. However, what excites me most is seeing them thrive as a united team, competing fiercely, and fostering a genuine love for the game. Let's embark on this incredible journey together, as we ignite a shared passion for volleyball and empower these young athletes to reach their full potential.
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Coach Anna Bellardini
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My volleyball journey began with Asheville City Schools, and from there, my passion for the sport only grew stronger. Through college and adult clubs, I continued to nurture my skills and love for the game.
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For the past 5 years, I have been actively engaged as a club coach, dedicating myself to helping young athletes unlock their full potential. Additionally, I take great pride in organizing team camps for local high schools and middle schools in my hometown, sharing my knowledge and expertise with the next generation of players.
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As a coach, my philosophy centers around building a supportive and trusting environment for my players. Through positivity and encouragement, I empower each individual to thrive, regardless of their starting point. My ultimate goal is to take every player to their personal best, fostering a sense of achievement and camaraderie on and off the court.
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With Anna Bellardini as your coach, you can expect a nurturing and uplifting experience, where each player's growth and development are paramount. Together, let's embark on a journey of excellence, instilling a lifelong love for volleyball and cultivating a strong sense of teamwork and achievement.
Coach Katie Blow
I’m Katie Blow, I’m from Easley, South Carolina. I played volleyball at my local rec starting in 1st grade then moved to club when I started playing at Gettys Middle School for 2 years and then Easley High School for 3 years until I was injured. I have a total of 11 years of playing experience. I was the defense coach at Gettys Middle School my senior year, after my injury during junior year. I currently attend Winthrop University for Social Studies Education with a double minor in sports management.
I have experienced coaching 14u girls in rec volleyball, and 12-14u girls in a school volleyball. I helped out two old coaches of mine, who were coaching a 16 Elite team, with stats and learned some amazing coaching skills my senior year during club season. I have seen and experienced all levels of volleyball and I’m excited to continue my coaching career here at SCWE Club. I currently coach U14 Boys.
Coach JP Seidel is a highly accomplished volleyball coach with a distinguished career marked by numerous achievements and accolades. With a coaching career that includes three state championship appearances, Coach Seidel has established himself as one of the premier volleyball coaches in North Carolina.
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In 2021, Coach Seidel was honored as the North Carolina Coach of the Year, a testament to his exceptional leadership and coaching prowess. His tenure at Carolina Union Volleyball Club (CUVC) has been particularly notable, where he has become one of the winningest coaches in the club's history. Under his guidance, over 40 athletes have been successfully placed in collegiate volleyball programs, demonstrating his dedication to developing talent and advancing players' careers.
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Coach Seidel's credentials are impressive. He holds certifications from both AAU and USAV, and he is also a certified referee, bringing a comprehensive understanding of the game from multiple perspectives. His coaching career spans several prestigious institutions, including Gaston Day School, Mountain Island Charter, and Fort Mill High School. At Fort Mill High School, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first and only coach since 2008 to defeat their bitter rival, Nation Ford High School.
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In addition to his high school coaching successes, Coach James Seidel was recruited by Surry College to lead their volleyball team, though the program was unfortunately disbanded before he could leave a lasting impact. Nevertheless, his influence and legacy in the volleyball community continue to grow.
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As one of the winningest coaches at CUVC, Coach Seidel played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing young talent, ensuring that players are well-prepared for the next level of competition. His commitment to excellence and his passion for the sport make him a revered figure in volleyball coaching circles. He's taken on the role of director of recruiting at War Eagles.
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​​He'll be coaching 18's for the 2025 season. JP also runs a Wisconsin Volleyball type offense. So if you're a player looking for speed, misdirection and high hitting percentages, this is it.
Be a part of his winning teams, join War Eagles today. JP is a writer and author and lives in York.
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Coach Kendahl
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Hi! I’m Kendahl Tillotson. I was born and raised in the small town of Smyrna right outside of York SC. I grew up with my mom, dad and two sisters and I guess you could say we’re a volleyball family. My father played when he was in school in PA and as did my older sister. So naturally I did as well. I played volleyball all through middle and high school along with 3 yrs of club. Once out of high school I began coaching at War Eagles to pass on all my experience, knowledge and love of the sport to those just starting out and those looking to push themselves. I've coached for a couple years now and am passionate about the sport.
I spend most of my free time in the kitchen baking all things sweet and delicious I also love being outdoors spending quality time with my three dogs Missy, Dixie and Daisy and my husband. I am very excited and look forward to some great seasons ahead with SCWarEagles volleyball.
Coach Felisha
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I’m Felisha Woodman, local to Rock Hill SC. I started playing volleyball in middle school when I moved here from OK and realized it was something I could do. I played all throughout middle and high school and had my first opportunity to coach club with SCWE this past year! I learned a lot in my first year coaching the SCWE 18u flight team. It was a great honor to be able to coach those girls to 3 silver medals and one bronze medal in my very first year. Most recently I coached the 15-16 all region tournament where our little team of strangers from all over played their hearts out in an undefeated gold championship match, losing only by 2 points.
Our next season I will be coaching our 16u semi national team. I am a firm believer that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. My goal as a coach is to sculpt well rounded players, and individuals, who can trust themselves to make the right decisions when faced with difficult situations, both on and off the court. Everyone has their niche on the court, however my team will be ready, and prepared to take on any challenge we face; together.
Coach Pearce
Pearce Augier, is a standout middle blocker who has made significant contributions to the Delaware Blue Hens volleyball team. In the 2022 season, she started in 25 of her 27 appearances, playing in 102 sets, and achieved career bests with 94 kills, 14 digs, and 60 blocks. Although she did not appear in the 2021 season, she had an impressive rookie year in 2020-21, appearing in six matches and making five starts. During this season, she recorded 36 kills, including a season-high 10 kills in her collegiate debut at Temple, where she hit .600, and matched this in a win at Northeastern, where she also had a season-best eight blocks. Pearce tallied 18 rejections and ranked second on the team with 0.95 blocks per set. In high school, Pearce was a two-year starter at middle blocker for Lake Norman Charter, earning all-conference selection as a senior and surpassing 200 kills with a hitting percentage of .344. She also played club volleyball for Carolina Union. Pearce is the daughter of Stephanie and Whitaker Augier, with her father having played soccer and track & field at High Point University, and she has two siblings. Pearce will coach our 17 semi national team in 2025.
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Coach Nya
Hi my name is Nya Browne and I have played volleyball for 12 years and coached for 6. I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee where I grew up playing school and club volleyball. My senior of high school I lead my team in kills as a Middle Blocker to a TSSAA State championship and played for a strong club in the Middle Tennessee area. I currently live in Spartanburg, South Carolina and am a rising senior at USC Upstate where I also play volleyball. I am a Psychology major with a Coaching Minor and I have aspirations to pursue my Psy. D in Sports Psychology after I graduate from Upstate. Volleyball and youth sports are my passions and I am eager to start my first year with SC War Eagles!
Coach Emma
Hello! My name is Emma Roth, I am from Clover, SC. I started my love of volleyball playing in the backyard with my mom at 10 years old when I barely knew the name of the ball I was playing with! Ever since that moment, I have loved the sport, and have been playing consistently year round for 6 years. My journey evolved from recreational leagues to elite level national team play. I started my journey on national teams with War Eagles (13u, 14u, 16u) and most recently with Carolina UVC (15u, 16u), all of my experiences through both clubs have assisted me to grow athletically and personally both on the court and off. For the upcoming season, I am excited to return back to War Eagles on their 18u Elite Team and also coach the 12u Development Team. Throughout the years, I have specialized in setting, but I love defense specialist work as well as being a right side hitter. I believe strongly in being adaptable, flexible and coachable on the court along with developing a strong foundation in the basics. As I say “being brilliant at the basics” will for sure elevate your level of play. Notably, open communication combined with a good foundation is what makes a great team; hence, teamwork makes the dream work. I look forward to having a super season of playing and coaching!
We are seeking coaches who can contribute their distinct skills and talents to our volleyball courts, guiding our athletes to unlock their full potential. While achieving victories is a priority, we equally emphasize creating an environment where our athletes not only enjoy themselves but also thrive and develop as volleyball players. We value and respect each individual within our sports community.
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SIGN UP HERE: Coaches New Hire Interest Form