Coaching Staff
Tamra Torres – Head Coach 14 Mizuno
Tamra has been around volleyball most of her life! She played college ball as setter/middle blocker at University of Oregon (go Ducks!) and moved to Texas after college where she joined national qualifying women’s and coed teams. She was also active in outdoor grass and sand leagues. In 2001, she co-directed the start up of the Garland Volleyball Association. Through the youth leagues, with over 750 participants this year, she has led camps, clinics, private lessons and coached various teams. She coached club last year for the first time, leading a 12 year old team for Texas Assault.
“I believe that a positive mental attitude combined with hard work makes for a great experience for all volleyball athletes.”
Amy Torres – Assistant Coach 14 Mizuno
Patricia Allen – Co Coach 18 Mizuno
This is Pattie’s Second season coaching with Dallas Summit. This is also her second year with 17’s. Grew up in San Antonio played 3 years of club, came to UT Dallas to play volleyball and is in her last season there, after already winning one conference championship. Patti will graduate in May with Bachelor of Arts, Major is Gender Studies with a minor in Political Science.
Ramona Jack
Ramona is currently in her fifth year as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Richland College, a member of the Dallas Community College District. She helped develop a highly competitive NJCAA Division III program which includes two regular season conference champions, while reaching the championship match of the Metro Athletic Conference Tournament 4 times. Ramona has had the opportunity to assist with all phases of the Richland volleyball program, and made significant contributions the player’s strategic and mental development. This has helped to produced 10 Mac Conference First Team Performers and 5 Honorable Mention recipients.
Prior to Richland College, Ramona served as Assistant Volleyball Coach at Collin County Community College. During her tenure, this NJCAA Division I program qualified for the Region V – North Division Conference tournament 4 times and received a bid to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Along the way, she helped develop 7 First Team All Conference Performers, and worked with a NJCAA Division I National Coach of the Year recipient.
Ramona also spent two years with Express Juniors serving as Assistant Director and Head Coach of the second 13s and 14s squads. The 13s squad reached the regional semi- finals of the non-bid division, while the 14s squad reached the quarter-finals of the non-bid division.
Ramona enjoys spending time with her family. Ramona stays busy as a wife of 24 years, as a mom of a 16 year old son, as a coach of 10 years and as an IT manager of a TEMS company. She also enjoys playing coed & USAV Masters volleyball whenever her schedule will allow. Ramona has served as official scorekeeper for several NCAA Division I schools in the area like SMU and UTA. Ramona has been a member of the American Volleyball Coach’s Association, impact certified, and intends to pursue CAP I certification in the near future.
Courtney Kaelin – Head Coach 13 Mizuno
This is Courtney’s third year with Dallas Summit. She grew up in Plano and played 5 years of club and enjoyed playing intramurals at Texas Tech. This will be her 4th year coaching club, and her third year coaching 8th grade volleyball at Rice Middle School in Plano. A priority of her’s is to help young athletes develop “life” skills by teaching them to set difficult, but achievable goals while having fun at the same time.
During the summer she helps run the Plano Senior High volleyball camp as well as Premier All- Star Camps.
Ashley Wright – Head Coach 13 Black
Ashley comes to Dallas Summit from North Texas Juniors, where she coached the 13′s select team. This is her 2nd year coaching club. She has 12 years playing experience under her belt. She is IMPACT certified. This past spring, she coached the R.L. Turner junior varsity team in the Extreme Spring league, and did private lessons throughout the summer. Ashley is currently a sophomore at Texas Women’s University where she’s majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in special education. She plans to teach the 2nd grade after graduating.
Rachael Sievert – Head Coach 15 Blue
Rachael was born in Bethesda MD. The Youngloves moved to Plano in 1974 where Rachael attended school and graduated from Plano East in 1991. She played volleyball, basketball, ran track and was the first female athletic trainer within Plano ISD. Following high school she became a licensed massage therapist. In 1997 she joined Plano ISD as a teaching assistant and spent 4 years in the classroom with Special Education.
Married for 14yrs with 2 boys ages 9 & 7, she stays very busy as a wife, mom, homeroom mother, coach and business entrepreneur. She also continues to play coed & beach volleyball. Rachael’s volleyball coaching experience includes St. Marks, Parish, Prince of Peace and 3 years coaching club. This will be her first season with Dallas Summit. She is Impact Certified and received her CAP1 certification in 2008.
Briana Murray – Head Coach 14 White
Hello, my name is Briana Murray. I played at Dallas Summit for seven years and loved every moment of it. I played four years of varsity volleyball at Princeton High School. I made 1st team all district for the last three years of my high school playing career and MVP of my team for my Jr. and Sr. year. I am currently going to Collin College to pursue a teaching certificate and later get a master’s in teaching.
Kelsey Shedd – Head Coach 13 White
Started her volleyball career at Berry middle school and then played for two years with the club Mesquite Jo’s. She then played at John Horn High School; 2 years on JV and 2 years on Varsity. She played 4 years for Dallas Summit.
Miles Meekhof – Head Coach 15 Mizuno
Miles began his volleyball career in Georgia where he founded The University of Georgia Men’s Club Volleyball Team. He was the starting setter in his three years with the program, and he also assisted the Women’s NCAA Division I team as a practice player.Miles continues to competitively play indoor and outdoor volleyball on coed and men’s teams.Previously Miles was a volunteer practice coach with Texas Assault, and this is his first year coaching with Summit. Miles is IMPACT Certified.
Lauren Witherspoon – Co Coach 16 Mizuno
Lauren Witherspoon grew up in Garland, TX and played varsity volleyball and ran track for South Garland High School. She is a current graduate from Texas State University where she played on several intramural volleyball teams. Lauren is currently the assistant volleyball coach at Eastfield Community College in Mesquite, TX. She has a tremendous love for the game and is very excited to be joining the Dallas Summit coaching staff.
Jaime Schember – Head Coach 13 Blue
This is Jaime’s first year with Dallas Summit. She played highschool volleyball at Mercyhurst Prep and club volleyball for E.P.I.C. in Pennsylvania for 4 years. She then went to college at St. Bonaventure University and played volleyball there for 4 years. After graduating with an M.B.A. in marketing, she moved down to Dallas to work for Nortel and decided she wanted to help out with coaching a club volleyball team..
Joseph Okonek – Head Coach 14 Blue
I have been playing volleyball for over 20 years, including playing club volleyball at the University of North Texas for one year and continue to play throughout my adult life. I have been coaching volleyball for 5 years at a private school in Dallas and have coached both 14s and 12s at Dallas Summit last year. I have a true passion for the game of volleyball, both coaching and playing. I use that passion to help develop players into the best that they can be both as athletes and members of a team.
Blair Smith – Head Coach 18 Mizuno/16 Mizuno
Blair is entering his fourth year as a club volleyball coach. Blair is currently in his second year of coaching for Dallas Summit Volleyball where he coaches the Mizuno 16’s and 18’s teams. His first year with Summit he coached the 17’s Mizuno team. Prior to joining Summit Volleyball, Blair spent 2 years coaching for the El Paso Sunspots where he was the head coach for the girl’s 17’s team and assisted the girl’s 16’s team. He also coached in GVA for 2 years coaching his daughters 12’s and 13’s team.
Blair brings over 8 years of coaching experience in various competitive youth sports and 10 plus years playing experience to include playing at the Junior College level for volleyball. Blair was recently elected as an at-large member for the North Texas Volleyball Junior Regional Board and also currently sits on the junior board try-outs committee. Blair is Impact certified and is pursuing his CAP I certification in the coming months.
Shelley Paull – Head Coach 15 White
Shelley started playing volleyball in high school at Baytown Lee in various positions. She was on varsity for 2 years and team captain for 1. She played 2 years of club volleyball while in high school for Bayclub VBC and Gulf Coast Juniors as a middle blocker. After high school Shelley went on to play for 2 years (NJCAA Div I) at Wharton County Junior College and finished her career playing 2 more years (NCAA) at the University of Texas at Dallas. Since college Shelley has coached 1 season (6th grade) at Prince of Peace in Plano.
This is Shelley’s first year with Dallas Summit Volleyball Club.
Jerry Higgins – Head Coach 14 Black
Jerry has been coaching volleyball at the club level since 1999. Jerry has played and refereed recreational volleyball for several years. He enjoys developing individual players through fundamentals to help build a strong team and confidence in themselves and each other. He feels that volleyball is fun and challenging as the girls develop socially and physically, learning important life skills that can be applied throughout their lives. Jerry is married to Marcia and has four adult children.
Dana Hilzendager – Head Coach 12 Mizuno
This is Dana’s first year with Dallas Summit Volleyball Club. Dana is from Red Oak, Texas where she played on the varsity team for 4 years. Dana is currently attending the University of Texas at Dallas where she is a starting outside hitter for the Comets. Dana played club ball in the Dallas area for 7 years playing her last 4 years at Texas Advantage. Dana made the trip to the Junior Olympic National tournament 4 times. She won a bronze medal in Miami in 2009 where Dana was also named to the 18 National All Tournament team. Dana has coached 12 year olds in league play but this is her first year coaching club. Dana is anxious to pass her love of the game and playing experience on to her young players.
Ashley Zara – Head Coach 15 Black
This is Ashley’s second year coaching for Dallas Summit. She grew up in McKinney and played 4 years club. Ashley is currently a junior in college and is majoring in Historical Studies.