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Devlyn Lohnes
18U HEAD COACH
Devlyn played volleyball as a setter in high school, and played in local competitive beach leagues during college, where there was no varsity team. Devlyn has coached with BCO and various high school teams for 4 seasons, where he enjoys bringing his passion for sport and coaching together to help athletes improve and reach their goals. He's looking forward to another great season with the U18 girls team!
Mark Mahl
18U ASSISTANT COACH
With over 30 years of coaching experience at the High School, Club, Provincial Team, College & University, levels of the game — from grassroots to national competition — for both men’s and women’s programs. His career highlights include 2 Women’s Provincial Golds and a National Gold medal, as well as time spent coaching with Canada’s Junior National Teams. Mark is passionate about helping young women grow their skills, understand the finer points of the game, and develop strong on-court strategy. He believes volleyball should always be fun, supportive, and a place where athletes can thrive both on and off the court. ​"It is all about the experience and the journey!"
Shayan
18U ASSISTANT COACH
Shayan has been playing volleyball since the age of five and has continued to pursue the sport through every stage of his life. After moving to Canada in 2018, he competed with Team BC and Ducks Volleyball Club, and later trained with the Capilano University men's team as a red-shirt player. He has since stayed active in the game through recreational play, men’s league, super league, and various tournaments. Last season, he coached the Handsworth senior team, and now hopes to share his knowledge, experience, and love for the sport while giving back to the volleyball community.
18U GIRLS
TheAnh Pham
17U CO-COACH
TheAnh ("Tay-On") has been part of the volleyball community for over a decade, both as a player and coach. He has contributed to multiple medal-winning seasons with Apex Volleyball Club and Capilano University, where he also competed as a varsity athlete. Most notably, TheAnh was part of the Capilano University coaching staff that led the blues to a National Championship in 2020. ​ Currently, he serves as an assistant coach with the Capilano University men's volleyball program and is thrilled to step into the role of Head Coach for the 16U Black team in his second year with BCO. Outside of coaching, TheAnh works as a physiotherapist, bringing valuable expertise in athlete health, injury prevention, and performance optimization. He is passionate about fostering both the athletic and personal growth of the next generation of BCO
Simon Friesen
17U CO-COACH
Simon grew up in Abbotsford playing school volleyball for MEI, and club volleyball for FVVC. He moved to the North Shore in 2015 to go to University and play volleyball at Capilano where he played for 5 years and had a successful career there. Notable accolades include 2018 PACWEST and CCAA Player of the Year, and 2020 PACWEST and CCAA Gold Medal, and the 2020 CCAA Nationals tournament MVP. Recently, Simon has been playing volleyball recreationally in the men’s Vancouver Super League. He is also assistant coaching the Capilano Men’s Volleyball team.​
Meghan Friesen
17U ASSISTANT COACH
Meghan grew up on the North Shore, playing volleyball at Argyle, and through the BCO club system from U13 to her U18 team, winning a national championship in 2015. She decided to continue her volleyball career at Capilano University, where over her 5 years she played as a leftside, libero, and middle, winning 3 PACWEST bronze medals, a PACWEST all-rookie team, and PACWEST first team all-star award. She was also recognized for excellence in academics with a CCAA academic all-Canadian award. She has assistant coached several previous teams including Capilano University Blues from 2020-2022, Sunday leagues, BCO teams at the U15, U16, and a U18 team through the COVID lockdown season.
Carmen Emslie
17U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
17U GIRLS
Natalie Crews
16U HEAD COACH
Nat grew up playing volleyball with BCO as a Middle Blocker before moving on to compete at every level of post-secondary in Canada — first at VIU (PACWEST), then Queen’s University (OUA), and finally at UFV (CanWest). Most notably, she went on to play professionally in Germany. Nat brings a wealth of playing experience and technical knowledge to the court, and she values teaching athletes not only how to improve but also why — building a deeper understanding of the game. Nat has been coaching volleyball for over 13 years, including several seasons with BCO as a Sunday League Coach and Skills Clinic Coach. She is passionate about helping athletes grow, and she loves seeing their enthusiasm for the sport develop.​
Tova Rae
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio coming soon!
Kailee Deacon
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Kailee is entering her fifth season coaching with BCO. Last year, she, Natalie Crews and Nathan Overgaard guided the 15U Black girls team to an outstanding Tier 1, 3nd-place finish at provincials, and a top 10 finish in Tier 1 at Nationals. Kailee’s love for volleyball began early, growing up in Ontario where she competed in the club OVA league as well as for her school. For the past 20 years, she has shared that passion through extensive coaching in schools, camps, and with BCO over the past three seasons. This year, Kailee is excited to be one of the assistant coaches for the 16U Black team. She looks forward to continuing to inspire her athletes and supporting their growth both in skill and in their love for the game.
16U GIRLS
BLACK TEAM
Mitra Shad
16U HEAD COACH
Mitra Shad is the co-founder and current Director of the Kitsilano Women's Beach Volleyball Club (KWVC), hosting competitive events for women throughout the beach season since 2017. In addition to running KWVC, Mitra is a current beach volleyball athlete playing on the Volleyball BC Pro Tour since 2016 and a member of the VBC Player's Committee. She has previously coached indoor U16 at Pacific Coast Beach Volleyball Club, but has now returned to her roots on the North Shore and is excited to make an impact with BCO, her hometown club. Mitra's career as a marketing executive has also given her ample experience in leading, coaching and mentoring teams across multiple markets like Canada, US and Asia.
Coach Coach
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio coming soon!
Coach Coach
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
16U GIRLS
RED TEAM
Markus Brastberg
15U CO-HEAD COACH
Markus grew up playing Volleyball on the North Shore for BCO while attending Argyle Secondary School. Shortly after his club career, he began his post-secondary endeavours at Capilano University, winning a national championship with the team in 2020 as a libero. After post-secondary Markus spent a year playing with the 2022 Canadian beach National team in Ontario, where his knowledge of the game grew alongside some incredible experiences. He has been coaching for BCO for seven years now, and enjoy giving back to the volleyball community through coaching just as much as playing.
Anika Gatto
15U CO-HEAD COACH
Anika grew up playing volleyball for the Coquitlam Ducks and Academy Volleyball as a libero. She played at the University of Toronto where they won 2 OUA Championships then transferred to Mohawk college in Ontario where she was named Female Athlete of the Year. To finish her University career, she played at the Capilano University on the north shore. This summer Anika coached the LCGA senior girls and boys teams and helped them develop their skills and systematic knowledge of the game. She has been coaching BCO skills clinics, Sunday league, and beach camps for 6 years now and is happy that she is able to share her knowledge and experience with young athletes.
TheAnh Pham
15U ASSISTANT COACH
TheAnh ("Tay-On") has been part of the volleyball community for over a decade, both as a player and coach. He has contributed to multiple medal-winning seasons with Apex Volleyball Club and Capilano University, where he also competed as a varsity athlete. Most notably, TheAnh was part of the Capilano University coaching staff that led the blues to a National Championship in 2020. ​ Currently, he serves as an assistant coach with the Capilano University men's volleyball program and is thrilled to step into the role of Head Coach for the 16U Black team in his second year with BCO. Outside of coaching, TheAnh works as a physiotherapist, bringing valuable expertise in athlete health, injury prevention, and performance optimization. He is passionate about fostering both the athletic and personal growth of the next generation of BCO
15U GIRLS
BLACK TEAM
Cole Appleton
15U HEAD COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
Melissa Pesch
15U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio coming soon!
15U GIRLS
RED TEAM
Nathan Overgaard
14U HEAD COACH
Nathan is a fourth-year coach with BCO who won a gold medal at provincials with Kailee and the 13U Black team 2024 year. He is excited to build with a new team for 14U this season. Nathan also coaches volleyball for his former high school's team. Nathan grew up on the North Shore playing volleyball with BCO, and attended Queen's University for his undergrad. He is now attending UBC for a graduate program in nursing. He has continued to play intramural and beach volleyball since graduating in 2019, and loves both playing and coaching the sport at a high level.
Ashley Smith
14U ASSISTANT COACH
Ashley grew up playing and coaching volleyball on the North Shore with Handsworth, BCO, and Thunder as a setter from 2016 to 2020. She captained the Handsworth Senior Team to a 4th-place finish at AAAA Provincials, co-captained U18 BCO Black, and was named North Shore Player of the Year and First Team All-Star in 2020. ​ Ashley brings extensive experience in leadership, strategy, and models a growth mindset. She is passionate about developing young athletes not only in their technical skills but also in their confidence, understanding of the game, and ability to reach their full potential.
Barb Bellini
14U ASSISTANT COACH
Barb grew up in South Surrey and started playing volleyball in Gr. 8 and found an instant passion for the sport. Barb continued to play Team BC and club volleyball in White Rock until she was recruited to play at UBC. Barb played at UBC from 1995 - 2000 and eventually earned a spot on the Team Canada Women's Volleyball roster. Barb represented Team Canada from 1997 - 2004 as well as played on various Professional Teams throughout Europe, Asia and Puerto Rico during that time. Barb is grateful for all the amazing experiences she had through volleyball from the friendships, coaches, and competitions. She recognizes all that sport can contribute to an athlete's life at any level and is excited to be coaching a younger generation of future athletes.​
14U GIRLS
BLACK TEAM
Michelle Collens
14U CO-COACH
Coach Michelle was introduced to club volleyball in grade 8, where she found her passion playing for Ichiban Volleyball Club. A graduate of Centennial high school, she captained the team to an undefeated season, winning the AAAA BC High School Provincial Championships. With numerous core memories made from team road trips and experiences playing at the BC Games, Canada Games and later with the UBC Thunderbirds it was a natural fit to transition from player to coach and share her passion for sport. Coaching U15-U17 with both Kelowna Volleyball Club and Thunder Volleyball Club for 10 years, Michelle has extensive experience supporting athletes in their growth and development as they prepare for post secondary recruitment. Michelle is an active member of the amateur sport community having volunteered with Volleyball BC, BC Golf, KidSport Vancouver, UBC Thunderbird Athletics Council, and is currently on the board of Golf Canada and the 2025 Invictus Games. Now a resident of North Vancouver, she is excited to return to coaching with BCO and learn all things about tripleball! Her key goals with athletes is to instill confidence, foster teamwork and develop great work ethic. Let’s go BCO!
Kelly Evans
14U CO-COACH
A North Vancouver native, Kelly discovered her passion for volleyball at Handsworth Secondary, inspired by teacher and club founder Neil Salkus. While she competed in multiple sports, volleyball became her focus. She played with BCO, earned spots on the BC Summer Games and BC Provincial Team, and was selected for the Junior National Team. Kelly continued her career on a Division 1 scholarship at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, where she served as co-captain. After university, she returned home to coach at Handsworth and BCO. Last season, Kelly coached club again and thoroughly enjoyed supporting the development of young athletes and seeing the tremendous strides they made both on and off the court. She looks forward to building on that momentum with the U13s this year. ​ Outside of volleyball, Kelly serves as Registrar and Board Member for North Shore Fastpitch. She enjoys playing beach volleyball and spending time outdoors with her husband and two children. Kelly is committed to creating a positive, growth-focused environment where athletes can embrace challenges, develop teamwork, and build lasting friendships.​
14U GIRLS
RED TEAM
Chris Chong-Ping
13U HEAD COACH
Meet Coach Chris, a volleyball enthusiast who found the sport after high school and has been making up for lost time ever since. While you won’t find any impressive College or National team stats in his bio, you will find a consistent track record of adult recreational leagues, tournaments on beach, grass, and indoor courts alike. Perhaps Coach Chris’s finest volleyball achievement was meeting his wife through indoor volleyball and convincing her to let him join her coed team. For the past 4 seasons, Chris has head coached the Handsworth grade 8’s/9’s volleyball team and this season helped guide the 8’s team to win the Northshore Championships. Known for his dedication in executing perfect tosses and hitting down balls, Coach Chris is here to help young players develop solid volleyball fundamentals, technique and IQ
Karissa Kirkwood
13U ASSISTANT COACH
Karissa played with BCO from U13 to U18 as a left side hitter. During her time with BCO, she won a provincial gold and two provincial bronze medals. She also had success in beach volleyball, winning three consecutive provincial championships and capturing a national championship in 2024. At Sentinel Secondary, she won a provincial championship and was named a BC school sports First-team All-Star for two consecutive years. Karissa has been coaching the BCO Sunday League for three years and spent her summer at LGCA, helping coach at the BCO High-Performance Camps. ​ Off the court, Karissa is pursuing her studies in engineering at Capilano University, with plans to transfer to the University of British Columbia next year. She is looking forward to the fun season ahead!​
Felicity Brempong
13U ASSISTANT COACH
Felicity Brempong, originally from North Vancouver, discovered her love for volleyball at a young age. She graduated from Handsworth Secondary School in 2002 and played club volleyball with BCO every year throughout high school, where she built many fond memories and lifelong friendships that continue to this day. She also competed at the BC Summer Games, further fueling her passion for the sport. Her hard work paid off when she earned a full NCAA scholarship, going on to play at Western Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she graduated in 2006. During her time in North Carolina, Felicity met her partner, and together they have built a life back in North Vancouver, where they are now raising their three children. After stepping away from the game to focus on family and her professional career, Felicity is thrilled to return to volleyball as a coach with BCO. She is passionate about giving back to the sport that has given her so much and looks forward to helping young, dedicated athletes develop their skills, grow their confidence, and discover the same love of the game that shaped her own journey
13U GIRLS
BLACK TEAM
Alyssa Barrie
13U HEAD COACH
Alyssa discovered her love of club volleyball in grade 5 and played as a setter throughout high school. During her time at UBC, she studied Human Kinetics and Rehabilitation Sciences while continuing to enjoy the game through intramurals, adult leagues, and tournaments. Now in her fourth season and sixth team with BCO, Alyssa enjoys helping young athletes build skills, confidence, and a love for the sport. As an Occupational Therapist, she works with children to support growth and development, and she brings that same encouragement and positivity to the court. Volleyball has given Alyssa lifelong friendships, and she is grateful for the opportunity to share that joy with the BCO community.
Skye Rohani
13U ASSISTANT COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
13U GIRLS
RED TEAM
Janna Young
12U COACH
Janna grew up in Calgary, AB. She started playing volleyball in Grade 7 and immediately fell in love with the sport. She played volleyball year-round; on school teams, on the U of C club team and on the Alberta provincial team until she graduated from high school. Janna continued her volleyball career, playing on the UBC volleyball team from 1994-1999. Janna stayed in Vancouver after graduation and continued studies at UBC to become an Occupational Therapist. Janna now lives and works in North Van. When not working, Janna loves spending time with her family and enjoys swimming, biking, hiking and running. Janna is looking forward to coaching with BCO, sharing her love of volleyball with young athletes.
Andrea Barrett
12U COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
Jen Riley
12U COACH
Originally from Toronto, Jen had the unique experience of walking on to the varsity team at Queen’s University without previous club experience and finished her four year tenure as MVP and team captain. She moved west in 2003, where a summer of beach volleyball at Kits that turned into 15+ years playing tournaments on the BC Beach Volleyball Tour, and moving here for good. She has continued to give back as a Volleyball BC Board Director, and now as a third year coach with BCO both indoors and on the beach (her true love!). Outside of volleyball, Jen is the CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, a mother and founder of a mentorship program for twenty-something women.
Skye Rohani
12U COACH
Bio Coming Soon!
Anna Liniewski
12U COACH
Anna grew up playing volleyball for Ducks Volleyball Club as a Middle Blocker before competing at both the CCAA and USPORTS levels in Canada. Anna is a Saint Mary’s University alum and currently plays with the Capilano Blues as both a Middle Blocker and Rightside. Anna has coached for about 6 years, ranging across local clinics, Sunday League, BCO skills clinics, beach camps and prep camps. She is passionate about improving athletes technical skills while maintaining a fun environment for athletes to thrive in.