Coaching Staff
In alphabetical order

For coaching job description and  application click here.

 

JACI ABELOE Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st Season Certification: USAV Impact Jaci graduated from N. Medford High School where she played on the Varsity team since her sophomore year.  In 2006 they placed 3rd in the state tournament and they improved it in 2007 finishing 2nd in state.  In 2007 she was voted 2nd Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-State.  In 2008, she received 1st Team All-Conference award.  She just completed her first season with the Bearcats.

SUSI ARMSTRONG West Salem High School - Head Coach Salem VBC: Since 2008-09 Season Certification: ASEP, USAV Impact Susi is the head coach of the West Salem Titans and has been there for 7 seasons.  She competed in high school and for the Pacific University where she was honored by being inducted in their Athletic Hall of Fame for volleyball and track and field.  She is a breast cancer survivor.  She enjoys volleyball and golf.  Her family includes her husband Rich and her two kids Ayle who is on our 12 Red team and her son Andy.  They do have three dogs Jake, Lucy, and Maggie.

KATIE BASHAW Western Oregon University - Head Coach Salem VBC: 2nd Season Certification: USAV Impact Katie graduated from Blanchet Catholic High School where she played varsity for all four years as a setter. Her junior year she helped her team place third at the OSAA 2A state tournament, and her senior year, win the state championship. Katie was named 1st Team All-League and 2nd Team All-State in 2007.  In 2008 Bashaw was named 1st Team All-League and was unanimously voted 1st Team All-State.  She played club volleyball for Salem VBC from 2003-2008, and coached the 12U team in 2008 as well. In 2008-2009 Katie coached the 14U Blanchet Volleyball Club team during the winter, as well as the 8th grade team at Blanchet this last fall. She currently attends Western Oregon University.

SHERRIE BASHAW Blanchet High School - Head Coach Salem VBC: Since 2004-05 season Certification: ASEP, USAV Impact, USAV CAP level I Sherrie graduate from Dallas High School where she competed in volleyball, basketball, softball and track.  In volleyball, she made 1st team all league for seasons as a setter.  After high school, she attended Western Baptist College (now Corban) and competed in volleyball and basketball.  She was voted 1st team NAIA All American.  Over the years, she has played on various co-ed teams.  She started coaching in 1984 as an assistant Varsity at Dallas HS.  She has coached volleyball and basketball at Corban, Salem Academy, Gervais, and currently coaching at Blanchet HS.  In 2009, she won her second state title in row.  She was named Tri-River Coach of the Year, State Coach of the Year by winning the League and the 2A State Tournemant.  In 2008 she was names coach of the year by the League and the state as well as OACA, Trailblazers/Ford and the Salem Breakfast club.  Her Cavaliers were league champions in 2003, 2005 through 2009.  Sherrie was Tri-River coach of the year from 2003 through 2009 and her teams have made the State tournament every year since 2003.  She has coached at our every level in Club. She has also She has been involved with our Club for many years and is currently on our Board.

JULIE BENNETT Salem Volleyball Club Coach Salem VBC: Since 2004-05 season Certification: ASEP, USAV Impact, USAV CAP level I Julie graduated from Royal High School in Simi Valley, CA where she competed in volleyball, and track.  After high school she attended college at Biola University, La Mirada, CA competing in volleyball as a 5-1 setter.  She received many honors including 2nd and 3rd team All-American, Freshman Athlete of the Year, and team MVP for 2 years.  After graduating from college, Julie traveled to Hong Kong, China, and Australia with Amateur Sports International.  Over the years, Julie has played many years on grass and indoor as double, quads and co-ed 6’s.   Julie began coaching in college with Newport Beach VBC for 3 years, was assistant coach at Biola University, and was head coach at Tustin High School, Tustin, CA for 1 year before returning to school for her Masters.  Upon moving to Oregon, Julie began coaching for Salem VBC in 2000-2001 season and had coached for 8 seasons in all divisions and all levels.  She was head coach at North Salem High School 2001-2006.  She has 2 awesome boys and is coaching our 16s Blue team.

MOLLY BLANKENSHIP Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Molly played two season in high school as middle blocker.  Both seasons she received 1st Team Intermountain League and Best Offensive player.  She was team captain her senior year.  Following high school, she attended Spokane Falls Community College and played in the position of left side hitter and was voted MVP of Spokane tourney in 2008.  Molly is now competing for the Bearcats as their left side hitter.  she was voted NWC Student-Athlete of the Week  and received an NWC Honorable Mention.  She has coached kids grades 1 through 6 for the Priest River Youth Athletic Association.  She has also coached the summer camps at the Community College in '07 and '08.

MEGAN DEES Corban College - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Megan graduated from Tehachapi High School where she played volleyball all four years.  She played Club at Kern River VBC in Bakersfield, California for four seasons.  She is a sophomore with the Corban Warriors.

KATHY LEE GLENN Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact From Murrieta, CA.  Currently a freshman on the Willamette University volleyball team.  Graduated from Vista Murrieta High School and played volleyball there all 4 years.  Played 4 years of club volleyball in Southern California.  Coached 2 seasons of boys volleyball.  Team MVP sophomore year.

JODI HACK North Santiam School district - Communications Coordinator Stayton HS - JV Coach Salem VBC:   since 2007 season Certification:   NFHS, ASEP, USAV Impact Jodi is entering her third season with our Club.  In the two previous seasons, she coached our 12 Black and 12 Red teams.  Jodi has 6 years of volleyball coaching experience.  This year she was Stayton High School Girls Head JV/Asst. Varsity Volleyball Coach.  She played volleyball and ran track in high school.  She lives in Stayton with her husband Steve and their two children, Reece and Reilly.  She enjoys playing volleyball for fun, golfing and spending time with her family and being involved in her community.

KIRSTEN HOFFMAN Western Oregon University - Student, former team member Salem VBC:   2nd Season Certification:   USAV Impact Kirsten is from Vancouver Washington.  She graduated from Hudson's Bay high school where she played four year for their varsity team.  She played for six years for Cowlitz VBC and Clark County Jrs.  She competed one season for the Western Oregon Wolves.  She is majoring in psychology and occupational therapy.  This is her second season coaching for our club.

KATHARINE HORMANN Corban College - Student Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact This is Katharine's first season coaching for us and she has assisted in number of camps while competing for Salem Academy.  She was on their varsity team her junior and senior year in the position of middle and right side hitter.  She was Katie Vanderstoel's teammate and they will be coaching a team together.

BECKY HORN Willamette University -- Assistant Coach Salem VBC: 2nd season Certification: USAV Impact Becky Horn is in her first year as an assistant volleyball coach at Willamette University.  As a player, Horn was an outside hitter at Clackamas Community College. Her team won the NWAACC Championship her sophomore season and finished second place her freshman season. Following CCC, Horn transferred to Corban College where she played as their libero. She still holds the record for most digs per game, most digs in a match and most digs in a season.  Horn has worked as an assistant coach at Corban and as a club coach for Salem Volleyball Club and YC Cats Volleyball Club.  She earned her degree in Health Science/Human Performance from Corban in December 2007.

HARMIK I. Club Administrator Cascade High - Head Coach North Salem High - Work with Special Ed. Students Salem VBC:   Since 1996-07 season USAV Certification:  CAP level III, Certified Impact clinician. Officiating:  PAVO and OSAA.  Member of OCVOA. CEVA:  Regional Impact Instructor Harmik started playing in 1974.  He has coached youth and adult teams since 1983.  In 1984, he was selected by a team from southern California to compete in the Armenian Olympics, winning the championship in the 1985 games.  For a short period, he competed in beach doubles and fours with former teammates.  He relocated to Salem 1994.  In 1996, he coached the Gervais Cougars, making playoffs the first year.  From 1997 to 2000, he head coached the North Salem Vikings.  Over the years, he has coached and assisted at various college levels.  In Oregon, he assisted Dr. Marlene Piper for two seasons at Willamette University.  After Willamette, he spent three seasons at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.  During summer months he runs number of camps.  He also teaches at various camps locally and out of state.  Regionally, he served as a head official for four years and is our Regional Impact Instructor.  He was the founder and organizer of the our Regional High Performance Program and in its third year, he sent a team to compete in Slovenia and other nearby countries.  His new project is developing the Regional Coaching Education Program.  Nationally, he works closely and is an advocate of CAP (coaching accreditation program),  National High Performance, Grassroots, and disabled programs.  Couple of seasons, he assisted USAV's high performance program as an evaluator and a court coach at the Junior and Youth National Teams tryouts.  He has been our Club Administrator since the re-organization in 1998-99.

JOSEPHINE JOHNSTON Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Josephine was raised in Florence, Montana where she attended Florence-Carlton High School.  She played 3 years on the varsity team and total of 6 years for their club.  She received 2nd Team All-Conference her junior year and 1st Team All-Conference her senior year.  She coached one season for Florence Volleyball Club and was recruited to compete for Willamette University.  This is her 1st season with our club.

TIFFANY LAND Corban College - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Tiffany graduated in 2008 from Santiam Christian High School where she participated in volleyball all four years.  She played Club for Mid-Valley VBC.  She is currently a sophomore at Corban College competing as a middle blocker for the Warriors.

MADISYN LEENSTRA Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Madisyn is from Bellingham, Washington and is currently a freshman at Willamette University.  She graduated from Sehome High School and competed on their varsity team all four years.  She has played 6 years of Club.  Her sophomore year, she received All-Conference Honorable mention and Coaches Award.  Her junior year she received 2nd Team All-Conference and Coaches Award.  Her senior year, she made 1st Team All-Conference and MVP. Previous coaching experience includes two seasons of 8th grade volleyball.  This is Madisy's 1st season with our club.

KEN LUX Cascade High School - JV Coach Employment Department, State of Oregon Salem VBC:   Since 1998-99 season Certification:   USAV CAP Level I Ken has over 16 years experience playing volleyball with the Salem Volleyball Association and his church league.  He has coached various adult leagues, and has been involved in youth activities for many years.   Ken occasionally has assisted the coaches at Houck and Parish middle schools, and during the summer, he enjoys helping at the North Salem camps.  The Club has utilized Ken's talents in the 14s through the 18s levels.  Over the past several years, Ken served as a volunteer assistant at North Salem High, most recently as the varsity assistant coach.

EMILY MICHELSEN Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC:   1st Season Certification:   USAV Impact Emily graduated from Desert Vista High school in Phoenix, Arizona.  Prior to Desert Vista, she played for La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Emily also competed in Club for five seasons for East Valley Jrs in Phoenix and Albbuquerque Rebels VBC.  Her senior year, she earned her position in the All Academic Team and was awarded Most Improved and Most Spirited student-athlete.  She has coached one season of Club and this is Emily's first season coaching for us.

BRIDGIT MILLER Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC:   1st Season Certification:   USAV Impact Bridgit played at Olympia high School in Washington.  She was on their varsity roster for three years.  She played club starting in the 12s level for Olympia VBC, South Sound Ohana VBC and Capital Ice VBC.  During her 2008 high school season, she received 1st Team All--State, MVP of Narrows League and 1st Team All-Narrows League.  In 2007, she received 2nd Team All--Narrows League.  This is Bridgit's 1st season with our club.

PETER PIEXOTO S. Salem High School - Head Coach Salem VBC: 3rd season Certification: USAV Impact Coach Piexoto enters his third season with our Club.  In the two previous season he coached our 16 Black and our 16 Red teams.  This season he will be heading up the 15 Black High Performance team.   He is also the South Salem High School Girl’s Volleyball Head Coach where he just completed his second season.  He brings a vast amount of volleyball playing and coaching experience to our Club.  He was a four year starter on the Men’s Volleyball Team at Cal State Northridge from 1991-1995.  In 1993 he played on the team that played for a NCAA National Championship against UCLA.  After he was done playing Coach Piexoto became an assistant coach at his alma mater for four years.  He then went on to be the Girl’s Volleyball Head Coach at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California, for 3 years.  Following that, he was the Volleyball Head Coach for both Boys and Girls at Simi Valley High School in Simi Valley, California, for 5 years.  He graduated from Cal State Northridge with a BA and MS in Kinesiology.  He has also completed his teaching credential at Mt. St. Mary’s College.  Three years ago he moved to Oregon from California.  He is currently teaching in the science department at the Early College High School on the Chemeketa campus.  Coach Piexoto currently resides in West Salem with his wife Elena and their two children, Ian and Mia.  They are also expecting their third child in July.

DANICA REED Willamette University - Athlete Salem VBC:   1st Season Certification:   USAV Impact Information to follow.

DANIELLE REESE Western Oregon University - Athlete Salem VBC:   2nd Season Certification:   USAV Impact Danielle graduated from Gig Harbor High School.  Her junior year, she received 2nd Team All-League.  Her senior year, she was voted MVP and received a All-State Honorable Mention.  She played for Narrows VBC and Kitsap VBC. This is her second season with the Western Oregon Wolves.  She is majoring in elementary education and this is her second season coaching for us.

TESSIE RIDDLE Claggett Creek MS - Coach Salem VBC: Former athlete.  2nd season coaching Certification: USAV Impact Information to follow.

BENNY SEXTON West Salem High School - Frosh Coach Salem VBC: Board Member - 2nd season coaching Certification: NFHSA, USAV Impact

TOM SHOJI Willamette University - Head Coach Salem VBC: 2nd season USAV Certification: CAP IV (Cadre) Tom Shoji is starting his second season as the head volleyball coach at Willamette University. His head coaching experience in women’s volleyball covers 25 seasons, including six years at New Mexico State University and six seasons at Indiana University. He was at Westmar University in Iowa for one year and coached at Colorado State University-Pueblo for 11 years.  After several years away from four-year collegiate coaching as the associate athletic director for compliance and student services at the University of California-San Diego, Shoji was ready to return to the sidelines. Willamette stood out as a great place for him to focus on the entire student-athlete, both on the court and in the classroom. Shoji completed work on his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of California-Santa Barbara. He earned a B.A. degree with a major in Ergonomics and Physical Education in 1971 and received an M.A. degree in Ergonomics and Physical Education in 1978.  In 1996, he was chosen as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northwest Region Coach of the Year for NCAA Division II and was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Coach of the Year. He worked with the NCAA Division I West Region Committee from 1984-85 and chaired the AVCA All-America Committee for NCAA Division I from 1989-91.  Shoji is originally from Hawaii. He lives in Salem with his wife, Chris. They have a daughter, Malia, who was a senior at UC-San Diego in 2008-09. Tom’s brother, Dave Shoji, has been the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Hawaii since 1975.

TRACI STEPHENSON South Salem High School - Assistant Coach Salem VBC: Since 2007 Certification: USAV Impact Traci graduated from Gresham High School where she played volleyball all four years.  She has played for Nike NW Jrs. for several seasons.  She began coaching in 1997 where she coached the freshman girls at Gresham and for Nike NW Jrs. for 5 seasons.  Shortly after, she took a little break and married her husband Scott and has two children Rhyan and Hannah.  She started coaching again in 2007 for our Club and started assisting at Willamette University.  This is her 3rd season with our Club and she will continue coaching the Willamette Bearcats.

JULIE ANN SUDERMAN West Salem High school - Teacher and coached JV and the Frosh team Salem VBC: Since 2007-08 season Certification: ASEP, USAV Impact Julie Ann has coached players ranging from 10 years old to high school.  She competed for her high school team and after graduation, in college, she played grass doubles.  Some of her hobbies are down hill skiing, softball, and baking.  Her daughters and her son are playing for our club and she will be assisting Susi Armstrong with the 12 Black team.  with this team.

KATIE VANDERSTOEL Corban College - Student Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Katie is attending Corban College and prior to Corban, she attended Salem Academy and played on the Varsity team her last two seasons.  Her team placed 6th place her junior year and 3rd place her senior year.  This is Katie's first season coaching for us.

IRENE WALTERS Western Oregon University - Athlete Salem VBC:   1st Season Certification:   USAV Impact Irene is a Salem VBC Alumnae.  Prior to Western Oregon she graduated from Blanchet Catholic School. Her senior year in high school she helped her team win the state championship.  Her junior and senior year, she was named Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State.

SAMANTHA WARD Western Oregon University - Athlete Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Sam graduated from W. Salem High School in 2009.  She lettered three years in Volleyball.  She received second team honors as a junior and First Team All-League as a senior.  Sam was also named to conference All-Academic team all three years.  Sam played for Salem VBC for two seasons as well as Northwest Jrs. during her junior and senior year.  She is a freshman at Western Oregon University and competes for the Wolves volleyball program.

SAMANTHA YUTZIE Cascade High school - JVII Coach Salem VBC: 1st season Certification: USAV Impact Sam is one of our former club players and had played for six years.  She attended Stayton High and competed n their varsity team all four years.  She was votes 1st team all league.  After high school, she attended Southern Oregon University for two seasons.  This year, she moved back in the area and coached for Cascade High and is eager to learn more and continue coaching.  She has also coached at the YMCA.  This is her first season with our club.