A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life." - John Wooden
We understand the difficult choices that both parents and players face when selecting a club volleyball program. One of the reasons why the Excell Sports Club Volleyball program has become such a force on the club scene is due to the talented and decorated coaching staff that makes up our coaching team. Each Coach is carefully selected for their exceptional knowledge and understanding of the sport, as well as for their history of successes, and their upstanding character, both on and off the courts. Our Coaching staff is the most decorated and skilled staff in the Upstate. We intentionally remain a smaller club to guarantee the quality of coaching your player receives. We are fortunate to have staff that represent many Greenville County schools and local Universities. Our staff includes: Greenville High School Varsity Volleyball Coach, JL Mann Varsity Volleyball Coach, Greer High School Varsity Volleyball Coach, Chapman High School Varsity Volleyball Coach, Erskine College Head Volleyball Coach, and North Greenville University Men's Assistant Volleyball Coach.
We are thankful for our team, and for the impact they are making in not only the sport, but in the lives of our youth.
Coach Sarah Atkinson
Coach Sarah began playing volleyball at 8 years old after watching her sister play and love the game. Coach Sarah graduated from Christ Church Episcopal School in 2016 where she was a setter and played for the Cavaliers for 4 years. Coach Sarah was awarded 4 time All Region, All State in 2015, North South All Star Selection. Coach Sarah still hold the aces and assists records for the Christ Church Cavaliers. During Coach Sarah's senior year in high school, she played for Excell Storm during our inagural year amd was a vital part of our 18 Premier team.
Coach Sarah continued her volleyball career at Erskine College where she played all 4 years as a setter. In 2017 and 2019, Coach Sarah received Presidential Honor Roll Recognition. Coach Sarah graduated from Erskine College with a degree in Special Education.
Currently, Coach Sarah teaches K5-6th grade special education at GREEN charter school. This Sarah's my first year teaching and she was awarded September Employee of the Month. Coach Sarah is also coaching at Christ Church Episcopal School as the Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach.
Coach Destiny Condra
Coach Destiny found her passion for coaching while playing at Byrnes High School and helping the local developmental teams.
Coach Desting attended Winthrop University and rekindled that passion coaching the JV team at Indian Land High School. After receiving her degree in Business Administration in 2018, she moved back to the Greenville area and began coaching at a neighboring club. After leaving the corporate world, Coach Destiny opted for a career change and began teaching high school and coaching high school volleyball. She began coaching Junior Varsity Volleyball at J.L. Mann in 2020, and teaches there as well.
Coach Destiny is also a Palmetto Region Official, and has enjoyed continuing her knowledge of the sport in that capacity. We are thrilled to welcome Coach Destiny to the Excell Storm family and look forward to all the success that awaits her and her team.
Coach Luke Densmore
Coach Luke grew up playing most all sports, and especially enjoyed basketball, playing throughout high school. The summer of Coach Luke’s junior year of high school, Easley Homeschool Athletics began their men’s volleyball program and Luke was a part of their inaugural season. Coach Luke played club volleyball for CUVC during his senior year and, after being recruited in 2020, committed to play for North Greenville University that fall.
Over the summer between Coach Luke’s senior year of high school and his freshman year at NGU, he began playing pickup volleyball with a group of high school males who had not played before. They ended up sharing his same passion and Luke began coaching them that fall at Easley Homeschool Athletics.
With the launch of Excell Sport’s men’s volleyball program in the fall of 2021, Coach Luke worked as an Assistant Coach for the 18’s team.
Coach Luke’s passion for volleyball is evident and he attributes the way he was coached as having played a large role in his affinity for the sport. Coach Luke balances his time and dedication to the sport, his team, his coaching responsibilities, and his college commitments with ease, as his passion for volleyball gives him a great desire to grow the game with others. We are excited to have Coach Luke continue with Excell Sports as one of the 2022 Summer Beach Travel Team Coaches.
Coach NaScottisha Drummond
Coach NaScottisha Drummond (Coach Scott) graduated from James F. Byrnes High School where she was a dual-sport athlete in volleyball and track and field. During her time at Byrnes High School, Coach Scott was a 4-year member of the Varsity Volleyball Team and a member of the 2015 North/South Team.
Coach Scott attended Tennessee Technological University on a track scholarship and graduated in 2019 with a degree in Exercise Science - Fitness and Wellness.
Coach Scott began her coaching career as a track coach at Byrnes High School in 2019. She began coaching volleyball at D.R. Hill Middle School in 2019 and transitioned to J.L. Mann High School in 2022 as the Junior Varsity coach.
Currently, Coach Scott works for Prisma Health and is super excited for her first season coaching Club Volleyball with Excell STORM Sports.
Coach Silas Jenkins
Coach Silas began playing volleyball when he was 14 years old. After high school, he continued his volleyball career at North Greenville University (NGU) in Tigerville, South Carolina. While attending NGU he played Libero and was Team Captain his Junior year. During his time at North Greenville, he also assisted the Women's Volleyball Team, where he mainly focused on defense and serve receive. Throughout his time at NGU, Coach Silas maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher all four years which resulted in four Academic All Conference awards for Conference Carolinas.
Due to an injury to his peroneal nerve during his senior year of high school, Coach Silas became eligible for the US Paralympic Beach and Sitting volleyball teams. Since 2014, Coach Silas has been flying out to Oklahoma, Florida, and California to train and play with the teams in hopes of making a roster for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
Coach Silas joined our Excell Sports Coaching Staff in 2018. In the summer months, Coach Silas remains on staff with Excell Sports, coaching and assiting with the Outdoor Grass Volleyball Leagues and coaches the Excell STORM Travel Beach Volleyball Teams.
Currently, Coach Silas is a History teacher at Greer High School as well as the Varsity Volleyball Coach.
Coach Jessica Kinne
Coach Jessica has an extensive volleyball history. Whether she has been a player, a coach and/or a referee, Coach Jessica has been involved with the sport of volleyball, and involved in the lives of the youth, for over 25 years.
Jessica was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida and it was in Florida where she found her passion for the sport. Being a Floridian for 26 years, Coach Jessica mastered both the indoor court game and outdoor sand game while growing up in her hometown. Coach Jessica attended Pinellas Park High School where she played the positions of libero and setter for her Varsity Volleyball team. After graduation and before relocating to South Carolina, Coach Jessica was also a volleyball referee in Florida.
For the past ten (10) years and upon relocation to South Carolina, Coach Jessica coached teams at other local volleyball clubs as well as coached flag football and volunteered with other youth sport organizations. Coach Jessica was even a Girl Scouts Troop leader for 5 years and a school volunteer for 14 years … all while raising 10 children!
Coach Jessica has been the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Wade Hampton High School since 2019 and the Head Coach of the Boys Volleyball Team during their inaugural season this year. This will be her third year coaching club volleyball with Excell Sports.
Makenzie Kinne
Coach Makenzie is not only academically gifted, but she is also an extremely talented volleyball player. Coach Makenzie began playing volleyball when she was twelve years old. She played club volleyball with Excell Sports from 2015 – 2020. During that time, she attended Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina where she was an Outside Hitter/DS player for Varsity all four years. Not only did Makenzie dominate on the volleyball court where she was recognized as a leader numerous times, but she also maintained an excellent GPA, graduating with honors and a GPA of 3.542.
Before graduating from Wade Hampton High School, Makenzie was recruited to play indoor volleyball at Erskine College. Currently, Makenzie is in her sophomore year at Erskine College and a student athlete who continues to maintain a 3.603 GPA while playing Outside/DS for her college team.
In 2021, Makenzie assisted Coach Matt McManaway with the 14 Premier Team and joins our Excell Staff for the 2022 season as the coach for the 17 2’s Premier Team. We are thrilled to have Makenzie back with us, passing on her knowledge of the game to our athletes.
Coach Kim LaBoard
Coach Kim is our veteran Excell Storm Club Volleyball Coach, having been the first coach we hired on staff. Coach Kim is originally from Saint Petersburg, Florida where she attended the University Of West Florida and played as an Outside Hitter for her college team. She graduated from West Florida in 2010 with a major in Sports Management. Coach Kim is entering her 15th year coaching club volleyball, with her club volleyball coaching beginning in 2005. Since joining Excell Sports in 2015, Coach Kim has taken her teams to Nationals as well as assisted players with getting college recognition and college volleyball scholarships.
Currently, Coach Kim is the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach for JL Mann High School in Greenville, SC and was named Coach of The Year in 2018. Coach Kim is married to husband, Nick LaBoard, and they have 3 daughters. We look forward to another successful season with Coach Kim and her team.
Excell Sports Owner and Club Director, Shane LeCroy
Coach Shane LeCroy and his wife began Excell Sports in 2004. Before founding their company, Shane played on the Pro Am Beach Volleyball Tour from 1996 – 2004 where he:
In 2010, Coach LeCroy was recruited to begin the first Varsity Lacrosse program at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina which he did until May 2016. In addition to his responsibilities as Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach, he was also the Varsity Volleyball Head Coach. Before becoming a Cavalier, he was also a Varsity Volleyball Head Coach at Greenville High School from 1999-2009 where he:
Before being recruited to be the Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach at Christ Church Episcopal School, Coach LeCroy was the Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach at Greenville High School from 2004- 2010 where he was decorated with lacrosse honors that include:
In addition to being Owner/Director of Excell Sports, Shane LeCroy is currently the Varsity Volleyball Coach at Chapman High School. Coach LeCroy and wife, Stephanie, have been together for 20 years and is proud to call himself dad to their two children, daughter, Hannah (17) and son, Briggs (14).
Coach Dan McKean.
Coach Dan has a total of 15 years of experience coaching middle school and JV girls volleyball. This is Coach Dan’s fourth season with the Excell family and fifth season coaching club overall. Before
that he assisted on multiple other club teams.
Last club season, Coach Dan switched over to the boys side in helping Coach Shane to get that program off the ground. Coach Dan also coached a boy’s team this past fall for Excell for those whose high schools did not yet have a team. Coach Dan will be coaching the U14s boy’s team the 2022-2023 club season and is excited to help these boys grow in their skills and knowledge of this exciting game.
Coach Dan has three children. His oldest is a senior in college playing beach volleyball at Erskine College.
Coach Katie McManaway
Coach Katie McManaway was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. She played volleyball for Mount Vernon High School where she was both Region Player of the Year in 2017 and honorable mention All-State player 2017. Coach Katie was also on the Ohio Valley Region Team from 2015 to 2017.
Coach Katie was recruited to South Carolina where she attended North Greenville University (NGU) and played as an outside hitter for NGU. During Coach Katie’s Freshman – Junior years, she was a three-year starter and letterman athlete. During Katie’s senior year, she was forced to have shoulder surgery and was unable to continue to play volleyball for NGU. Coach Katie graduated NGU early and began her career as a Marketing Manager for Universal UniLink.
Coach Katie began working with Excell Sports in 2020 where she was a coach for the In-House Academy program and did private coaching and lessons for many volleyball athletes. Coach Katie was the 15-1's Premier Coach for the 2021 – 2022 Club Volleyball Season. This season, Coach Katie will be working with both Paul Yates and Linda Tracy with the athletes in the In-House Academy. We are beyond excited to have Coach Katie back for her third season with Excell and we look forward to the successful 2022 - 2023 season ahead.
Coach Matt McManaway
Coach Matt McManaway is from Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Coach Matt was a two-time All-Conference Volleyball player as well as player of the year for his high school.
Coach Matt graduated from North Greenville University (NGU) in 2018 and still assists with the Men’s Volleyball program at the University. During his career at North Greenville University where he played Middle Block, he was National Player of the Month, Week and Night several times. Coach Matt was also a recipient All-Conference Carolina for three consecutive years. Matt holds the North Greenville University record for most bocks, kills and most matches played. Matt joined forces with Excell Sports in 2020 and coached the 14 Premier Team during the 2021 Club Volleyball Season.
Coach Andrea Martorana
Coach Andrea Martorana began her volleyball career as a freshman in high school back in 2010. From there she continued to play at the club level at Sideout Sports in New Jersey where she was recruited to play at Centenary College. During her time at Centenary, she received the Athlete of the Week Award, the MVP Award, and was named All-Academic Team for the 2014-2015 season.
After transferring to Montclair State University, where she finished her collegiate career, she began coaching club volleyball back at Sideout Sports in 2015, working with teams of all age groups and assisting in clinics and camps designed for youth athletes. Once her college volleyball days were over, she returned to Indian Hills High School in 2019 to coach her alma mater’s freshman volleyball team.
Upon moving to Asheville, North Carolina at the start of 2021, she became the head varsity coach for the Trailblazer’s homeschooled volleyball team and continued to coach with Xcel Sports Performance for the 2021-2022 season. Now she resides in Greenville, South Carolina and will be coaching with Excell Storm for her first season!
Coach Abby Navarro
Coach Abby moved to Greenville in August 2021 after growing up in Roswell, GA and spending the last four years at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. Abby earned her B.A. in experimental psychology and is currently working full time as a registered behavior technician providing behavioral therapy to children with autism.
Coach Abby began playing volleyball in the 5th grade. She played Indoor Club Volleyball from 7th-9th grade at A5, and switched to year round Club Beach Volleyball during her 10th grade year. During high school, she played Varsity Volleyball all four years as a libero, helped lead her team to their first State Final Four appearance her sophomore year, received All-Area awards her junior and senior year, and was awarded Player of the Year for her Region her senior year. On the sand, Coach Abby earned multiple bids to AAU Junior Olympics and USAV Nationals in both 16’s and 18’s, and competed in the AAU Junior Olympics in Hermosa Beach her 16’s year. When she came to USC, she played intramural 4’s sand volleyball, but missed playing competitive doubles beach volleyball, so she founded a club beach volleyball program at the University. She played on the team and acted as both the President and Coach of the club for her last three years at college, competing at adult and college club tournaments.
Abby's experience running the club fostered a new love for coaching and teaching the game of beach volleyball to others. The club continues to draw more and more members each semester and has continued to thrive since Coach Abby graduated in May 2021. Since graduating and moving to Greenville, Coach Abby continued to look for ways to not only continue playing volleyball, but also opportunities to coach and positively impact young players. This search led her to be one of the coaches for the 2022 Beach & Sand Volleyball program with Excell Sports. She has greatly enjoyed the opportunity to continuously grow as a coach with Excell Sports, as well as connect with young players and continue to help grow this awesome sport!
Coach Emma Pepper
Coach Emma Pepper and her family were a part of our Excell family for many years. Coach Emma began playing volleyball in second grade so she spent 15+ years playing/coaching the sport she loved. Coach Emma ran track and played volleyball for 4 years at Easley High School. She received Academic All Conference her Junior year and was Captain of her volleyball team during her Senior year. During high school, Emma also played club volleyball with Excell Sports. Coach Emma trained during the summers with Club Director/Owner, Shane LeCroy, as an outdoor player (for both sand and grass) and traveled with Excell to our beach tournaments where she competed at a high level during the 2017 - 2019 season. Emma attended North Greenville University and was a middle and right side player for the NGU Volleyball Team. Coach Emma coached for Excell Sports for 3 seasons before passing away in November of 2020. She will always be on our coaching roster as she was such a vital part of our program and a close - and very special - part of our program. She is, and will always be, so very much loved and very much missed.
Coach Erik Reiker
Coach Erik began playing volleyball as a freshman at Red Lion Area High School in Pennsylvania. As a senior, he heavily contributed towards Red Lion’s first district playoff appearance.
Upon graduating high school, Erik attended a local Penn State campus. While close to home, he was given the opportunity to coach his high school Junior Varsity Boys Program. After two years, he transferred to Penn State’s main campus. He met and played pick up Volleyball with members of the Penn State club team, where he was introduced to grass volleyball.
Since graduating college, Erik has played grass and sand volleyball in various venues, from Daytona Beach, FL to Charleston, SC.
Erik coached the inaugural season of boys volleyball at Mauldin High School this past season. He is excited to continue his transition back into the indoor game in the clubs circuit and contribute towards the development of boys high school volleyball - and club volleyball - in the upstate area. Coach Erik will be coaching the Excell STORM Boys 16’s Volleyball Team for the 2022 – 2023 club season.
Coach David Reimann
Coach David is blessed to be married for 26 years to his wife, Aimee. Together, they have 3 amazing kids; 21-year-old twin daughters (Faith and Joy) and a fun-loving 10-year-old son, Dawson.
Coach Davis has been playing volleyball since he was a kid, mostly sand and beach volleyball while growing up on the West Coast in Arizona. Coach David started playing and coaching indoor volleyball over 20 years ago. Since moving to South Carolina 10 years ago, coach David has been dedicated to learning more about coaching youth sports, especially volleyball.
Coach David had led and assisted in coaching hundreds of athletes at the Academy and In-House levels. He was the Head Coach of multiple middle school and high school teams. Coach David has coached Club Volleyball teams from the 12U's to the 18U's.
While many of the athletes that that Coach David has trained have gone on to play at the collegiate level, every athlete he coaches gets the same passion and commitment from him. Coach David desire to develop the total athlete through a 360 progression focused on growing them mentally, athletically, spiritually and socially. Coach David take the responsibility of coaching seriously and says he always reminds himself of a quote from Pastor Billy Graham, “The impact a coach can have on a player in just one season is more than most people will have on them in a lifetime!” It’s not about me . . . its about delivering the best and most positive sports experience for each athlete I am blessed to coach. - Coach David
Coach Haleigh Smith
Coach Haleigh Smith graduated from Easley High School where she played volleyball, basketball, and soccer. She was also a member of her high school football team her senior year as a kicker. She received multiple sports awards in high school, including All-Region Goalkeeper awards for 5 years straight, Most Valuable Offensive Player for volleyball 3 years, Most Valuable Offensive Player and Coaches Award for basketball 2 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Clemson University. While at Clemson, she was also a member of the track & field team as a discus thrower and competed in many intramural sports. Haleigh began coaching AAU basketball during college with SC Elite, an organization developed by her 2 older brothers. She coached basketball for 5 years before deciding to coach volleyball.
In August 2012, she began coaching volleyball at Berea High School as the Varsity Assistant. She soon realized her passion for coaching volleyball was much stronger, so she began coaching club volleyball in November 2012. She continued coaching at Berea for the next two years as well as coaching club volleyball. Her 1st year coaching club, she led her 16 power team to AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida. In her third year coaching club volleyball, Haleigh was the Assistant Coach for the 14 Power Pickens team who finished first in the Palmetto Region and went on to play in the USAV Nationals tournament in New Orleans.
Haleigh became the head Varsity Volleyball Coach for Greenville High School in August 2016 and was named Region 1-AAAA Coach of the Year that same year, leading the varsity volleyball team to finish 3rd in the region and their first playoff berth in 5 years. The Lady Raiders have had playoff appearances in 6 of the 7 years under Coach Smith. Haleigh was Region Co-Coach of The Year in 2020. In 2021, Haleigh’s team finished 1st in the Region, earning the title of Region Champs for the first time in over 15 years. Coach Smith was also named Region Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022. Also in 2022, the Lady Raiders advanced to the 3rd round of the AAAA State Playoffs for the first time in over 15 years. Haleigh is hopeful that she will soon be able to lead her varsity team to their first Upper State Championship and State Championship in school history.
In 2021, Haleigh was nominated and elected to serve on the CAWS board as a representative for 4A Upper State. She was also nominated and selected to coach in the 2022 North-South All Star Girls Volleyball Match by the SCACA.
Haleigh began coaching club volleyball with Excell in 2016. She has coached 16 Power and 15 Select, 15 Premier and 16 Premier. In 2022, Haleigh’s 16 Premier team had an incredible season, earning multiple Gold Championship medals throughout the year, including wining a bid to AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida. While at nationals, her team finished 3rd in Gold, bringing home the first nationals trophy for her club. When she is not coaching, Haleigh loves to spend time with her other half, Eric, and their two rescue pups, Trish and Otto. She also enjoys cheering on her Clemson Tigers, playing outdoor volleyball with her best friend Kim, and spending time with friends and family.
Coach Linda Tracy
Coach Linda Tracy comes to Excell with a plethora of athletic and coaching experience.
Coach Linda was a 4 year Varsity athlete in basketball, soccer and lacrosse as well as played travel softball and club rugby while at Towson University.
Coach Linda began coaching developmental volleyball in 2012 and took her first 12's Travel Team to Nationals the following year where they finished 3rd at Nationals at AAUs in Orlando.
Coach Linda continues to work with developmental level volleyball and has coached travel teams at the 12u, 13u and 14u age levels.
Currently, Coach Linda works with Simpsonville Rec to help improve the training the Rec athletes receive.
Coach Linda has 2 daughters, Sydney (28) and Jordyn (26). Both of Coach Linda's daughters played on top National Travel Volleyball Teams from 2012 - 2018. Her daughter, Sydney, went on to play at the collegiate level and daughter, Jordyn, played club volleyball at Western Carolina. Coach Linda has been married for 30+ years to a very loving and understanding husband, Sean, who supports her love for coaching. We are honored to have Coach Linda return for her fourth season with our Excell Sports family, where she will be working with Paul Yates and Katie McManaway with the athletes in our In-House Academy.
Coach Paul Yates
Coach Paul grew up in south Florida as the youngest of 8 brothes and sisters. In 1992, Coach Paul married his wife, Christina, and after living in the Florida for three years, chose to move to the Upstate of South Carolina. They now reside in Fountain Inn.
Coach Paul began his coaching career when he coached for his daughter's (Ashley) volleyball team at the Simpsonville Rec. After six seasons of rec ball, he was introduced to Club Volleyball. In 2014, he joined another local volleyball club where he coached all age groups and levels from Allstars to 18's, coaching top level teams as a National level. Coach Paul also spent two seasons coaching Mauldin Middle School. Currently, Coach Paul is the Riverside High School JV Volleyball Coach.
Coach Paul joined our Excell Volleyball family in 2020 and coached our 15 Premier Team for the 2020 - 2021 Club Volleyball season. Last year, he coached our 16 Premier Team. He will join us again for the 2022 - 2023 season where he will be the coaching and leading the players in our In-House Academy program.