Coaching Staff

Mika-Anne Whitley     Copa - City Rec

I am a graduate from Brigham Young University with a degree in Health Sciences. I currently work for the Maricopa Unified School District as the Human Resource/Substitute Specialist and I’m obtaining my credentials to be a certified teacher. My husband, who is a P.E. teacher at Desert Wind Middle School, and I have four beautiful children; three boys and a girl. We have lived in Maricopa going on six years and love serving our community. I am very passionate about volleyball. I have played volleyball non-competitively for the past 20 years. I have been the assistant coach for the Maricopa High School Freshman Team for the past two years. I am excited about being a part of Club Volleyball within the Maricopa Community.

Kelsey Hickam     Copa-12

I played volleyball for five years. Two years of rec volleyball, three years of high school and club. During my club season I played for was Temecula Viper Volleyball Club(California). My freshmen year I played for their 16's local team. Sophomore year I played on the 16's 3 travel team. Finally my junior year I made the 18's 2 elite team.

Karina Peresich     Copa-14

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact Certified.

Michelle Pace     Copa-17

This will be my eighth year coaching volleyball and I still can't get enough of it! Starting this season will be my third year as a club coach in the Phoenix Valley. I have also coached the Freshmen/Junior Varsity teams at Maricopa High School for the past four years. I started my coaching career at Thatcher High School with the Freshmen team only losing one game. I have also coached tennis as well.

My philosophy is that players need to learn fundamentals, be a good team player, and develop excellent leadership skills. I am firm believer in developing leaders on and off the court since these girls will be leading future generations. The different skills and teamwork they learn in volleyball are related to life skills they can use in school, family relationships, friends, and in their future careers. 

My family has lived in Maricopa for 8 years. I have been married for 18 years and we have 6 children. I enjoy living in Maricopa and giving back to my community.  I love the game of volleyball and being a coach! I look forward to an amazing season with the Desert STARS volleyball club!

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact Certified.

Alicia Gregory     EVT-18

This is the third year of my coaching experience with The Desert Stars volleyball club.  I love the game of volleyball. I have played on school teams and club teams since the seventh grade. I was recruited to play college volleyball.  I chose to play for a small university in Michigan called Siena Heights University; where I played under scholarship for four years.  I had the privilege of playing with coach Kristen and many other wonderful women.  I enjoy coaching.  I am a teacher and I enjoy teaching the fundamentals while challenging young athletes to reach their full potential.

I believe in developing well rounded individuals. I believe athletics is a wonderful place to build positive peer relationships, make lifelong friends, and challenge each individual to set goals and attain them.  I believe that working together to reach one common goal is an amazing character builder. I believe athletics allows young women to gain confidence, responsibility, organization, and team work.  These are important skills in volleyball and in life.  Through teaching, and working hard; individuals and teams reach their full potential.

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact certified

Kristen Palmer     EVT-18

I have coached fourth years of club volleyball in the local Phoenix area. I have played the sport of volleyball since I was in third grade and continue to play on recreation leagues. I graduated from Siena Heights University and played there for three years along with participating on club teams throughout my high school years. I love the game.

My belief is that players need the basic fundamentals, along with experiencing all of the different positions. It is a game, a fun game, but to make gains players have to give their best effort in practice and during a match.  How a player plays in practice will carry over to how well they perform on the court. Currently I have been teaching for 5 years in the primary grades which I thoroughly enjoy.  Molding young childerns minds is amazing. I love coaching and seeing a group of players come together and have fun playing the game of volleyball.

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact certified

Maris Grasis        Yuma-14

This is my first year coaching club volleyball for Desert Stars. I am proud to be coaching for Desert Stars and for coaching my youngest daughter Jordan. I am presently the head volleyball coach at Yuma Catholic High School and have been coaching there now for four years. I am also the coach at St. Francis of Assisi for 5^th – 8^th graders and I have been there for five years now. I play twice a week two’s beach volleyball and some indoors from the spring through the summer. I also play 3-4 two’s grass tournaments a summer with my oldest daughter, Kalaina.

My coaching style changes depending on the skill set and commitment of the players I am coaching at any given time. But I teach the basics, make practices as game like as possible, make sure the players understand that I coach & that they are there to support one another and at the end of the day they are having fun while learning. As much as I like and want to win, volleyball is still a game and should be enjoyed.

As much I as enjoy coaching and playing volleyball, none of it would be possible without the support from my wife, Heather.

Currently I am Gold Medal Squared and USA Volleyball Impact certified.

Tony Harmen      Yuma-16

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact and CAP I certified.

Caspar Owens     Yuma-18

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact Certified.

Bonnie Gibson     Co-Director/Coach

I am in my 11^th year of coaching volleyball, all in the Phoenix area.  My experiences include coaching middle school, high school, and club volleyball, see list below.   Combining these years of coaching experience with my 24 years as an educator has provided me with the knowledge and ability needed to develop student athletes. I use my life experience as an athlete, my awareness of how learning occurs, and having familiarity with a wide range of ages of students and athletes when I step on the court. I am very versed in the developmental stages of learning whether it is in the classroom or on the court.  I currently play recreational ball with both a co-ed and all woman's teams, both teams have taken 3rd place in end of season tournaments.  

My belief is that as a coach I have a responsibility to the players to develop and nurture character traits which athletes will use as individuals to make them successful on and off the court.  A bond or connection of trust with the athlete is essential.  Strong fundamentals are crucial in all sports and teaching those skills is a coaches’ responsibility.  As coaches we must model a positive attitude. Any learning opportunities I participated or participate with, I use to enhance my knowledge base with volleyball.  To support my understanding and increase my foundation I have participated in several Webinars offered with the USA Volleyball Association, learned from other coaches, researched through books, and the internet for different strategies for teaching a skill.  I believe there are many ways to teach all skills and I utilize resources available to benefit each player I coach. Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact and CAP I certified..

Coaching Experience:

• 4 years Middle School Volleyball in the Kyrene School District - two of the years took a team to the Championship

• 1 year Head Maricopa Varsity Volleyball Coach - team went to the state competition1 year Maricopa JV Volleyball Coach - (second year as school principal, superintendent would not allow principals to coach after this school year)

• 1 year Assistant Coach TSV Club, 14's division

• 1 year Head Coach Aspire Volleyball Club, 16's division

• 3 years Coach/Director DSV Club, 12's, 14's, 15's, 16's, 17's, 18's levels, (Club and Championship levels)

 

Gehrig Stone-Awong     Co-Director/Coach

My first coaching experience began when I was a high school student in Boise, Idaho.  The school I was attending did not have a boy’s volleyball team so I volunteered to help the girl’s high school coach with the girl’s team.  I found that using my experiences playing volleyball in Hawaii (club & high school) gave me a strong foundation to assist the coach in Boise.  In recent years I began coaching yet again by volunteering my time by helping girls playing on a high school and club teams. 

My principle philosophy is based on teaching players the basics, they cannot move forward without this foundation.  I want the players to be their best coach and recognize what they need to change to improve and be the best they can be.  And always remember to have fun. The bottom line, it is a game, so play hard, play to enjoy and have fun.

Currently I'm USA Volleyball Impact and CAP I certified