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Staff
Originally from St Charles, MN, Melanie is entering her 13th season coaching volleyball. Currently, she’s on staff at Valley High School as the sophomore head coach and assistant varsity coach. 2019 will be her fourth year at Valley, and this will also be her fourth season at CIS, previously coaching the 16s-18s teams.
From 2011 – 2014, she served as the head volleyball coach at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, IA. The Panthers made a trip to the Regional Championship game in 2012. They were eliminated in a close 3-1 match up with the 7th place team in the nation. Prior to ECC, Melanie spent four years as the assistant volleyball coach at Rochester Community & Technical College in Rochester, MN and also coached four seasons at Southern Minnesota Volleyball (SMV) and three seasons at Iowa Heart in Ames.
Melanie earned her B.A. in Communications from Waldorf College and Her M.A. in Educational Leadership & Sports Management from Winona State University. Her 4 year-old daughter, Izabella, enjoys taggign along to the gym with her mom.
Tina Carter begins her 12th season as head coach of the Viking volleyball program, amassing a record of 327-125 (.723). In the eleven years under Carter’s direction, the Vikings have become one of the top volleyball programs in the NAIA.
Grand View won the Heart of America regular season and conference tournament titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018, the MCC regular season titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and the MCC tournament title in 2011 and 2013. The Vikings have made national tournament appearances in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Carter was voted the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2017, MCC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2018 and the AVCA Midwest Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2017.
In 2018 the Vikings had the best season in program history with an outstanding 36-1 season record while spending time as the #1 ranked team in the NAIA. Grand View made their seventh trip to the national tournament where they won their pool and were eventually knocked out in the Quarterfinals of bracket play. The Vikings ran the table once again in the Heart of America Conference and finished the 2018 campaign with an unblemished 18-0 record. The final rankings of the 2018 season placed Grand View at #5.
The 2018 season also brought a wealth of recognition: seven all-conference players (Redmond, Twit, Rittman, Miller, Luneckas, Prusha, Greathouse), three all-Region players (Redmond, Twit, Luneckas) and three All-Americans (Redmond, Twit, Luneckas). Redmond was named Heart Attacker of the Year, Rittman was Defender of the Year, Luneckas was Setter of the Year and Greathouse was Freshman of the Year.
To date the Vikings have had 6 players receive All-Americans honors:
Devon Jensen – 2009 (HM), 2010 (3rd Team), 2011 (1st Team), 2012 (2nd Team)
Kadie Subbert – 2011 (2nd Team), 2012 (HM)
Taylor Wells – 2014 (HM), 2015 (2nd Team), 2016 (3rd Team)
Courtney Twit – 2016 (HM), 2018 (2ndTeam)
Kelsey Redmond – 2018 (1st Team)
Trystin Luneckas – 2018 (3rd Team)
Carter is actively involved in the Iowa Region of USA Volleyball as a board member and as a member of the Iowa High Performance program/staff. From 2008-12 and 2014-present Carter has served as a coach for the HP program and has won silver medals with the 2008 Iowa Region Select Team, 2012 Iowa Region Youth International Team and 2014 Iowa Region Youth International Team. From 2012-2016 Carter served as an assistant coach for the Iowa Ice professional team that was a part of the Professional Volleyball League (PVL). The Iowa Ice teams established themselves as one of the best teams in the PVL with an impressive list of finishes – 2012 (Silver), 2013 (Gold), 2014 (Bronze), 2015 (Silver), 2016 (Silver).
Carter came to Grand View after serving as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at Iowa State University from 2005-2007 and the Assistant Coach at Drake University from 2003-2005. She currently coaches club for Club Ignit Select.
Carter played her collegiate career at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She played on the first ever SMU team and her senior year served as a team captain as well as receiving academic all-WAC accolades. Carter graduated from SMU in 1998 with a degree in Psychology and completed her Master of Education degree in Sports Management from Iowa State University in 2001.
Carter resides in Winterset with her husband, Scott, and their daughter, Lauren.
Scarlett played for Drake University from 2012-2016. Originally from Lincoln, NE, she graduated high school from Pius X winning State volleyball her senior year. She played club at Nebraska Juniors winning Gold at USAV Nationals in the Open Division at 16s.
Along with Sheby Sawyer, they started the Des Moines Beach program in 2018. She also coached at Elite Beach VBC from 2013-2017. She received the Junior Beach Coach Award for the 2015-2016 season.
Scarlett resides in Norwalk with her husband, Logan, and their daughter, Presleigh.
Andrea is a West Des Moines native. She attended Valley High School. She began playing club volleyball at an early age and continues to play sand, grass, and indoor volleyball frequently today. Andrea has been coaching volleyball since 2006. She has coached at Valley high school and Norwalk high school, as well various clubs in Iowa before finding her coaching home at CIS in 2010. She has studied sports and motivational psychology, and currently holds a masters degree in a similar field. She has coached very successful teams ranging from ages 14u-17u. She helped her 14’s team on their nationals journey in 2017. In 2018 she coached the 15’s National team to earn bids for nationals at the American, USA, and National levels; and ultimately competed at the National bid level at GJNC. In 2019 she coached the 16’s division, once again returning them to the National Division. Andrea has had very successful teams throughout her club coaching career.
In Andrea’s spare time she serves on the Iowa board for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and oversees all of the Iowa Out of the Darkness Campus Walks, which are some of the top in the country.
Andrea brings an experienced skill set to Club Ignit Select, as well as an advanced psychological and motivational approach to coaching. She is looking forward to the 2019 club season and having an opportunity to coach the 18’s team.
Shannon Wieland
Graduate of Blue Valley Northwest HS (Overland Park, KS). Recruited as 4 year starting setter for University of Northern Iowa where she ranks second in all-time career assists. 2 time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, 3 time First-Team Academic all-MVC honoree. In 1999, the first UNI volleyball player to earn Division I All-American (2nd team) AVCA honors. In 2000, she represented the state of Iowa as a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. 2 time UNI Hall of Fame inductee, individually in 2015 and in 2018 as a member of 1999 UNI volleyball team (which was for first time in school history a Sweet 16 contender). She has been a setting coach at Valley High School, collectively for 14 years, helping the Tigers compete in 6 state tournaments.
She resides in West Des Moines, Iowa and works as a Physical Therapist & Volleyball Coach. She is happily married to UNI wrestling All-American Tony Wieland, and they have a daughter and son.
Matt is currently the varsity assistant head coach at West Des Moines Valley. This will be his 10th season with the Tigers. Prior to coaching at Valley, Ross was the assistant coach for the Des Moines East Scarlets varsity team from 2007-2008.
From 2009 to 2012, Matt coached teams of various ages. During his time coaching club, he has helped three teams qualify for Nationals. Ross was also the recipient of the Iowa Regional Male Coach of the Year in 2007.
In addition to club and high school volleyball, Ross has also been an active participant in the region’s High Performance program, serving as a travel coach twice. In 2011, he was the assistant coach to the National Select team that brought home region’s first gold medal after competing in Tucson, Arizona. In 2012, Matt coached Iowa’s first boys team. Playing in Des Moines, the team earned a gold medal in regional competition.
Matt currently resides in Ankeny and is the father of two amazing boys, Calvin and Jonah.
This will be Connor’s 11th year coaching club volleyball in Iowa. He has coached National teams with ages ranging from 15s-18s and has qualified for Girls Junior Nationals every year with his best finish being 5th place in 2015! He has also helped over 20+ athletes play at the collegiate level.
Connor played on the University of Northern Iowa Men’s Volleyball team from 2007-2010 where he started every match as a middle hitter and was also a team captain. While attending the University of Northern Iowa he received his coaching minor from UNI’s volleyball coaching staff.
Connor started his coaching career in 2008 coaching NU Tiger Club team in Cedar Falls. When he moved to Des Moines he began helping Roosevelt High School in 2011 as the Junior Varsity coach. For the last six years he has been the Head Junior Varsity, and Assistant Varsity Coach at Valley High School in West Des Moines. Valley has been to state for four consecutive years with a 2nd place finish in 2017 at the 5A level. Connor has also been heavily involved in the Iowa Region High Performance program for the past 5 years.
Connor graduated from Northern Iowa with a Sports Psychology degree in 2009. He and his wife Mallory live in Clive and are parents to their one year old daughter, McKenna.
Staff
Leigha attended Marion High School and graduated in 2009. Leigh helped the Indians win a #A state title playing for Coach Roxanne Paulson in 2008, the first and only time in history for Marion HS. She played club volleyball for several different clubs as an outside hitter and later transitioned to a defensive specialist.
Coaching Experience: Leigha started coaching for Kari Lombardi at Cedar Rapids Washington High School in 2009. During Leigha’s four seasons at Washington, she coached at the freshmen, sophmore, and junior varsity level. She coached ons season at both BallardHigh School and Norwalk High School when first in the Des Moines area, and is now in her third season as Head Freshman coach at Dowling Catholic. Leigha has coached club for the past 10 years, at Washington High School, Rapid Spikers VBC and Central Iowa Select. Leigha is assisted by her husband, Ben McQuade.
Molly attended Western Dubuque HS, DMACC and Coe College. At WD, she was a 4-sport varsity athlete. At DMACC, she helped the Bears to a 7th place finish at the NJCAA National tournament. At Coe College, she majored in Fitness Development and was a 4-year varsity starter. She set numerous records for hitting and defense in her 3 years at Coe. In 2011, Steffens and the Kohawks went 31-4 to set a new school record for wins and securing the program’s first Iowa Conference Championship.
Following her graduation she went onto Minnesota State University in Mankato to pursue a Master’s Degree in Sport Management. Molly is currently an Events Director for the Iowa Volleyball Region of USA Volleyball, with her primary focus being the Iowa High Performance Program.
Her coaching experience: Powerhitters 14U in Dubuque. Cedar Rapids Prairie HS club 15U and 16U. Steffens was an assistant to the varsity volleyball team at Waukee High School after spending three seasons with Urbandale High School.
Molly has also coached and worked for the Asbury, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids Recreation departments. She currently lives in a Urbandale and is an Assistant Coach at Central College in Pella, I
Haley attended Wapsie Valley High School and graduated in 2013. She started playing volleyball in 6th grade for Iowa Elite VBC out of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. While playing with Iowa Elite, she qualified for nationals 4 times and played as a 6 rotation outside hitter/defensive specialist as well as a libero in her later years. During her time at Wapsie Valley, she primarily played as a libero/defensive specialist.
This will be Haley’s 4th year coaching club and 6th year coaching overall. She had led teams to USA Girls Junior National Championships each year that she has been coaching club. She previously coached for her high school club team at a variety of age levels and helped out with the younger kids at Wapsie as well.
When Haley is not coaching you could find her playing in indoor and sand volleyball leagues for fun. She also teaches 1st grade at Monroe Elementary for the Des Moines Public School District.
Shelby played for Drake University from 2012-2016. Where she is originally from Battle Creek, NE and graduated from Battle Creek Jr/Sr High School in 2012. She played club volleyball at Nebraska Elite, in Omaha, NE.
Shelby is heading into her fourth year of coaching club. The last two years she coached a 17 National team with Scarlett Molina. Previously Shelby coached a 14s indoor club team.
Along with Scarlett Molina, they started the Des Moines Beach program in 2018. She previously coached at Elite Beach Volleyball Club for the summer of 2017.
Shelby brings a great amount of energy and enthusiasm to coaching and is excited to start her journey with the Club Ignit Select family.
Shelby currently resides in Ankeny, Iowa with her husband Dylan.
Michael has been playing and/or coaching volleyball for over 30 years. Originally from Urbandale he started playing in high school on a men’s team as a defensive specialist and setter. He continued his setting career at Graceland College (now University) and Iowa State University men’s club team. After college he continued playing on several men’s teams and sand doubles.
Michael started coaching youth volleyball in 2011 and coached with the Indianola Volleyball Club 2013-2017. He was a volunteer coach for the Indianola HS varsity team from 2016-2017 and continues to help with Indianola. Michael has volunteered with Iowa HP tryouts and camps the last three years.
Hanna attended Wapsie Valley High School and graduated in 2017. She started playing volleyball in 5th grade and played for several different club in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. She started all four years of her high school career where she was a 6 rotation right side hitter/defensive specialist her freshman year and the libero the last three years. She received all conference honors, a team captain, and qualified for the state tournament her junior year. Hanna also played basketball and ran track while she was in high school.
Hanna will be assisting her sister, Haley Risse with the 13M team. Hanna has also helped coach/mentor a variety of age levels in her hometown of Fairbank, IA.
Hanna is currently a student at Drake University majoring in Health Sciences on the Pre-OT track. Her plan is to become a pediatric occupational therapist when she graduates. When Hanna is not coaching volleyball or studying for school, you can find her working at her job at Northern Iowa Therapy as a rehab tech, playing in indoor and sand volleyball leagues, being outdoors, participating in intramurals at Drake, or spending time with family and friends.