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Laura GreenE 12 Gold Head Coach
12U Gold - Laura Green
Coach Laura played four years at Forbush High School, winning three state championships, before competing as a six-rotation outside hitter at UNC Chapel Hill. She was part of three ACC championship teams and named ACC Player of the Year and a third-team All-American as a senior. After graduation, she played professionally in France before returning to UNC for pharmacy school. She’s coached several club teams over the years and is excited to share her love of the game and help young athletes build strong fundamentals and confidence on and off the court.
Katie Pruitt - 12 gold Assistant Coach
12U Gold - Katie Pruitt
Katie brings a wealth of experience and passion for the game to Next Level Volleyball Academy. A former defensive specialist, she played on three consecutive state championship teams at Forbush High School (1997, 1998, and 1999). Katie continued her love of the game with Yadkin Valley Volleyball Club (YVVC), where she played as both a DS and setter before coaching alongside her husband, James, for many years. More recently, she’s enjoyed coaching at the Wallburg Recreation Center. Katie is excited for the upcoming season and looks forward to helping these young athletes grow, learn, and reach their full potential in this amazing sport.
Kirstein Childers- 12 Mint Head Coach
12 Mint - Kirstein Childers
Kirstein Childers brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to Next Level Volleyball Academy. A native of Central Florida, Kirstein developed her skills with the nationally recognized OVA (OTVA) club. In 2005, Kirstein graduated from Winter Springs High School with consecutive Florida State Championship Class 6A runs under her belt as a Middle Blocker. Kirstein ended her high school career playing for the 2005 Team Florida (High Performance | USA Volleyball). She accepted a full scholarship to play collegiate ball at Samford University. As a standout in the Southern Conference (SoCON), she played a key role for the Bulldogs before graduating in 2009.
Now based in North Carolina, Kirstein is dedicated to growth in young athletes, both technically and mentally. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamentals, teamwork, and building confidence in players at every level. She is currently on staff with the Oak Grove High School Volleyball program and has coached competitive club volleyball in the Piedmont area since moving to the area in 2009. Off the court, Kirstein is a proud mom to two daughters and brings the same energetic spirit to her teams that she brings to her own family.
Tiffany Brooks- 13 Gold Head Coach
13 Gold - Tiffany Brooks
A 2017 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Tiffany Brooks developed her game under the guidance of the legendary Jan Dowling. Originally a Middle Hitter, she transitioned to Outside Hitter in college and ultimately finished her senior season as a Defensive Specialist, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the game from multiple positions.She began coaching in 2018 and now serves as the head volleyball coach at West Rowan High School. In addition to her coaching career, she works full-time as a Commercial Lines Insurance Agent with Fisher Greene Walker Hill Insurance.Outside of volleyball and her professional career, Tiffany is excited to be marrying her best friend in April 2026.
Michelle Bryant- 13 Gold Assistant Coach
13 Gold - Michelle Bryant
Michelle Bryant had a remarkable volleyball career as a middle hitter at Forbush High School, where she helped lead the team to 60 consecutive wins and back-to-back state championships in 1996 and 1997, going undefeated in sets during both seasons. She continued her success at Lenoir-Rhyne University, earning Freshman of the Year honors and becoming the school’s first four-time first-team all-conference athlete. Michelle set multiple school records and remains the only volleyball player in school history to have her jersey retired.Following her playing career, Michelle served as an assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, helping guide the team to its first conference championship and playoff appearance. Her achievements have been recognized with inductions into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame (2009), the Lenoir-Rhyne Hall of Fame (2013), and the Forbush High School Hall of Fame (2023). Most recently, she served as head coach of the 13 National team at Next Level Volleyball Academy for the 2024–2025 season, continuing her dedication to developing elite volleyball athletes.
Tammi Lichty- 14 Gold Head Coach
14 Gold - Tammi Lichty
Tammi Lichty brings over 15 years of volleyball experience as both a coach and official. She currently serves as the Head JV Coach and Assistant Coach at West Forsyth High School and is passionate about teaching athletes proper mechanics and fundamentals to help them reach their full potential. Tammi and her husband, Clayton Lichty, are proud parents of four children. Their daughter, Madie, played beach volleyball at Coastal Carolina University; son Hayden competes in men’s volleyball at Reinhardt University; son Nolanattends East Carolina University; and daughter Hadley is a junior at West Forsyth High School and a member of the Next Level 18 Gold team this season.
Katie Gough- 14 Gold Assistant Coach
14 Gold - Katie Gough
Volleyball has been a central part of Katie Gough’s life for as long as she can remember. She played through junior college, where she was honored as Player of the Year and ranked 5th in the nation in assists.Now in her fifth season of coaching, Katie is passionate about helping players grow—not only in their skills, but also in their confidence and self-belief. For her, coaching is an opportunity to give back to the sport that has given her so much, and she looks forward to guiding the team toward a successful and memorable season.
Addi Wilson- 14 Mint Head Coach
14 Mint - Addi Wilson
Addi has been involved in volleyball for 12 years, including six years of travel ball, and played all four years at Davie High School. This is her first year coaching with Next Level, and she is excited to help her team grow both on and off the court. Addi looks forward to team development, competing in tournaments, and fostering strong team bondsthroughout the season.
Nya Steele- 15 Gold Head Coach
15 Gold - Nya Steele
Drawing from a decorated playing career, Nya Steele brings a wealth of experience to her team. As a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Women's Volleyball Team and the nation's 2017 Youth Player of the Year, she understands the demands of elite competition. Her extensive accolades as a collegiate player include being a three-time CPC All-Conference selection (2015, 2016, 2017), a two-time CPC Player of the Year (2016, 2017), and a 2019 Conference USA All-Freshman team member. She has also been honored with Setter of the Week awards in both Conference USA and SOCON. Her accomplishments earned her a place in the Ronald Reagan High School Raider Hall of Fame.
Kennedy Weber- 15 Gold Assistant Coach
15 Gold - Kennedy Weber
Originally from Iowa, Kennedy Weber has spent most of her life in Winston. She graduated from West Forsyth High School in 2023, where she played volleyball all four years and beach volleyball for two years. She competed three years on varsity, earning All-Region honors as a junior, and as a senior received All-Region and All-Conference honors, while helping lead her team to the state championship in beach volleyball.Primarily an Outside Hitter, Kennedy also has experience as a Defensive Specialist, Middle Blocker, and Setter. She has two years of previous coaching experience and is currently the JV Assistant Coach at West Forsyth High School.She is pursuing a Business degree at Forsyth Technical Community College and works walking dogs while launching her own pet-sitting business.
Kendall Wade- 15 Mint Head Coach
15 Mint - Kendall Wade
Kendall Wade began playing volleyball in seventh grade and has continued her involvement in the sport ever since. This season marks her second year coaching at a competitive level, and she is eager to continue growing as a coach. Kendall looks forward to watching her players develop both individually and as a team—and to learning from them throughout the season.
Jan Dowling- 18 Gold Head Coach
18 Gold - Jan Dowling
With 30 years of volleyball coaching experience, Jan has built a career defined by program growth, competitive excellence, and player development. She has coached at Anson County, South Rowan, and West Rowan High Schools and currently leads the program at Cox Mill High School. Throughout her career, she has guided teams to multiple conference championships and consistently elevated each program, transforming them into competitive forces within their respective conferences. In addition to her high school coaching experience, Jan has coached at the club level with High Rock, Twin City, and now Next Level. A former collegiate athlete herself, she played volleyball at Western Carolina University, bringing firsthand competitive insight to her coaching approach.
Ashton Gregory- 18 Gold Assistant Coach
18 Gold - Ashton Gregory
Her path to athletic success began in 2010 when she was crowned the NCHSSA 2A State Champion and MVP. Throughout her career, she consistently excelled, earning Southern Conference (SOCON) First Team All-Conference honors in both 2011 and 2015. The Southern Conference also recognized her with the prestigious Freshman of the Year award in 2015 and the Player of the Year award in 2014. Her talent extended to the national stage, as she was named AVCA All-Region and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention in 2014. Capping off her collegiate journey in 2015, she received another AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention and a First Team All-Conference selection in the Sunbelt conference.
Sarah Oaks- 18 Mint Head Coach
18 Mint - Sarah Oaks
Sarah played volleyball at Greensboro College from 2019 to 2021 and is entering her fifth year of coaching, with her previous four years spent at Twin City Volleyball Academy. She also has one year of experience as the head varsity coach at Forsyth Country Day School. Sarah is currently in her final semester of Physical Therapist Assistant school and plans to pursue a career in sports medicine. She’s passionate about helping athletes grow in skill, confidence, and teamwork while fostering a love for the game. This season, she’s most looking forward to mentoring her players and building a positive, supportive team culture.
Grace Delong- Floater Coach
Floater Coach - Grace Delong
Grace DeLong began her volleyball journey in sixth grade and developed into a versatile all-around player throughout her school and club career, competing through her senior year of high school. She began coaching during her senior year of high school and continued through her freshman year of college with a local volleyball club. After college, Grace expanded her experience in collegiate athletics by spending two years with Coastal Carolina University’s football program, focusing on player development and team operations. Now recently returned to the area, Grace is excited to rejoin the volleyball community. She looks forward to bringing her passion for the sport, her background in college athletics, and her guidance for athletes interested in pursuing volleyball at the collegiate level.
Robyn Wesselman- Recruiting coordinator
Recruiting Coordinator - Robyn Wesselman
“I’ve been in the game longer than most people have been alive.”
With a lifelong dedication to volleyball, Robyn brings extensive experience as both a player and coach. She began her collegiate career as a two-year walk-on at Indiana University before graduating from Miami University (Ohio), where she continued her involvement in the sport.
She went on to serve as an assistant volleyball coach at Guilford College for two years and has coached at the club level with Piedmont, Set Point, Triad United, and Next Level. Her high school coaching career includes four highly successful decades: first at Forbush High School from 1996 to 2000, where she led the program to three state championships, and later at Mount Tabor High School from 2001 to 2021, guiding the team to a state championship appearance.
Committed to continual growth, Robyn actively pursues ongoing volleyball education through camps, articles, video analysis, and professional conversations to stay current with the latest techniques, strategies, and player-development methods.
Denise Steele- Strength and Agility Coach
Strength and Agility Coach - Denise Steele
Denise Steele brings a lifelong passion for athletic performance and development to Next Level Volleyball Academy. A former collegiate track and field athlete and licensed Physical Therapist, she understands the importance of building both the body and mind for long-term success in sports and in life.Denise has coached middle school track and volleyball and proudly founded the first boys’ volleyball program in the region, reflecting her dedication to growing the game and creating opportunities for young athletes.As the Strength and Agility Coach at Next Level, Denise focuses on helping athletes develop a solid physical and mental foundation to maximize performance, prevent injury, and compete with confidence. She is excited to join the team and support every athlete in reaching their next level.