.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25)
Coaches
MEET OUR COACHES
Jackie Gomez - Director
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Jackie (Bernardin) Gomez was a highly accomplished high school and college player. She played Division I volleyball at the University of Texas and the University of San Diego. She was a three-time conference defensive player of the year. Her love for volleyball led her to coach at the University of San Francisco, University of New Mexico, and Point Loma Nazarene. She currently coaches at The Bishop’s School as the Head Coach and Director of the Girls Middle School Program. She has been coaching with LJK coach for 7 years and has been the Director for 3 years. What Jackie loves most about coaching is seeing each player improve, and develop leadership and a love for the game of volleyball. But most of all develop trusting relationships with her players.
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Sarah brings over 15 years of coaching experience to La Jolla Knights Volleyball Club. She began playing club volleyball at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the sport. In high school, she led her team to 3 CIF championship titles, earning CIF MVP honors as a sophomore and senior. She went on to earn a scholarship and a starting position as a freshman setter at a NAIA college landing top 10 statistics in setting assists and serving aces throughout her four year career. Since 2017, Sarah has been coaching with The Bishop's School volleyball programs.
Katie Oleksak
Sarah Lewis - Assistant Director
Katie Oleksak
Katie enters her first season with LJK as the 16-1s Head Coach. Prior to this position, Katie graduated from USD with her Master's in Leadership Studies. She was the Graduate Assistant Coach for the Toreros and helped lead them to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Before joining the staff at USD, Oleksak played professionally in Switzerland in 2020 where her team placed third in the Swiss Volley League. Prior to her professional career, Oleksak was the starting setter at Colorado State from 2016 to 2019. At CSU, she broke the career assist record (5,083) and earned All-American honors each of her four seasons. Oleksak was voted captain of her team and earned Mountain West Player of the Year three consecutive years (2017-19), as well as Mountain West Freshman of the Year (2016). Additionally, she earned two Academic All-Conference awards and was an Academic All-American her senior year (2019). A native Phoenix, Oleksak enjoys spending time with family, journaling, and going on bike rides in her free time. She's excited to be a member of the LJK coaching staff!
Olivia Bennett
Olivia Bennett
Olivia Bennett
Olivia is originally from Lexington, Kentucky. She is a freshman libero at the University of San Diego studying Behavioral Neuroscience. She played for Lexington United in high school.
Caidyn Taylor
Olivia Bennett
Olivia Bennett
Caidyn was born in St. Joseph, Michigan. He graduated in 2022 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a BBA degree in Finance. He is currently a Junior Associate at Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services in San Diego. He grew up playing and assistant coaching with his mom. He has helped out with kids ages 8 to 18. He played club growing up and beach leagues. This is his first year coaching for LJK.
Lauren Fuller
Olivia Bennett
Lauren Fuller
Lauren was born in Pasadena, CA but spent most of her childhood in Chicago, IL where she played club at Sports Performance Volleyball Club for 6 years. She returned to CA to play Division 1 volleyball at the University of San Diego – she was a starting Outside Hitter and helped the team make a run in the NCAA tournament all 4 years. Lauren has experience coaching girls at USD summer volleyball camps as well as high school camps. After being around the sport for over 10 years, Lauren can’t wait to get back in the gym and be a part of the LJK family!
Regan Stone
Annie Benbow
Regan Stone
Regan is a Southern California native, born and raised in San Diego. She grew up playing for Beach & Bay Volleyball Club and WAVE. After high school, Regan went on to play club volleyball at Colorado State University before transferring to UCSD where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience.
Katie Lukes
Annie Benbow
Regan Stone
Katie was born in San Clemente, CA. She is a senior outside hitter at the University of San Diego and she played for Tstreet Volleyball club prior to college. Katie has coached young players before and loves to help players grow in their volleyball skills. After playing for over 10 years , she has loads of experience in team building, leadership, and competitiveness. She has earned many accolades over the years and you can find more about Katie in her USD volleyball bio. She can't wait to be part of the LJK team!
Annie Benbow
Annie Benbow
Annie Benbow
Annie was born in Dallas, Texas. She is a senior libero at the University of San Diego studying Business Administration. She played for Dallas Skyline and Drive Nation Volleyball in high school. Annie has had similar experience coaching girls at USD summer volleyball camps, and high school and club camps as well. This will be her first year with LJK and is very excited to get started. You can find out more about Annie in her USD volleyball bio.
Julia Holden
Caroline Welsh
Lizzy Tardieu
Julia was born and raised in San Diego, CA where she played 4 years of varsity volleyball at Coronado High School and for various club teams including Tsunami, Epic, and 692 Beach. She went on to play beach and indoor at Grossmont College, helping her team win a CCCAA state championship title for beach in 2019. After that, she played for the beach team at Marymount California University for a season, transferring to CSU San Marcos to finish out her degree in Sociology. Julia has been coaching for LJK since summer of 2022 in addition to assisting with the middle school volleyball program at Bishop’s. She is always excited to see players grow and improve, and thrilled to be a part of the LJK family!
Lizzy Tardieu
Caroline Welsh
Lizzy Tardieu
Lizzy is originally from Salinas, CA where she grew up playing for Vision Volleyball Club for 7 years. She later went on to attend University of San Diego where she played DS/Libero for 4 years and competed in 4 consecutive NCAA tournaments. Lizzy has been living in San Diego since she graduated from USD in 2018 and still enjoys playing beach volleyball whenever she can. She has years of experience coaching camps and private lessons and is excited to join the coaching staff at LJK!
Caroline Welsh
Caroline Welsh
Caroline Welsh
Caroline is from Atlanta, GA, and played at A5 Volleyball Club growing up. She attended the University of Illinois and played for their volleyball team as a DS/Libero. Notably making a final-four appearance in 2018. After graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2020, Caroline continued her studies in England. She earned her Master of Developmental Psychopathology from Durham University in 2021 while playing volleyball for the school. After a brief stint in Atlanta, Caroline moved to San Diego to start her career working for The Bishop's School in the Advancement Department. Caroline has coached young players at camps, club volleyball, and the school level and loves to help grow the game by teaching the next generation the fundamentals of volleyball. She is excited to join the LJK family!
Tatum Lane
Grace Oliva
Grace Oliva
Tatum was born in Los Angeles, California. She is a freshmen setter at the University of San Diego. She plans on studying business marketing. Prior to college, she played at Surfside Manhattan Beach Volleyball Club and also for her school team, Palos Verdes High School. Tatum has helped coach summer camps for both her club program and her high school program. This is Tatum’s first year at LJK and she is so excited for what’s to come!
Grace Oliva
Grace Oliva
Grace Oliva
Grace was born in Sausalito, California. She is a sophomore outside hitter at the University of San Diego studying Biology. She played for Absolute Volleyball Club in high school. Grace has had similar experience coaching girls club and high school camps along with coaching USD summer camps. She has played volleyball since she was 8 years old and has gained a lot of knowledge and experience since then. This will be her first year with LJK and is very excited to get started and meet everyone.
Anni Evans
Grace Oliva
Anni Evans
I am a 5th year senior setter at the University of San Diego. I graduate transferred from the University of Nebraska where I spent my first 3 years of my college career. I am originally from Lincoln, Nebraska and played club volleyball at VCN.
Nemo Beach
Casey Schoenlein
Anni Evans
My name is neomi beach, but I go by Nemo! I’m from Arizona and I graduated from Hamilton high school in May of 2023 and now I attend University of San Diego! And during the Fall 2023 season I was named freshman player of the year!
Traci Weiss
Casey Schoenlein
Casey Schoenlein
I bring 20 years of coaching experience to the LJK family, with a coaching career that spans all levels, from Volley Tikes to college, with a focus on extensive training for setters. As a coach at LJK, I am excited to contribute to a program that values positivity, coachability, and strong fundamentals. LJK's approach to teaching the sport well aligns perfectly with my coaching philosophy, and I look forward to helping your daughters not only excel in volleyball but also grow as individuals.
Casey Schoenlein
Casey Schoenlein
Casey Schoenlein
Casey Schoenlein joined San Diego volleyball in the fall of 2023 as a graduate assistant. Schoenlein comes to USD after a distinguished playing career that spanned both the college and professional volleyball ranks. She spent four years at Washington State as an opposite, earning an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2016 alongside four Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selections (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition in 2017. In 2016 and 2018, she was selected to the USA Collegiate National Team. Following her graduation in the spring of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Media Production, she served as the student coach for the WSU volleyball team that fall. During her time as a Coug, Schoenlein helped the program reach the NCAA Tournament three times, including two trips to the second round as a player and an appearance in the Sweet 16 as a student coach. After her season as a student coach in Pullman, Schoenlein began her professional career in January 2019 with the Sta. Lucia Realtors in Manila, Philippines. Following that rookie season, Schoenlein spent the next four years competing professionally in France on several different teams. Schoenlein was born and raised in Bellevue, Washington with her parents and two siblings. Her passions include spending time with family and friends, being active outdoors, and traveling.
Megan Priest
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
Megan joins LJK after playing club volleyball for 7 years and division 1 college volleyball for 4 years at the University of San Diego where she was a defensive specialist. She graduated from USD in 2020 and over the years, has experience coaching USD summer volleyball camps. She has a passion and excitement for the sport after being around it for so many years and is thrilled to get back in the gym and be a part of the LJK team!
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
I played competitive volleyball for Sunwest Volleyball Club, The Bishop’s School and Claremont McKenna College. After working as a real estate development consultant in Newport Beach, she moved back to San Diego to get a Master’s degree as San Diego State University, become a registered dietitian and coach for LJK. After 8 seasons of coaching, I took time off to raise 4 children. I’m so excited to be back in the gym coaching your wonderful children again.
Camryn Tastad
Paula Ryan - UKnighted Coach
Camryn Tastad
Camryn is a San Diego native. She played Division I volleyball at the University of Oregon and the University of San Diego where she earned her degree in Communication Studies. Prior to her collegiate career she played for WAVE Volleyball club. Camryn has coached young athletes before and enjoys instilling confidence, leadership skills and passion for the game in her players. After over a decade of studying the game and competing herself, she is excited to continue giving back to the San Diego volleyball community and growing the game of women's volleyball.