Dan Howden

Dan’s Bio: I Love Volleyball

My Bio for Dan: He Love’s Volleyball

P.S. Dan has been Head Coach for Ravens and Head Coach for School teams in Region. If you know Dan, you know!

Brooklynn Chopko

Kyara Wood

Hi, my name is Kyara, and was born and raised Parkland County. I have been playing volleyball for 7 years now. I began my career in 2017, playing for my school team then progressing into club season at the U14 level and made my way up to playing college! I am so passionate about this sport and want to give back in as many ways as possible. I want to help athletes achieve their goals in a safe and fun environment. with COVID, I have experienced so many different restrictions and one thing I’ve learned, is to never take anything for granted because you never know when it could be gone.

Some of my biggest highlights:

– Going undefeated my senior season in high school (winning all, tournaments, league games, zones, and finally Provincial Gold Medal).

– I was invited to be apart of the BTG Canada Selects U18 International Volleyball team this past summer. We trained at Trinity West University with so many great coaches, and then travelled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the USA Volleyball Tournament.

– During my U16 club season I was playing for St. Albert Sturgeon (SAS) Green. We were extremely successful and had the opportunity to compete as the only Canadian team in the Festival Fiesta tournament in Arizona, and tied for 5th place out of 72 teams.

– I then finished my career playing for Olds College Bronocs Women’s Volleyball team for the 2022/2023 for the first semester and had the privilege of being on the starting lineup for the majority of the semester.

Corey Lougheed

Coach Lougheed has been coaching volleyball for 15 years. His journey started as an assistant coach for the Senior Girls team back in his home town of Quesnal, B.C. Since then, he has earned his level 2 coaching certification while coaching school teams from Grade 8 to 12. On the club side of things, he has started and coached with two clubs in B.C. and Alberta, and is now doing his first year with Raven’s Volleyball Club. He has done stints with Volleyball Alberta and Volleyball B.C. working with Summer and Winter Games teams. Currently the athletic director and Senior Girls Volleyball coach at Onoway High School, Coach Corey Lougheed is excited to start a new season with the U18 Ravens team.

Kennidy Fisher

Hi Everyone! My name is Kennidy, and I am really excited to return for a second straight season to be head coach for the U16 Girls’ team! Ever since my first spike, I knew this was the sport for me. Growing up in small town Stettler, AB meant I had to adapt to different positions throughout the years usually bouncing between power, setter and libero. My high school team was called the Stettler Wildcats where I usually took on the role of power hitter. My last couple seasons of club I played for the Camrose Vikings where I got noticed as a setter and ended the season playing the position of libero. I am truly excited to share my passion with you all, get to know you and make this season the best yet!

Kevin Schurack

Kevin has been coaching volleyball for over 18 years, mainly in the Parkland area; his passion for the game and desire to learn and improve continue to grow each season. He will tell anyone who will listen that volleyball is the most beautiful sport of them all, and the joy of watching athletes and teams evolve, no matter what level they start at, is just amazing. From a philosophical standpoint, Kevin believes that athletes must have fun, learn the basic fundamentals to give them a foundation, and be challenged every day that they step on the court. Once the basics are in place, he expects his athletes to be aggressive in all that they do, while learning to be unafraid of making mistakes, because errors, especially in the early stages of development, are the catalyst for growth and improvement. He currently has his NCCP Development Coach Certification (Formerly Level 1) and is in the process towards getting his Advanced Development Coach Certification (Formerly Level 2). Beyond this, he also has a Bachelor of Education degree and continues to regularly attend other conferences/sessions which will enhance his development as a coach. Along with Ravens, Kevin also continues to instruct one on one  day camps and small group skill sessions with Limitless Volleyball,  as well as coach high school volleyball at Memorial Composite High School, where he was voted 2018 Edmonton Metro Division 1 Coach of the Year.

Elsie Matthews

Coaching and Refereeing levels:
I received my level I in coaching in 2013 and upgraded to Level II in Nov of 2019.
I received my Level I in referring in fall of 2014 and upgraded to Level II in 2017
Coaching History:
I began my volleyball coaching career with the Ravens Club in 2012. The club
did not offer a U13W team at that time, so I approached them and explained I
would be willing to create an opportunity to get that age group some experience.
I took the role of head coach and I went on with that core group of athletes to
U17 in 2017. At one point in 2016, I head coached both U16W and U14W
athletes to allow more athletes the opportunity to get on the court.
In 2016, I worked for Volleyball Alberta in the fall session of their GO League. I
prepared practice plans and ran practices for the U13 tripleball group at the
Saville center.
In 2019 I approached the SGCHS and offered my services as head coach of the
Junior Varsity Boys team. Then, when covid allowed, I returned to head coach in
2021, again the JV boys. Fall, 2022, I became the head coach of the JV girls at
the SGCHS.
I was awarded the opportunity to head coach the AWG Zone 5W team February
2020 with assistant coach Corey Lougheed.
I have been assistant co camp coach of the Drayton Valley Aspire Volleyball
Camp held the last week in August since 2016. Under the tutelage of Lorne
Sawula, founding director of Aspire Volleyball, collegiate coach and head coach
of six different countries’ National Women’s Teams. We offer 25 female athletes
grade 9 – 12 the opportunity to take their training to the next level as they prepare
for the upcoming school season.
Fall of 2022 I was granted the role of coach at the Parkland Student Athletic
Academy, PSAA, teaching students from the Parkland area grades 6 – 9
volleyball.

Izabella Melissinos

Hello everyone! My name is Izabella and I am looking forward to this upcoming season. I have been a volleyball player for around 5-6 years and have played with both Ravens and SAS. Last year I was also the assistant coach for ravens u15W! I am very excited and eager to become a head coach of the U15 women’s team this year season and bring my experience to this team! I can’t wait to have some fun and help young people learn to love and play volleyball. Cheers to all! 

Taylor Bordula

Britain Hoover

Hi! I’m Britain (or B). Returning to Ravens coaching staff, this time as a head coach, I am excited to continue working with the athletes from last season. Throughout my many years of playing volleyball, I have gained experience in many different positions, but settled as a libero in my last few years. Growing up, I played both indoor and beach volleyball throughout school at Woodhaven, and then SGCHS and played a couple seasons with the Ravens Volleyball Club, so coaching locally is near and dear to my heart. I have recently completed my developmental coach training, as well as my first season of coaching for the Junior Girls team, the Prescott Pumas, and am super excited to coach U17 this club season! I have a 9 year old daughter, who also loves volleyball, and I am sure will become the team cheerleader this season!

Megan Waygood

Hey everyone! My name is Megan and I will be coaching U14W this year. I was introduced to volleyball at the age of 13, I instantly fell in love and it quickly became my passion. Over the years I have had a lot of experience both playing and coaching. I have played at many different levels from school to club. I also played at the college level for NAIT while completing my education for Respiratory Therapy.

I have  coached at the junior high and high school level as well I coached club for the first time last year with the U13W team.

I am currently finishing  my NCCP developmental coach certification and I am always eager to learn from other coaches and mentors. You will often find me on YouTube or Instagram looking up volleyball videos and drills. I am always seeking ways to make myself a better coach.

When I’m not on the court I work as a Respiratory Therapist at the Stollery Children’s hospital and have been there for the past 18 years. I have two amazing kids who also have a love for volleyball, which makes me so happy.

I am a firm believer in creating a really solid foundation in my volleyball players, focusing on fundamentals and really challenging players to step out of their comfort zone because that’s where the most growth happens.

I am so excited for this club season to get rolling and I can’t wait to see what the season will bring.

Chris Clarke

Returning to the Ravens Club to take on the role as Head Coach for U18 Women’s team. He has been in an Asst. Coaching role with both Men and Women Club and High School teams. Recently helping coach the Raven Women U17/18 Team. He is looking forward to taking the Head Coach role to continue to develop young athletes into technical and fundamentally sound players who have a passion for growth and for the game.