Coaching Staff Bios

Listed below are brief bios for our coaching staff, in alphabetical order.
Additional coach bios will be added as they become available.

Samantha Lambert
Director of Operations
Rhodes College: Head Coach
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: nine

Samantha is the Head Coach for the Rhodes College women’s volleyball program, a D-III school here in Memphis, and is also the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team. She has played the sport since she was 11 years old, starring in high school and was a dual-sport athlete at Earlham College in volleyball and basketball. Sam has nine years of coaching experience, including nine at the collegiate level and nine seasons with Memphis Juniors, including her 13s, 14s, and 18s teams over the past couple of seasons. Sam has both IMPACT and CAP certifications and sits on the Board of the Delta Region, as well as the Board of Memphis Juniors as Director of Training. She graduated from Earlham with a Bachelor of Arts and later received a Master’s degree from Canisius College.

Angela Floyd
Director of Training
Hometown: Modesto, CA
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: seven

Angela was originally brought to Memphis from her Northern California home to play collegiate volleyball for the University of Memphis Tigers. She has many years of playing experience, including club, high school, and junior college in California before coming to the Tigers, and brings her experiences with highly competitive California club volleyball to our program. Angela earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the U of M. Her coaching experience includes six years with Memphis Juniors and she also served as Assistant Coach for the University of Memphis during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons. She has coached the 14s, 15s, 17s, and 18s Elite Teams for our program. In 2002, her 15 Power team won the Region bid for the Junior Olympic National Championships and traveled to Salt Lake City. In 2005, she went back to the Junior Olympic National Championships in Salt Lake City with her 18 Elite team.

Amy Bomar
Briarcrest Christian High School: Head Coach
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: five

Amy is a 4 year veteran coach for Memphis Juniors and will be returning for her fifth year. She was born and raised in Memphis, where she played volleyball for Briarcrest Christian School. She is also an alum of Memphis Juniors, playing with the club for four years. Amy has been coaching this awesome game for seven years. Before moving to the high school ranks, Amy brought her knowledge and love for the game to the 7th grade teams at BCS for 3 years. In 2007, she became the head coach at Briarcrest after severing as the coach of the Freshmen and Junior Varsity teams and the assistant coach for the Varsity at Briarcrest Christian School for several years. In her first year as assistant, she led the Varsity team to the State Championship, 5th in school history (while the head coach was at home preparing for her first baby.) She truly loves this game and enjoys giving back to the sport that gave her so much.

Shelby Burton
University of Memphis: Senior Middle Hitter
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Shelby is a senior middle hitter for the UM squad. Shelby attended Holmes High School in San Antonio where she was a three year letter winner on their varsity team. Shelby also lettered in basketball and track. Shelby played club in Texas with the Alamo Kaepa Club. While at UM Shelby was an 2006 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, 2006 AVCA All-Midwest Team selection, 2006 All-C-USA First Team selection, and 2006 C-USA-All-Tournament selection.

Scott Caulk
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: two

Scott played college volleyball at Indiana Purdue at Fort Wayne. He has played USAV men's volleyball since 1996. He plays in AVP Next Tournaments currently. Scott has been involved with personal training of players at all levels. And continues to train and play personally.

Sam Chambers
University of Memphis: Team Manager
Hometown: Munford, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Sam has been a manager with the team for 5 years. Sam graduated this year with Summa Cum Laude honors. Sam attended Munford High School where he received Early Scholars and Knowledge Bowl scholarships for college. Sam is the son of former UM player Becky Harden (77-80) and brother to current player Sarah Chambers. Sam is currently pursuing his Master's in Education at UM.

Jenna Cherry
Christian Brothers: Opposite, Outside
Hometown: Covington, LA
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: two

Jenna played at Covington High School on varsity all 4 years. While playing for Covington her team finished as state quarterfinalists in 2003 and 2004. Jenna was awarded all district honors in 2002,03,04. Jenna played club with the VIA JO club in Louisiana for 4 years and in 2005 her team won the Cajunland Tournament bid and went to the Nationals Tournament in Salt Lake City. Jenna also played on the Bayou Region High Performance team and they won Volley Classic High Performance Tournament in Utah in 2003. She is a sophomore Outside Hitter for the CBU Bucks and a business management major. She did skills clinic coaching with VIA in 2005 thru 2005.

Patricia Francis
Crichton College: Head Coach
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Patricia was born and spent her childhood years in Jamaica. She came to the US when she was 12 and and attended Thomas Snell Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut. Patricia was a basketball and volleyball player at Mississippi Valley State University. Patirica joined Crichton as the head volleyball coach in 2007 after serving as assistant coach a MVSU from 2003-2005.

Kathryne Giovannini
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: three

Kathryne played college volleyball here in Memphis at Rhodes College where she graduated in 2005. She was an all-conference player while at Rhodes and her high school team won the State Championship three times while she played with them. Kathryne has coached several years for Memphis Juniors working our younger teams and assisted coaching our 18s one year.

Kimmy Gratton
Hometown: Laguna Nigel, CA
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Kimmy played collegiate volleyball at Baylor University from 1997-2002 as a defensive specialist. While at Baylor, the team reached the NCAA tournament in 1999 and 2001, and in high school she was on the #1 rated 16's team in the nation. Kimmy has a variety of coaching experience: 4 years of Baylor volleyball camps, one season with the US Youth Volleyball League as the skills clinician for 8 teams, and 4 semesters of teaching the volleyball class at the University of Memphis. She has a double Bachelor's degree in public relations and professional writing and a Master's degree in Sport and Leisure Commerce.

LaVonne Hill
Houston Middle School: Head Coach
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

This is Lavonne's first year with Memphis Juniors but the third year to coach club volleyball. LaVonne has also helped coach the university of Memphis Men's Volleyball Club team. Lavonne has served as an assistant soccer coach in the Memphis Futball Soccer Club for two years, and LaVonne played collegiate soccer at UM. For the last two years she has coached Houston Middle School Volleyball. LaVonne is a PAVO certified Referee, Scorkeeper, and linesman for college volleyball.

Laura Jensen
Rhodes College: Sophomore Setter
Hometown: Daphne, AL
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

This is Laura's first year with Memphis Juniors. She is a sophomore setter with the Rhodes College Lynx volleyball team. She played at Bayside Academy in her home town of Daphne Alabama.

Rachel Klimetz
Briarcrest Christian HS: Senior DS
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Rachel has been a Memphis Juniors player for 5 years. She was a three year varsity player at Briarcrest Christian High School where she is a senior. Rachel will be attending the University of Arkansas next fall beginning her education for a degree in Kinesiology and then on to a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Ashley Liford
University of Memphis: Senior Outside Hitter
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Ashley is a Senior Outside Hitter with the UM squad. She attended James Madison High School in San Antonio where she was a three year letter winner on their varsity team. She also received many athletic and academic honors in junior and senior years including district and state awards. She played club ball with Alamo Kaepa Volleyball. While at UM in 2006 she was chosen as a 2006 C-USA All Academic honoree.

Jenni Miller
Houston High School: JV Coach
Hometown:Lodi, CA
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: two

Jennifer (Keene) Miller, grew up in Northern California got her volleyball experience playing club volleyball for Delta Valley Volleyball Club (Stockton, Ca yrs) and Club Stockton (1 yr). As a Junior volleyball player she excelled as an outside hitter, was picked First team All-American after coming in 2nd at Jr. Olympics in 1992. Keene was then picked to be part of the Amateur Sports Development USA, and traveled to Australia to compete in international play. High school Volleyball player of the year San Jouquin Valley District 1992, 1993, 1994. Recruited heavily by, Long Beach State, University of Hawaii, University of Pacific, University of Colorado, and University of Florida. Decided to play at UF under the coaching of Mary Wise one of the most respected coaches in her field. At UF was honored as an All SEC First team player, All American and named to many All Tournament teams. Won the SEC Championship all 4 of her playing years (red-shirted 2nd year, shoulder injury) and made three Final Four appearances in her career at the University of Florida. Now living in Memphis with her husband and two young sons, she has made her way back into volleyball as the freshman coach for Houston High in 2005, and as an assistant in 2006. Also coached the Memphis Juniors 16 Elite this past year.

Melissa Nance
University of Memphis: 2006 Graduate Middle Hitter
Hometown:Frankfort, IN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Melissa graduated from UM in 2006 where she was a middle hitter on the UM squad. She attended Clinton Prairie High School in Frankfort where she was a 4 year letter winner in volleyball, softball, and basketball. She was a 2000 all state volleyball honoree. While at UM she was team captain twice and is fifth on the Tigers all-time attack percentage list with .261.

Alex Nobel
Rhodes College: Sophomore Setter
Hometown:Tarpon Springs, FL
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Alex is a Sophomore Setter with the Lynx volleyball team. She comes to Rhodes from Tarpon Springs Florida where she played high school ball at East Lake High School. She played club ball in Florida with the Tampa Bay Juniors Club.

Sandy Obreza
Hometown: Ft. Meyers, FL
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Sandy played high school at Canterbury in Ft. Meyers and also played club ball there for 7 years. Her high school team won back to back State championships in 2000 and 2001 with Sandy as team captain. Sandy was named to All State First team also in 2000 and '01. Sandy played college ball in Memphis at Rhodes college where she was on the SCAC Honor Roll and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma collegiate athletic honor society. Sandy was a summer camp coach at The University of Florida and at Oak Hall School in Gainesville.

Hannah Orendorff
Rhodes College: Sophomore Right-Side Hitter
Hometown: Renton, WA
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

Hannah played high school ball at Liberty High School in Renton where she also ran track. Hannah is a sophomore right-side hitter with the Lady Bucs. Last year as a Freshman she started 117 games.

Jennifer Power
Lewisberg High School: Head Coach
Hometown: Fort Smith, AR
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Jennifer has been a volleyball player since sixth grade. She played high school ball in Fort Smith with her dad as her coach at Southside High School. While on the team they won the State title twice and were runner up once. She was 1999 Gatorade High School Player of the Year. She played college ball for the University of Arkansas. In 2001 she was the SEC Freshman of the Year and named to the All SEC 2nd team. She finished that year 6th in the nation in blocks. In 2003 and 2004 she coached JO ball with Ozark Juniors. This year she was the Varsity Volleyball coach at Lewisberg High School in Desoto County.

Lisa Rembe
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Phyllis Richey
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: Fifteen

Phyllis Richey has the longest tenure of anyone involved with Memphis Juniors. A native Memphian, she began playing volleyball with Memphis Juniors under club founder Diane Hale and went on to play collegiate volleyball at the University of Memphis. As a senior at the U of M, Phyllis was named the female athlete of the year, receiving the Elma Roane award for achievement in athletics, academics and community service. After completing her collegiate career she returned to the club as an assistant coach and helped in its reorganization, and continued to coach 15s/16s through 1996. During that time she also served as President of the club for two years. After completing her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Ole Miss and receiving her faculty appointment as an assistant professor at the University Tennessee (Memphis) Health Science Center, she returned to Memphis Juniors in 2002 coaching 15s, 16s and 18s ever since. Phyllis is IMPACT and CAP I (USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation) certified.

Ammar Rizvi
Rhodes College: Assistant Coach
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: six

Ammar joined Memphis Juniors on a part-time basis during the 2002 season, then dove in feet first in Fall League later that year. In 2002 he coached a 13s team with Amy Bomar while he awaited the birth of his daughter. Next in 2003 he coached the 15s Travel team and in 2004 he had a very successful year coaching our 14s Limited Travel Team earning a spot and taking a combined team to the National Invitationals in Austin. Ammar began his playing career with the Lafayette High School men’s team in New York and played for the Polytechnic University’s DIII men’s program. Ammar coached school ball locally at Lausanne and Houston High School and for the last two seasons served as an assistant coach at Rhodes College. He is IMPACT certified and works as a computer programmer at FedEx.

Emily Sadtler
Rhodes College: Senior OH
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: rookie

This is Emily's first year with Memphis Juniors. She is a Senior Outside Hitter with the Rhodes College Lynx volleyball team. She played at Academy of the Holy Names in her home town of Tampa Florida.

Ken Scarleski
Rhodes College: Assistant Coach
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Ken Scarleski begins his fourth year as an assistant coach for the Rhodes Lynx volleyball team in 2007. Prior to this stint with the Lynx, he coached for more than 13 years in the Memphis area at the junior high and high school level, at both Holy Rosary and St. Agnes Academy. He has also been actively involved in coaching on the Junior Olympic level for the past 4 years, first with the Memphis Starlings and also for the past 3 years with Memphis Xtreme. Scarleski is also the founder and 11-year organizer of the annual Italian Festival Adult Volleyball Outdoor Tournament in Memphis, prior to his involvement with Junior Olympic Volleyball. A native of Chicago, Scarleski attended the University of Memphis. He and his wife, Renee, reside in Memphis with their youngest son. He is also the father of four daughters. Back

Maggie Sommer
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: two

Maggie played high school ball in Hunstville at Huntsville High School. She also played club ball with Rocket City Volleyball Club in Huntsville. Maggie is currently a player for the Rhodes Lynx Volleyball team here in Memphis.

Amanda Swanstrom
Hometown: Houston, TX
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: four

Amanda hails from Houston, Texas and is in her third year with Memphis Juniors. While a young player, Swanstrom is very experienced, with over 6 years of club ball in the competitive Texas JO environment, In addition, she has coached camps within her Texas JO program for two years. She brings a fresh perspective as well as a technically proficient game to the court. Amanda was a college player locally at Rhodes College and is IMPACT certified.

Kim Wade
Houston High School: Freshman Coach
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: one

Kim played high school ball right here in Memphis at Houston High School where she graduated in 2000. She received received Outside hitter award 95 -99, Defensive player and Most Improved in '97, and Sportsmanship in 99. While in high school she played with Memphis Juniors for 4 years. She played collegiate ball for Gary Lee at Christian Brothers for two years. Kim has 5 years club coaching experience with different clubs in the area. She is currently the Houston High School Freshman Coach.

Matt Woodward
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Prior years with Memphis Juniors: two

Matt was an assistant coach for Gary Lee at Christian Brothers here in Memphis for two years and during that time he also coached at Memphis Juniors. Matt has also coached public school for a year and coached at Memphis Extreme last year. He is also a local adult league player. Matt is currently employed by MCR Safety.