DC Coaches

Audrey Batcheller

Coach

Coaching Philosophy: I believe that is important to develop each players individual skills, volleyball IQ, and competency as competitors and teammates each season. I do this by simultaneously working on individual skills to improve each player, as well as focus a large amount of our time on building systems that work for the whole team. I don’t think that having fun and working hard to get better are mutually exclusive, so I oscillate between intense and goofy often. I pour my heart into these girls and learn more from them than they ever could from me.

Best Volleyball Moment: In 2018, my club team at the University of Virginia won NCVF’s Club Nationals! I feel so grateful that my last competitive game played at a high level for a team I loved fiercely was a win. 

My Life in Sports: I started playing volleyball my freshman year of high school and quickly fell in love and dropped all other sports. I played for Washington-Lee High School and Arlington Volleyball Club for the next four years, and helped bring W-L it’s first ever district championship. I went on to play club volleyball at the University of Virginia where I made lifelong friends and brought home some previously mentioned hardware at our last trip to Nationals. Since graduating, I play as much pick-up as I can, but feel very privileged to stay engaged in volleyball in a new capacity as a coach. I’m also an avid hockey and college basketball fan – go Caps, go Hoos!

When I’m not Coaching Volleyball… I work in data analytics and recently started a role with Capital One. I have a big, fat, pandemic cat named Yukon and my partner recently adopted the sweetest rescue dog named Theo. Taking care of those two nuggets is one of my greatest joys alongside coaching.

Favorite Subject in School: My psychology courses back in college were my favorites!

Favorite Book: Normal People

Favorite Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody

Favorite Quote: “Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our most accurate measure of courage.” – Brené Brown

Person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Ariana Grande

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: This year I raised over $100,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to attach my mom’s name to two research portfolios after losing her to blood cancer in November of 2019.

Alexis Deconcilis

Coach

Alexis Deconcilis: 14 Peake

Coaching Philosophy: My Coaching philosophy is to create a positive environment for athletes to grow on and off the court. 

Best Volleyball Moment: Setting

My Life in Sports: I played volleyball from ages 13-20 including: club, high school, beach and grass. I also played soccer from ages 6-13. While in high school I also ran varsity track for 3 years.

When I’m not coaching volleyball: I’m either at work or hanging out with friends.

Favorite subject in school: Philosophy

Last Book I Read: The Harry Potter series

Favorite Movie: Marvel movies

Favorite Quote: “Does anyone have any orange slices” – Ant-Man

The person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Billie Eilish or Dolly Parton

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: I played a huge beach tournament in Hermosa Beach California 

Kaitlyn Doyle

Coach

Kaitlyn Doyle: 12 Wizard

Coaching Philosophy: Teach the younger generation about the sport I love. Get kids back to loving sports for the competitive and team aspect of it. 

Best Volleyball Moment: Winning the ACCC NJCAA Division I Championship in 2018

My Life in Sports: Sports were my life – soccer, softball, cross country, basketball or volleyball; you name it I played it. As a little girl playing sports, it was always my dream to play a sport in college, it was basketball but soon transitioned to volleyball. Won the Eagle Award at “The Program” Volleyball Camp (2014); Best Offense High School Team 9-12th Nominated Best of Preps (2015); Second Team All-County (2015); First Team All-County (2016); Mississippi All-Star Team (2016-17); Desoto County MVP (2017); 2017 District MVP; NJCAA Academic All-American 1st Team (2018 & 2019); NJCAA All-Tournament Team (2018 & 2019); 2019 NJCAA ACCC All-Region 22 Second Team, Marymount Co-Captain 2021, AEC Player of the week 2021, AEC First Team 2021.

When I’m not coaching volleyball: I am working out, running, baking, chugging coffee, cooking, working on my latest Interior Design project or enjoying a night out with friends.

Favorite subject in school: Math

Last Book I Read: Harry Potter series (only made it through the first four still working)

Favorite Movie: 8 Below, get your tissue ready

Favorite Quote: Not a quote but a verse: 1 Corinthians 15:10

The person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Harry Styles, Brenda Frese, and Matthew McCaughnehey

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: 

1. I am gluten and dairy free because of allergy reasons
2. Nearly cut my index finger off in an accident with a shower handle

Jennifer Forbes

Coach

Coaching Philosophy: Ball is life. Volleyball is a huge part of my life, and I am so passionate about the game. I try to embody and radiate this passion when teaching the game to the girls. I am energetic and enthusiastic in practices and games and I push the girls and teach them to be the best volleyball player that they can be, not the one I want them to be. Fundamentals are an impossible part of the game. You cannot build anything strong with a weak foundation.  Winning is great, and is fun but it is obviously not everything. Winning comes from within and is achieved when all the moving parts are working in sync.

Best Volleyball Moment: Playing in adult CHRVA nationals this year. Also following my dream and trying out for women’s national team a few years ago!

My Life in Sports: I started playing volleyball in middle school, I played throughout high school and played in college at Marymount university. I’ve been coaching high school and club for about 6 years since I’ve graduated and I love it! I still play probably 2-3 times a week in leagues and tournaments if I can

When I’m not coaching volleyball… I am playing volleyball or at work 

Favorite subject in school: Psychology 

Last Book I Read: A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living by Emily Ley

Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans 

Favorite Quote: “what if I fail? my darling what if you fly?”  

Person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: April Ross or Simone biles 

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: My birthday is on Halloween

Caroline Hanson

Coach

Coaching Philosophy: I strive to provide players with the best technical and mental training I can. I want to help players grow as athletes and non-athletes and hope they leave me with life skills that they can provide other people to. Volleyball has provided me with many skills in my career, but also life and I hope it can make an impact on others as I did for me. 

Best Volleyball Moment: Winning the first conference championship for Marymount University along with being named an All American Honorable Mention for 2018. 

My Life in Sports: My Mom and Dad started coaching the year I was born, 1997, so I started playing in 3rd grade, but have been around it my whole life. 

When I’m not coaching volleyball… I am working in a Dermatology clinic and spending time with my friends. 

Favorite subject in school: Anything science related

Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird 

Favorite Movie: Hairspray cause I can sing along 

Favorite Quote: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Joe Paterno; Big Penn State Fan 

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: I have an obsession with pineapples

Eliott Sledd

Coach

Eliott Sledd: 18 Capital

Coaching Philosophy: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

Best Volleyball Moment: Finishing second in the state my senior year of high school

My Life in Sports: I mainly played baseball through high school and college. I was recruited by my JV baseball coach freshman year of high school to tryout for the volleyball team, and the rest is history. I still dedicated the majority of my time to baseball and continued to play collegiately at Christopher Newport University. In the off-season I played on the men’s club volleyball team since CNU does not have a varsity men’s team. Upon graduation I took on a brief coaching stint as the 15-2 head coach at Evolution volleyball club in 2019. More recently I was one of the volunteer assistant coaches for the Marymount University women’s team during their 2021 season.

When I’m not coaching volleyball: I am a huge fitness and nutrition junkie and spend a lot of my free time in the gym or learning more about the science behind working out and proper dieting. I also enjoy hunting waterfowl and snowboarding.

Favorite subject in school: Government

Last Book I Read: Can’t Hurt Me – David Goggins

Favorite Movie: Avengers Infinity War 

Favorite Quote: “Without memories of the past, the future means so little.”

The person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Joe Rogan 

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: Was a part of my school’s band for 7 years through middle and high school. 

Cailyn Thomas

Coach

Coaching Philosophy:  Every time you step on to a court, whether you’re in practice or a game you’re competing against yourself to be better then the day before and to help others around you become better as well.

Best Volleyball Moment: One of my favorite volleyball moments would be winning against Mary Washington at home for the first time in regular season conference play during my Senior year of college at Marymount University

My life in sports: I started playing volleyball my freshman year at Friendly High School. I fell in love and started playing club volleyball for Evolution Volleyball Club. Being a student athlete helped me do well in school, develop a number of relationships with people on the east coast. After high school, I started my college career at Marymount University in 2013. I played as a middle hitter all four years and finished my senior year as an All Region, All american honorable mention, All conference first team, and All state 2nd team. I was also nominated by Marymount as female athlete of the year. After graduating in 2017, I began my coaching career with Arlington Elite Volleyball club.  I am currently coaching at Henry E. Lackey High School as the assistant varsity coach 

When I’m Not Coaching, I am … working and taking care of my son. If I can find time to sleep I try to do that LOL

Favorite Subject in School: Psychology 

Favorite Book: I’m honestly a child at heart, so I would have to say the Twilight Series was my favorite series of books LOL

Favorite Movie: The Color Purple ( I have an old soul)

Favorite Quote: “Give me strength when I stand and faith when I fall”

Person I’d Like to have dinner with: Shonda Rhimes…. I would have to ask her why she likes to make me cry ALL the time in some of my favorite shows like Greys Anatomy, Scandal, and How to get away with murder LOL 

Something you don’t know about me:  All of my mom’s daughters were born on the same day; June 21st 

Victor Troyan

Coach