Volleyball Club
about us
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Coaches
Autumn Finch
Coach
Hi! My name is Autumn and I currently am a student at Loras College! I am a senior and I am studying nursing and intend on finishing at mercy college. I have played volleyball since i was 13 and now currently play at Loras. This will be my 3rd year at Blaze and I have coached 15s and 18s. I am super excited for the upcoming season. Go Blaze!
Luis Garcia
Coach
Luis Garcia is a senior at Loras College, double majoring in Social Work and Sociology with a minor in Coaching. He is a member of the Loras Men’s Tennis team and will also serve as a student coach for the Women’s Volleyball team this year.
In addition to his academics and athletics, Luis works as a Retail Manager and a Student Engagement Advisor for Loras College. He has several years of volleyball coaching experience, including summer leagues, high school teams, and three years with Blaze Volleyball Club. His involvement reflects his dedication to leadership, mentorship, and building community on and off the court.
After graduation, Luis hopes to pursue opportunities overseas, either to coach or continue playing. If not, he plans to follow his passion for social work—ultimately aiming to start his own organization dedicated to creating meaningful change in the lives of others.
Hailey heiar
Coach
I am a 4th grade teacher at East Dubuque Elementary School! I graduated from Western Governors University in January of this year. I played volleyball through high school. I have played setter, libero, and ds. Some of my hobbies include working out, spending time with my family, and teaching. I am also currently training for a half marathon!
Sophie younkin
Coach
Hi my names Sophie Younkin I am a senior at Loras college, I have been a varsity starter all four years playing outside 6 rows and middle back. I have been named all conference for 2 years in a row. I am going to school for criminal justice and social work and will be going to the police academy after graduation. Something while playing volleyball that means a lot of me is mental health, I have struggled with it while playing sports and strive to be the coach who my players can talk to me about anything!
taylor Bechen
Coach
Bio
Megan Sheriff
Coach
Megan Sheriff is going into her 2nd year of coaching for Blaze. Outside of coaching, she is a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Cuba City, WI. Prior to starting her career she played about 8 years of competitive volleyball, playing initially as a setter but transitioned to DS/Libero. Megan prides herself on being one of the leaders on all her volleyball teams for aces. In addition to volleyball, she has played tennis for 19 years. Besides her job and sports, she loves running and weight lifting. She is also very passionate about mental health, as being a physical therapist, she sees firsthand how it greatly impacts physical health and performance.
Delainey Winkel
Coach
bio
Kevin Kessel
Coach
Kevin Kessel comes from Silver Lake, WI where he played four years at the varsity level as a libero and outside hitter on the volleyball team at Wilmot High School. He accumulated two First Team All-Conference and one Second Team All-Conference selections along with an All-State Honorable Mention his senior year. Kessel went on to play volleyball at Loras College where he was a serving sub for two years and libero for another two. He played volleyball in Italy in the summer of 2023 with Beyond Sports Tours and finished a coaching internship in Greece this past summer. Kessel is currently in his first year as the Graduate Assistant with the University of Dubuque volleyball team.