Coaching Staff | Apex Volleyball

our team

Our coaching staff are dedicated to helping your athletes grow and become the best version of themselves. We strive to create a positive environment for young athletes to learn, grow, and succeed.

Ashlyn Leon- Director, 15 Apex Coach/ 12 Peak Red Coach

It has been a life long dream of mine to open my own volleyball club and help grow the sport that I love. Welcome to Apex Volleyball Training Center! I have been coaching for 6 years as a club coach, private lesson coach, in house league director, and was the assistant coach for Ohio Dominican University in 2020. I am currently the head JV coach at Dublin Scioto High School. I am a 2020 graduate from Otterbein University with a degree in Allied Health and played for four years as their starting libero and was part of two OAC regular season co-championship teams, a pair of NCAA qualifying teams, and hold a few program records. I have a strong passion for coaching and love instilling confidence and a positive mindset for all athletes.

Rob Leon- Director of operations, 16 Apex Coach/ 12 Peak Red Coach

Rob has been a coach for many sports, such as volleyball, soccer, and basketball. With many years of coaching experience, he has a strong passion for volleyball. Rob played for a successful Wright State University Men's Team as a Captain. Rob has also competed in many competitive beach volleyball tournaments along with making the Wright State soccer team. Rob has 15 plus years of coaching experience along with all of the experience that comes with being a father of four female athletes. Rob has been involved in the club, high school, and collegiate levels for over 20 years and invites any questions regarding the recruiting process and what to expect in a club season from a parent perspective.

Alexis Vandevelde- 14 Peak Red Coach

Alexis has club coaching experience along with running in house leagues and clinics! She has a huge passion for coaching and is always encouraging her athletes with her positive coaching style. She has experience with middle hitting and blocking! "I love watching players gain confidence on and off the court throughout the season!"

Megan Mercurio- 13 Peak White Coach

Megan has club coaching experience along with running in house leagues! She is going to be coaching at Hastings Middle School this fall. She has a positive coaching style that motivates her athletes to become the best players that they can be! She has experience with outside hitting and blocking! "My favorite thing about coaching is definitely working with our athletes and watching their skills improve along with watching their confidence grow!"

Ryan Wheatley- 16 Peak Red Coach

Ryan is a seasoned volleyball coach with over 20 years of experience. He has coached and had great success at every level! He has coached several first and second team All Americans and many that have gone on to play at the D1, DII, DIII, and NAIA levels! "I am excited to be a part of Apex VBTC. I truly believe in helping players get to that next level and pushing them to reach their full potential. I have always been committed to developing players and know that Apex is a great place to do that!"

Elisa Pillar- 15 Peak White Coach

This is Elisa's third season coaching club volleyball! She loves watching athletes grow and improves themselves along with the players around them. " I am committed to building a team that propels athlete confidence, excellence, and a sense of being both on and off the court!"

Andrea Miller- 13 Peak Red Coach

This is Andrea's second season coaching club volleyball! She has been playing volleyball competitively since she was ten years old! Andrea was a setter and loved every minute of being the 'quarterback" of the team. At Otterbein University, she was a 2 time All American and for her four years was the all time leader in assists! " Volleyball has always been a huge passion of mine and I can't wait for the upcoming season!"

Samantha Barton- 14 Summit Red Coach

This will be Sam's third season coaching club volleyball! She has played volleyball throughout middle school and high school as a DS/Libero and played collegiately at Capital University before beginning her journey of coaching. "I’m incredibly passionate about volleyball! I’m super excited to get to coach this new group of kids and build their confidence and abilities as well as help shape them into the strong players I know they will be"

Logan Visnick- 14 Peak White Coach

This is Logan's second year coaching club volleyball! She loves the intensity and excitement of the game and the drive to win. Logan is currently the 8th grade coach at Watkins Middle School." My favorite thing about coaching is watching players develop their skills and gain confidence in themselves to play at their top level."

Miriam Miles- 15 Peak Blue Coach

Miriam is a K-8 Spanish teacher with 4 years of coaching experience in girls volleyball. She brings a strong focus in confidence, discipline, and excellence to coaching. She is currently the 7th and 8th grade coach at Tree of Life! "I love watching my athletes grow in confidence and in skill. I am excited to be apart of Apex and getting to know the athletes."

Taiwan Dawkins- 15 Peak Blue Assistant Coach

Coach Taiwan is a high school math teacher with three years of coaching experience in both girls’ and boys’ volleyball. He brings a strong focus on agility and technique—skills that he honed as a collegiate track athlete. He started his coaching journey in track and field, where his passion for helping athletes grow led him to discover a love for volleyball. He is also the assistant coach for the 7th and 8th grade team at Tree of Life! "I look forward to joining Apex and working with its athletes, helping them develop both their skills and their love for the sport.”

Jacob Calai- 17 Apex Coach

Jacob is currently the Graduate Assistant Coach at Otterbein University. He was the Director of Volleyball Operations at Miami University and helped coach for three seasons from 2021-2024! " I want to impact the world positively and, in my opinion, coaching provides me with an outlet to do just that. I love helping young individuals develop into not only better athletes but better people as well."

Erin Robbins- 12 Peak White Coach

Erin is very excited to work with our 12 White team! She played volleyball in high school along with club volleyball. She currently still plays in rec leagues around central Ohio and loves the game! " I am so excited to get more involved and watch my players grow and learn throughout the season!"

Abby Brunner- 15 Summit Red Coach

Abby is a junior accounting major/sports management minor at Capital University. She has been Capital's Libero all three years and has started every match, earning herself OAC Honors each year! She will be an excellent mentor and role model for our 15 Summit Red team! " I cannot wait to help players evolve on and off the court throughout the season!"

Kenadee Winters- 15 Summit Red Coach

Kenadee is a junior early childhood education major at Capital University. She is a Setter/DS for the Comets and contributes positivity and hustle alongside her teammate, Abby Brunner, during each game! She will be a great mentor and role model for the 15 Summit Red team! " I love watching my players learn and grow and being able to experience their moments of greatness alongside them. I can't wait to build connections with my players where they feel comfortable enough to let me guide them."

Duane Douglas- 15 Peak Red Coach

This is Duane's 8th year as a club coach! He also has 6 years of being a varsity assistant at Pickerington Central along with 1 year of varsity assistant at Northridge under his belt, and is currently in his 3rd year of being Northridge's varsity head coach. "I love to see the game grow through hard work and the dedication that the athletes put in. I am a firm believer in sports helping the younger generation grow as people and the athletes making lifelong friendships with their teammates."

Mandy Guzman- 13 Summit Red Coach

I've been in love with volleyball since I first picked up a ball in 4th grade, over 30 years ago! After playing through high school and then years of playing competitively in adult leagues, my passion for the sport only continued to grow. In fact, I loved it so much that I started coaching in the Watkins Youth League 5 years ago, when my oldest daughter got involved. Now, all four of my daughters play share my love for volleyball- 2 of them playing club at Apex this year :-) "It's about cultivating confidence, character, dedication, and true sportsmanship in every player. While I'm love and push my players to refine techniques and strategies to build their skills, I believe character development is just as important. The lessons learned on the court have a way of shaping young athletes for life."

Larissa Smith- 14 Summit White Coach

Larissa is a senior pre-physical therapy major with a minor in psychology at Capital University. She was a starting middle blocker for the Comets for the past four years, earning Academic All-Conference and CSC Academic All-District awards! "My favorite thing about coaching volleyball is watching my players grow both in their skill and love for the game!"

Elise Adelman- 16 Peak White Coach

Elise has been playing volleyball since the age of eight, playing both club and high school ball! She started her collegiate career at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania while studying in the healthcare field. She was the starting setter for those two years, breaking five individual school records! " I cannot wait to help players grow on and off the court while sharing my love and passion for volleyball."

Apex VBTC is a proud member and participant of the OVR, JVA, and AAU!