Coaching Staff
Elissa Morris
"Coach EC"
Owner and Club Director of PEPVB.
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Coach EC is originally from Hope Hull, Alabama. She went to high school at Hooper Academy and played travel volleyball through Capital City Juniors Volleyball Club. While in high school she earned collegiate scholarship offers for three sports (volleyball, basketball, and softball). Coach EC was a two time State Champion for throwing discus in track and field (2011 & 2012) and she placed 4th in the state for the 100 meter dash (2012). She made the All Star team her senior year in both volleyball and softball. She was nominated as All-Metro player of the year in 2011 for volleyball. In all sports she was a team captain and won many MVP awards at various tournaments for volleyball, basketball, and softball. Her most cherished awards she received were the Wendy’s High School Heisman award in 2012, Jimmy Hitchcock Award for the YMCA in 2012, and Christian Character award for her high school in 2012.
EC stayed close to home and attended Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama on a 4 year volleyball scholarship 2012-2016. After her playing eligibility was up, Coach EC student assistant coached the college team for the 2016-2017 season while finishing her Teacher Education Program to earn her bachelors degree. While at Faulkner, she met her husband Chase and received her Bachelors of Science in Physical Education in April 2017.
She started her volleyball coaching career in 2013 and has coached at multiple levels including Club, High School, and College. A few of her accomplishments include earning All-Metro Coach of the Year in 2017, three consecutive State Playoff appearances 2017-2019, breaking all statistical and win/loss records at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School's volleyball program where she coached, and has helped 5 of her athletes earn scholarships at D1, D2 and NAIA Universities.
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In 2020, Coach EC, her husband, and their three dogs (Leia, Tyson, and Khloe) uprooted their lives in Alabama to move closer to Chase's hometown in South East Georgia. During this change, PEP was born and in 2021 its doors were opened! Now she is full time coaching volleyball and directing the PEPVB travel volleyball organization.
Sara Lunn
Office Manager
Sara Lunn is a Savannah, GA native who grew up playing volleyball from grades 6 to 12. In her final year at Islands High School, she earned the “Co-Player of the Year” award for Chatham County Public Schools.
She returned to her alma mater to coach volleyball for two seasons as an assistant coach while attending Savannah Technical College to earn her Associates in Applied Science and become a Board Certified Surgical Technologist. When Sara, her husband (and high school sweetheart) Matt, and their dog Ipa moved to Alaska, Sara accepted a head coach position for the high school volleyball team for one season. They then moved to Maine, where she also coached varsity volleyball for the high school. Now they are settled here in Kingsland, GA and are expecting their first child (baby boy) this November.
Sara is a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. She coached our PEPVB 12 Black team during our 2022-2023 travel season and is coaching again this travel season.
Casey Jordan
Office Manager
Casey Jordan is a volunteer coach for young athletes in the sports of volleyball, basketball, and softball. Casey lead her Woodward Academy high school volleyball and basketball teams to win 2 state championships in each sport. She earned a volleyball scholarship to play for the University of Georgia 1999-2003.
After graduating from UGA Casey spent several years coaching summer volleyball and basketball camps for college prospective athletes. Now, as a full time Chef and mother of 2, Casey spends her spare time mentoring and volunteer coaching. She believes that every young person has the potential to be their best and it is her mission to help them achieve their athletic and personal goals.
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Casey was an assistant coach for our PEPVB 12 Black team during the 2022-2023 travel season and is assistant coaching again this travel season.
Edgaris "Fran" Casey
Coach Fran was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Her interest for Volleyball sparked at a very young age as she grew up watching her mom play professional Volleyball in the Island. Fran grew up playing the sport she loved the most. This earned her a Volleyball scholarship for High school. Through elementary, middle and high school she won many accolades including MVP of the All Star games for the schools she attended. She also played for the Puerto Rican Federation League. She was the youngest player at 15 to win MVP of the tournament and a championship. Coach Fran obtained a full ride scholarship for College. She attended Miami Dade College where she played D1 Junior College Volleyball. During her 3 years playing, she was awarded with accolades such as 1st team all Conference and 1st team all State. During the years Coach Fran attended MDC, they were conference Champions and were also State Champions. Coach Fran was a middle hitter which was a difficult task for the opposing team since she was one of the few left handed players in that position. What Coach Fran loves the most about being a volleyball coach is that it gives her the ability to help mold young athletes into being disciplined while also having fun. Volleyball is more than just a game for her, it’s a passion that continues through her family for generations. She believes that through hard work and dedication, every athlete can achieve who they want to be. During her time off the court, Coach Fran enjoys family time with her husband Steven of 10 years and their children Isabella, Gabriella, Annabella and Steven Jr
Celina Keener
I’m Celina Keener, and I’ve been passionately coaching for one year. Before that, I played in high school, club, and college volleyball. What I love most about coaching is seeing my players take the skills we work on and weave them into their playing routines until they become second nature. My coaching style is all about helping develop a strong team spirit where players lift each other up. I believe that each player brings a unique set of skills to the table, and I’m invested in growing those individual talents as well as our collective strength as a team. With a focus on personal growth and teamwork, I’m committed to developing not just skilled athletes, but great team players. Freshman year I played for a homeschool team named the Spartans, my sophomore year and junior year I played for Faith Christian Academy, and my senior year I played for Southside Christian School. I played for Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association (JJVA) my senior year. And I played one year of college at College of Coastal Georgia, and was heavily involved as an assistant coach with the waves volleyball 14u team. I have primarily played middle blocker however I have played right side hitter as well. I am confident coaching all hitting positions and am comfortable coaching the all over basics of volleyball.
Mersades Whisler
Coach Sades is from Austin Texas. Graduated from Lamar University in August 2023 in General Studies with a focus of pre-chiropractic studies.
Coach Sades began her volleyball journey in middle school and continued throughout high school. In her sophomore year of high school Coach was promoted from JV to Varsity and remained within the program through graduation in 2014. Coach started off as a middle blocker and was trained as a right side/outside hitter in the later years of her career. She achieved all state academic success’ her junior and senior year within her district as education is just as important as participating in extracurricular activities. In 2014 Coach Sades was awarded The Lady Warrior Award within the volleyball program an achievement of exceptional sportsmanship and skill sets for future players to inspire to embody.
In 2015 Coach joined Lamar University Club Volleyball program until 2017. Following the love of the game landed Coach a head coaching position for the freshman team in 2020 at Crestwood High School in Dearborn,Michigan . Coach found her niche and continued coaching for a select club team at the Legacy Sport Complex from 2021-2023 in Brighton, Michigan. Coach is versed with 15U/16U teams.
Her passion for volleyball is infectious and looks forward to leading the team as the chief encouragement officer.
Sean Knott
Coach Sean was born and raised in Japan where he played Volleyball in Middle School and High School. He was 4-time All tournament MVP in highschool from 2003-2007. Post high school, He moved to San Antonio, Texas where he played 3 years of College Level Volleyball with University of Texas At San Antonio as an Outside hitter and Libero. He was a ranked USAV player as a Libro/DS and was 2-time MVP of the tournament from 2009-2010.
After college, he coached the UTSA women's club team where he took the team to the college national play-offs and placed 5th out of 32 teams. He then became a Deputy Sheriff and served the community for 12 years. Sean recently joined the United States Navy and is now stationed here in St Mary's, Georgia. Coach Sean has a degree in education with a minor in physical education. He has been coaching since 2010 from the elementary level to the collegiate level.
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Coach Sean will be a volunteer coach for all of our PEP volleyball club teams starting this November!
Sam Thomas
Sam was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. His interest in volleyball began when he was watching his mom play club when he was young. Growing up he wasn’t allowed to play volleyball until highschool.
Freshman year he played on the junior varsity. Sophomore year he was called up to the varsity squad, where he was honorable mention for the All-BIIF team. Junior year he earned his spot on the All-BIIF team and his team made in appearance in states, up to quarterfinals where he became honorable mention for All-State team. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 his senior season was cut short.
Post highschool, Sam spent a year on Oahu just playing pick up games and playing beach volleyball. With the opportunity to learn and play against UH Manoa volleyball commits. Along the lines he decided to leave his beautiful home and enlist into the U.S. Navy(crazy right).
Coach Sam will be a volunteer assistant coach for all of our PEPVB club teams.
Alex Diaz
Alexander Diaz was born and raised in Riverside, California. He played club soccer from ages 6-14. As a freshman at Ramona High School her transitioned to playing volleyball. He played volleyball from his freshman season through his senior season. Coach Alex also competed two years on the cross country team, two years of football, and two years of soccer at his high school. During his time playing volleyball, he played as an outside hitter and was third string libero. During his senior year in high school, Coach Alex was also an assistant coach for the Girls Frosh Volleyball Team.
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After graduating high school, Alex pursued a career in the U.S. Navy as well as pursuing bodybuilding. Coach Alex will be a volunteer assistant coach for all of our PEPVB club teams.