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COACHING STAFF

Our coaches are dedicated to making the club season a positive and fun experience for all players. They have a wealth of experience, both playing and coaching, and look forward to transferring their love and knowledge of the game to their players.
  Dawn Wood - (Spiking Turtles)
Dawn is a graduate of Pella Christina High School and had the opportunity to play in the state tournament her senior year. She played college volleyball at Dordt College in Sioux Center and Central College in Pella. She is in her second season coaching club volleyball for the Rams Juniors. She coached Junior High volleyball at Pella Christian and is currently the head Junior High coach at SE Polk. Outside of coaching, Dawn also currently enjoys playing on adult co-ed and female club volleyball teams.
  Amanda Jellema - (Spiking Turtles)
Amanda has been playing volleyball for 7 years. She started out at Prairie City Monroe and finished at SE Polk High School…yes she’s our first Alumni Coach. She currently plays volleyball for Grand View College as libero and/or back row specialist. She has been coaching club ball for the Rams Juniors for the past two years. During her free time she enjoys studying, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball, and knitting.
  Jessica Osterhaus - (16s)
Jessica played volleyball in high school at Dyersville Beckman where her team was state runners up her senior year (Go Blazers!). She attended the University of Iowa and played indoor and sand intramurals. She has coached a club volleyball team at Dyersville Beckman and currently is the head 7th Grade Volleyball Coach at SE Polk. Her hobbies include reading, running, and she loves to watch football!
  Heidi Gifford - (16s)
Heidi played for four years in high school and went to college at The University of Iowa where she played both sand intramural and regular intramural volleyball. She’s coached a 6th grade volleyball team and then this fall coached a 7th grade team at SE Polk Junior high.
  Jenny Shepley - (14s)
Jenny played High School volleyball at PCM. She went to college at UNI and played on many recreational leagues while pursuing her education degree. She began her coaching career as the 7th grade volleyball coach at Jesup Middle School.  The following year she accepted a Varsity coaching job at Malcolm Price Laboratory (NU) in Cedar Falls. She now coaches a 9th grade volleyball team at SE Polk High School. In her free time, she enjoys working out, traveling, playing volleyball, softball, and spending time with her family.
  Matt Parker - (14s)
During High School Matt played for the Capital City Juniors club team, then continued to play for the Fort Dodge Juniors Club team, and finally for the Two Rivers volleyball club. While obtaining his teaching degree at UNI, he played for the UNI Men’s Volleyball club team and eventually became the club’s director and secretary for the UNI Club sports council. He’s coached club volleyball for the Black Hawk Saints, Johnston IPVA, and Rams Juniors. He was also an assistant and head coach at Southeast Webster, and now is the Head Coach for the SE Polk High School team. He’s was the founder of the Rams Juniors club team and Director of the adult Spiking Rhinos Men’s team. He currently plays for the Men’s team On Ice and recently won a prestigious outdoor tournament this summer in Aspen Colorado. He enjoys listening to music, watching movies, playing volleyball, and long walks on the beach!
  Jim Schwake - (13s)
Jim has been involved with volleyball for many years. He's reffed high school and Division III ball since '87 and currently is a Regionally Certified referee for the Iowa Region. He's played adult volleyball for 20+ years and just won the Iowa Regional Championship in 2007. His most recent coaching position was with Norwalk and is helping start the Iowa Boys Division. When he's not playing, refereeing, or coaching volleyball, he enjoys watching sporting events and playing fantasy sports. 
  Alyssa Hyler - (13s)
Alyssa played High School volleyball at SE Polk where she led the team and league in digs. She currently is attending Indian Hills Community College and continues to play volleyball on a high performance coed league in Des Moines. During her free time she enjoys helping out with volleyball camps, spending time with her family, and teaching turtles how to spike.
  Jim Sixta - (12s & Club Director)
“Six” – is the Club Director of the Rams Volleyball Club. He is the Assistant Volleyball Coach for SE Polk High School and helps run, organize, and participate in various camps. His club coaching experience has been with IPVA and the Rams Juniors. He is involved with Iowa Juniors Beach Volleyball, and is a Board member of Iowa Region Volleyball. He is CAP II certified, and has played volleyball for the past 19 years. He enjoys sand doubles in the summer, and indoor coed 6s and 4s during the rest of the year. He also enjoys line judging and refereeing area college matches. While he’s not doing something volleyball related, you can find him biking, fishing, or enjoying time with his family Deb and Samantha
  Jeff Featherstone - (12s)
Jeff been playing adult mens and coed volleyball at a very high level for many years. He has coached the Spiking Turtles for the Rams and is helping out at the 12s this year. When he's not playing or coaching, he enjoys spending time with his family and hanging with friends.
  Deb Sixta - (12s)
Deb began her volleyball career by playing in 5th grade for 4H club. She played her high school ball at Western Dubuque and has been playing competitive ball for over 30 years. During that time period she’s played for the following teams: Floaters, Skeeters, Going No Where, RTs, Flamingo Row, YWCA, Victors, The Wine Experience, The Game Party. She currently plays on coed teams year round is the team director for The Game Party. She met her beloved, tall, dark, and handsome husband while playing volleyball at the University of Iowa. She has helped at numerous camps and clinics, and is extremely knowledgeable in officiating and scorekeeping. During her free time she enjoys Tae Kwon Do where she recently received her Black belt, and scrap booking.
  Irena Chalupsky - (12s)
Irena was born in Russia and came to the US in 2000. She played volleyball professionally in Russia and Europe since the age of 10 and has coached 12-13 year old boys teams in Russia. She received the distinguished ''Master of Sport'' certificate in volleyball while in Russia. Irena now plays on a coed league in Altoona and beach volleyball at Volleys in the summer. Irena and her husband both live and work in Altoona.