Jammers Volleyball Club

Jammers VBC is excited to announce the latest additions to its staff of Head Coaches for the 2009-2010 JO season.

Jennifer Thompson joins the JVC coaching staff with over 10 years of experience at age 23. She is a former player at Jefferson Forest High School where she was a starting Varsity Defensive Specialist. In 2003, her team won the Regional Championships and went on to be Virginia State Runner's-up. Jennifer then went on to play at Shenandoah University where she was a 4 year starter playing Setter back row and Oustide Hitter front row. Jennifer was chosen captain her Sophmore year at SU and was a captain of the team for the remainder of her time at SU. Jennifer received multiple awards from Shenandoah University including Coach's Award, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Co-MVP and Student-Athlete Award. Jennifer not only was a focused and talented volleyball player, she also was highly motivated to succeed in school. Graduating from Undergrad with a 3.8 GPA in 3 years she went on to Graduate school at Shenandoah University for Physical Therapy and Graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree in 2009. Jennifer has played in numerous indoor and outdoor volleyball tournaments on 6 person and 2 person teams. Jennifer has also participated in a multitude of volleyball camps as a participant and as a coach/staff. She coached a 13's Rec team in Lynchburg in the Summer of 2005 and her team had an undefeated season and were also season champions. She currently plays on a #1 ranked team in the Durham Parks and Recreation's Adult Women's Volleyball League with her assitant coach Rachel Freeman. With substantial playing experience, Jennifer is excited to contribute her playing skills along with her coaching experience to the Jammers Volleyball Club. Coach Thompson has been selected to serve as the Head Coach for the Jammers 14's Red Team for the 2009-2010 Season.

Rachel Freeman joins the JVC coaching staff at age 24 with over 10 years of playing experience. She is a former player at J.M. Tate High School where she was a starting Varsity setter, team captain, and recipient of the United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award. Her playing experience extends to the West Florida Storm Volleyball Club where she was the Libero/Defensive Specialist on the 18 Surge Elite team and the University of North Florida where her team won the CoRec Intramural Championships for three consecutive years. Rachel has played in numerous tournaments along the East Coast including 2-person, 4-person, and 6-person tournaments hosted by the Jacksonville Volleyball Association, Jacksonville Indoor Sports, New York Urban Professionals Volleyball League, and Spike League New Jersey. She currently plays on a #1-ranked team in the Durham Parks and Recreation's Adult Women's Volleyball League. Bringing substantial gymnastics coaching experience, Rachel is excited to contribute her coaching skills along with her playing experience to the Jammers Volleyball Club. Coach Freeman has been selected to serve as Assistant Coach for the Jammers 14's Red Team for the 2009-2010 Season.

Nancy Gilmore, a former Orange HS Varsity player, 4 year Meredith College Varsity player, 4 year Meredith College USVBA Team player, and current Durham County Adult League player joins the coaching staff of JVC. In addition to her playing experience, she has been a CRVB Head Coach for the past four JO seasons, and was a Stanford Middle School JV Head Coach last year. She holds a USAV Cap I Coaching Certification and won the 2006 CRVB Team Sportsmanship Award as Head Coach of the DOVE 13s team.
Coach Gilmore has been selected to serve as Head Coach of the Jammers 16s Blue Semi-National Team for the 2009-2010 season.

Charlie Oakley, a graduate from East Carolina University, returns to the JVC coaching staff after a brief vacation from club volleyball. He brings with him two years of Junior Varsity Head Coaching experience at Orange and Cedar Ridge HS, where he became the Cedar Ridge Varsity Assistant Coach last year, and then appointed Varsity Head Coach for the current volleyball season.
His CRVB JO experience includes Head Coach of the Roxboro Rox, Hillsborough Heat and the Jammers VBC.
Coach Oakley has been selected to serve as Head Coach for the Jammers 15s Blue Semi-National Team for the 2009-2010 season.

Lauren Smith, a 3 year Varsity player for 4A Millbrook HS and 4 year Varsity player for Greensboro College joins the Jammers VBC coaching staff. During her time at Millbrook HS, Lauren garnered 1st Team All-Conference all three seasons, and was Team MVP her senior season. As a freshman player for Greensboro College, she was Rookie of the Year and 2nd Team All-Conference. She received 1st Team All-Conference awards her final 3 seasons. Upon leaving Greensboro College, she ranked amoung the Top 5 in all major hitting categories and is the single season leader with 100 aces.
After graduating from GC, Lauren became Head Coach for Caldwell Academy, before leaving NC and returning to Indiana. While in NC, she also worked 6 years as a coach for Meredith College's fundamental skills camp, under the NC Hall of Fame Coaches Kathy Steanou and Louis Capps. Lauren has also worked summer camps and clinics at Duke Univ., Wake Forest Univ., and Greensboro College.
During her two year stay in Indiana, Lauren was Head Coach at NJCAA DII Ancilla College and spent two seasons coaching the 15s Red Team for Fort Wayne Volleyball Club. She is now back in NC as an assistant coach for GC Head Coach Jean Lojko. 

We are very excited to have these experienced coaches for the upcoming season. Through their dedication to the sport and competition for the game, we expect a positive experience, and highly successful results for the players and the club.