Boys Club Director & Lead Tier Trainer

18 Red Head Coach

Coach Salomon currently serves as Advancement Academy Boys (Columbus) and Advancement Academy West (Dayton) Club Director as well as the club's full-time boys director of recruiting overseeing 21 boys' teams. He also serves as the Head Coach for 18 Red and is the lead tier trainer for our 16+ age groups. This season marks coach Salomon's 5th year at A2. 

Coach Salomon is an Executive Board member of the nationally recognized Junior Volleyball Recruiting Association and also serves as the Men's Advisory Board chair.  Coach Salomon  was a USAV High Performance coach and USAV NDTP coach for the older age groups. He is currently the varsity assistant coach for Olentangy High School. 

Originally form Caracas Venezuela, Coach Salomon grew up playing competitive beach volleyball. He moved to Florida during his young teens where he continued playing before making his way to Washington DC for university studies. While at American University he assisted with the DI Women's program under the direction of Berry Goldberg. While living in DC, Coach Salomon also coached for Metro Volleyball Club as well as high school, ranging a wide variety of ages on both the boys and girl's side. Before moving to Ohio to attend Law School, Coach Salomon lived and played oversees in Israel. Outside of volleyball, Salomon is a full-time prosecutor in Franklin County.

Boys Marketing and Social Media Manager, Associate Director, & Lead Trainer

17 Red Head Coach

Dublin, Ohio native Emi Holsclaw currently serves as the Associate Director for A2 Boys and is the Marketing & Social Media Manager, in addition to being a Lead Tier Trainer for our U12-U16 teams and the club Setting Coach. Emi has 20 years of coaching experience that includes boys and girls beach and indoor volleyball spanning open/national club, varsity, and collegiate levels. As an athlete, she was primarily a setter, outside hitter, and libero but also competed in the middle. Emi played DI at the University of Toledo in the MAC, where she was a 3 year starter, holds 3 career records, and was a student assistant coach in her final year, after injury. She was a 2-time All-Ohio and All-Star selection and was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Dublin Coffman High School in 2018. Passionate about training and developing juniors in the game at all levels, Emi has traveled around the country working with a variety of collegiate programs and attending AVCA conventions and workshops by recognized collegiate, national, and international coaches. She still loves learning about training the game. She specializes in breaking down skills and advanced techniques, helping athletes develop a strong, team-oriented mentality, cultivating IQ, and improving on-court efficiency. Emi has worked with USAV boys and girls and with the NDTP program and gives regular clinics, private and group lessons at A2. As the head coach of 17 Red for the last 4 years, Emi really enjoys the 17 Open level. In 5 years, her 17's teams at A2 have qualified for nationals 7 times, had 15 top 3 finishes, and finished in the top 10 twice at Boys Junior National Championships. Emi was previously the Head Coach of Boys Volleyball at Olentangy High School, where they finished State Runner-Up, Regional Champions, and District Champions in her first year in 2021. This is Emi's 6th year with A2 Boys and she loves being a part of this tight-knit family and its' growth! #a2boysvb #a2on2

Fun Fact: Emi pursued a professional singing career in opera for 11 years and has 3 degrees in music from world-renowned universities!

17 Scarlet Assistant Coach

After being born and raised on the island of Oahu, Lance moved to Ohio in 2020 after living in Los Angeles for 12 years. He first started playing volleyball at a high level in 2008 playing at Santa Monica City College for two years. A couple years later he would begin coaching volleyball at the middle school, high school, and club level. He's coached girls club volleyball for five years and recently started coaching boys at Westerville North as an Assistant Coach. This is Lance's first season with A2, and he's excited to build relationships with all the players and families. We all strive to work together to help the boys grow into young men both on and off the court and to be the best versions of themselves on and off the court.

17 Cardinal Head Coach 

This will be Coach Friesz's fifth year coaching at A2. He's been involved with volleyball most of his life starting off as a ball boy for his older sister's teams and later playing organized volleyball at 8 years old. As he got older and his career went on he enjoyed playing year-round for school, sand, and club. He played at the regional and national levels throughout his club time. Coach Friesz has been a Head Coach for multiple regional teams while at A2 with many athletes moving up to the national teams the following year. He instills a positive mindset and creates an environment of continuous improvement for all athletes. He is always excited to be in the gym and to be a part of a club that is focused on each individual athlete and their success.

Fun Fact: He enjoys woodworking, golf, and is getting married this November 2023.

16 Cardinal Head Coach

This will be Coach Dooley's 2nd season with A2 Boys and she has been coaching volleyball at national and regional level for the past 3 years. In the 2021-22 season her team qualified in the 15 USA division and brought home a Bronze medal from Boys Junior National Championships in Las Vegas. Lauren started volleyball at a young age, playing club and beach volleyball year-round in San Diego, CA. 

Fun Fact: Here favorite snack is chocolate covered pickles.

18 Scarlet Assistant Coach

DeYante Johnson is from Columbus, OH where he attended Westerville North High School and was a 3 year varsity volleyball player. As a player at Westerville North, his team was awarded OCC and district champs. He was awarded 1st team all-conference his senior year. Coach D played 2 years of club volleyball at A2 where he was a 2 year starter on the 18-1s team. After graduating high school he attended Bowling Green State University and played club volleyball there. He ended up becoming the Treasurer in his second year of college and then Vice President of the team in his last two years of college. Coach D was also a practice player for the Women's Varsity Volleyball Team at BGSU. Coach D graduated from college in 2022 with an Accounting Degree and decided to come back to the club he played for and coach. He is now in his second year of coaching for A2 and he couldn't be any happier.

17 Red Assistant Coach 

This year is Josh's first year coaching here at A2. He is an outside hitter. He played his senior year here in 2022 for 18 Red, where they placed 5th at nationals in the USA division. He has been playing volleyball since middle school and played collegiately last year at Baldwin Wallace University. He played for Hilliard Darby High School. In 2019, he was a state quarterfinalist with his high school team, and in 2022, he was awarded first-team all-occ and second-team all-region. He is coaching to pay back all his experiences and help the athletes learn to be good people on and off the court. His favorite part about volleyball is seeing the growth of the sport and attacking.

Fun Fact: Josh is that he has been on 7 cruises and loves Coca-Cola.

14 Red Head Coach & Tier Trainer

Pierce Monnin is a native of Westerville Ohio where he attended Westerville North High School and was a 4 year varsity captain and starter. As a player at Westerville North, his team was awarded OCC and district champs. He was a multiple-time 1st team all-conference and academic team selection. Coach Pierce played 3 years of club volleyball at A2 where he was a 3 year starter and team captain on the 18-1s team.

After graduation, he began coaching at Westerville North and A2 and is in his 6th year. As a coach at Westerville North, his team has been a 2-time district champ. As a coach at A2, he has had multiple teams earn 14 Open Bids and is an active lesson and clinic coach. Additionally, Pierce has coached 1 year of varsity girls volleyball at Westerville North and 3 years of middle school girls at St. Paul catholic school, where his volleyball career began. 

16 Gray Head Coach 

Coach Powell is in her 2nd season with A2 boys and is thrilled to be a part of the A2 family. She has 9 years of coaching experience and has led championship boys and girls programs in the Diocese of Columbus. She has a passion for volleyball program, player, and junior coach development. When not on the court, Coach Powell is a wife, mother of three, dog mom of two, and Physician Assistant Program Associate Director/Health Science Professor at Ohio Dominican University.

15 Red Head Coach 

Kyla has been coaching for A2 for 3 years now. Kyla will be coaching for A2 Girls and Boys this year. Kyla has been coaching volleyball for 7 years, coaching high school boys volleyball, high school girls volleyball as well as club volleyball. Kyla has been playing volleyball since she was 9 years old. Kyla played 4 year varsity at her high school and won 1st team all city as well as 2nd team all city. Kyla played volleyball in college as a libero for D2 Central State University. Kyla still plays in adult leagues currently. Kyla coaches because she loves to make an impact on the next generation of volleyball players. Kyla’s favorite part of volleyball is traveling to tournaments during club season.

18 Red Assistant Coach

Coach Gard has two years of coaching experience and nine years of playing experience in high school and college. He helped lead Hiram to the NCAA tournament and a conference championship. Coach Gard has also assisted with 18 Red and helped them reach fifth in the USA division at nationals.

14 Scarlet Head Coach

Stacey has coached at A2 for 8 years at both the National and Regional level winning multiple gold, silver and bronze medals. Stacey started the Westerville Boys Middleschool Volleyball Club 12 years ago and still runs the program today. She also coached boys volleyball at Westerville North high school.
Stacey played volleyball during her military and civilian DoD career. Stacey coaches for the love of the game as well as working with kids and helping them learn much more than just the sport. Her favorite part of coaching is watching young men grow both on and off the court. She describes the feeling of having boys come back after a season and realizing just how much they learned as one of the best feelings ever!

Fun Fact: Every year she surprises at least one new person on how loud she can whistle!

16 Scarlet Head Coach

This will be Abbie’s second year as a coach at Advancement Academy and is excited for the opportunity to be a part of the A2 family. She has previous coaching experience that includes boys and girls at school and club levels. Abbie has been playing volleyball since she was in elementary school in addition to club when she was in high school. While playing in her earlier years, she was primarily a middle hitter and middle back. Abbie loves not only coaching, but watching and learning about the game all year round. During her time off the court, Abbie and her husband watch their son play school and club volleyball and her daughter field hockey. She is also a fifth-grade teacher in Westerville.

18 Gray Co-Coach

Julianna Newbery used to play volleyball at Olentangy High School as well as used to be a former athlete at A2 in the girl's program. This will be her 2nd season working with us at A2 and she has worked with the middle school boys volleyball at Shanahan Middle School. She loves to coach to have an impact on young athletes and to watch them grow as volleyball players as well as watch the boys grow into great young men through the season. Her favorite part about coaching and volleyball, in general, is the overnight tournaments that are out of town and having fun team bonding, the best part is making so many new friends.

Fun Fact:  Julianna is currently enrolled in her third year at The Ohio State University working towards her bachelor's in Accounting.

16 Red Assistant Coach

This is Austin’s 2nd year of coaching and is the Head Coach for 14 Emerald for girls and the Assistant for 16 Red for the boys here at Advancement Academy! Austin is always looking to grow your passion and skill for volleyball.

Fun Fact: Austin's birthday is on Valentine's Day

17 Scarlet Head Coach

This will be Kevin's 5th season with A2 and has also coached Women's and Men's High School for 9 years so far. To further his passion and knowledge for the sport, in his off time he has attended multiple high performance clinics as well as ones organized by collegiate coaches.

Throughout Kevin's tenure at A2 he has coached multiple teams at both regional and national level. His breadth of knowledge has allowed him to be successful in training not just the sport, but the athleticism and mind that accompanies it.

His favorite part of coaching is being able to positively impact a young adult's life through a shared passion while having fun.

Fun Fact: Kevin has won a set of volleyball 40-38