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Lessons

For more information, please contact:

Julie Heatherly
1st Alliance Lessons Director
jaheatherly3@aol.com


Fast Facts

When: Lessons are offered whenever there is gym space available

Where: Lions Jrs./1st Alliance practice sites 

Why: Many of our players have benefited from these extra practices. 

For Club Players:
1 hour lesson can also be used to make up one missed practice

Cost: Please email Julie for cost breakdowns

Information regarding private lessons is sent out on a weekly basis by email. Please reply via email if you would like a lesson and a confirmation e-mail will be sent from  jaheatherly3@aol.com.

24 HOUR notice is needed to cancel a lesson. Otherwise the lesson fee will assessed.


LESSON COACHES


JON WOOD

14 Red Head Coach

Setting and positional coach

11 years coaching experience - (8) with 1st alliance/lions
 

Played four years college club volleyball as a setter at the University of Kentucky. After coaching at both the high school and club levels in Kentucky, he moved back to Illinois and has been with 1st Alliance since then and entering his 9th season. Has coached at the 14’s, 16’s, and 17’s age levels and assists with the setting and high school positional programs for the club. When not in the gym coaching, he and his wife love to go out and explore new restaurants and coffee shops in the area.

MEGHAN KECK

18s LEAD COACH / POSITIONS LEAD COACH / RECRUITING DIRECTOR
17 YEAR NCAA D1 COLLEGE COACH

12 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES / (6) D1 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
COACHED SEVERAL NCAA TOP 25 RANKED TEAMS
ASSISTANT COACH – 2022 17 GOLD – OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

A member of the first ever club team put together by Lions Jrs / 1 st Alliance almost 30 years ago.  She played collegiately as a (4) year starting setter at both Auburn University and UIC, where she holds the school record for hitting percentage in a match. She currently lives in Westmont with her seven-pound maltipoo, Lulu, who is the best puppy in the world. 

DANIELLE MIKOS

17s LEAD COACH
2022 AVCA 17s COACH OF THE YEAR
HEAD COACH – 2022 17 GOLD – OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 

2013 17 BLACK - AAU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ASSISTANT COACH – 2021 MONTINI CATHOLIC STATE CHAMPS
10 YEARS AT 1 ST ALLIANCE 
17 YEARS – COACHING CLUB

Played college volleyball as a MB at Benedictine University. Has coached several years of high school volleyball as well. 4 years with the girls and 6 years with the boys at Eisenhower, with multiple accomplishments including multiple conference championships, a regional championship and the best record in school history multiple times. Spent 3 years as an assistant at Elmhurst College. When she interviewed with Sue, she didn’t know 1 st Alliance and Lions were the same club. When Sue asked if she would interview elsewhere, she said maybe Lions Jrs.


ERIK VOGT

POSITIONS LEAD COACH / 17s RECRUITING COORDINATOR / CAMP/CLINIC
DIRECTOR / 17 SILVER HEAD COACH
14 YEARS – COACHING CLUB
2 nd YEAR AT 1 ST ALLIANCE

1 ST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN – CLARKE UNIVERSITY
AAU NATIONAL CHAMPION COACH – 2016, 2018, 2019

 

Played college volleyball at Clarke University. Has 3 Gold,1 Silver, and 3 bronze medals at AAU Nationals. Was the head coach at Plainfield Central HS from 2013-2020 and compiled an overall record of 167-96. He has his masters in administration with a concentration in sports from Central Michigan University. When he’s not coaching, he loves spending time with his family and exploring the great outdoors!

TESS RYBOWIAK

16s/17s - Age group coach
12 years - club coaching experience

3 years - head varsity coach
high school league coach of the year

 

While this is her first season coaching for 1st Alliance, she's not short on coaching experience. She moved to the area from California this summer. As a player, she was a setter/RS and played college volleyball at Ventura College/Moorpark College. While in California, she coached many years of club volleyball and was the head varsity coach at La Reina high school for 3 seasons. She and her husband have had a busy year making the move from California and welcoming baby, Addison, this past summer.

JOCELYNN BIRKS

15s LEAD COACH
FORMER PRO VOLLEYBALL PLAYER
3x NCAA D1 ALL-AMERICAN
4x ALL BIG-TEAM
11 YRS LIONS/1 ST ALLIANCE COACH

 

A four-year starting outside hitter for the University of Illinois, she finished off her Illini career in grand fashion as she is the program&s all-time kills and attacks leader. She led her Fighting Illini team to three straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Prior to Illinois, Jocelynn played for Lions/1 st Alliance and won a state championship at Lyons Township HS.


MELISSA COX

14s LEAD COACH / POSITIONS LEAD COACH / IN HOUSE PROGRAM DIRECTOR /
BEACH DIRECTOR

2021 AVCA 14s COACH OF THE YEAR
15 YRS LIONS 14-1s HEAD COACH

 

Division I volleyball setter at Troy University. Has coached players from 3 to 22 years old. Has coached all levels from volley cubs to Division I volleyball. She has 3 bronze and 2 silver medals at USAV Nationals. Has 3 gold medals and 2 bronze medals at Open National Qualifiers. Has 13 first place finishes at Windy City Power League. While she loves her family very much, her favorite being in the household is the families two-year old Cavapoo named Troy :)

MELISSA QUINTANA 

10 YEARS COACHING FOR LIONS/1ST ALLIANCE
FRESHMAN COACH AT NAZARETH ACADEMY

lead cOACHING EXPERIENCE - VARIOUS LIONS PROGRAMS
 

 

Played two years of college volleyball at Morton College. Played for EVP and numerous leagues after college. Coached at Lions for over 10 years from 14U, fall /winter leagues, volleycubs and beach. She is also the Freshman Coach at Nazareth Academy. Preschool teacher by day and volleyball coach in the evenings! She nearby in Lyons with my husband and 2 kids, Marco (8) and Makayla (6).

JULIE HEATHERLY

12s LEAD COACH / YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
15 YEARS LIONS 12-1s HEAD COACH
13-1 ASSISTANT COACH
PRIVATE/SMALL GROUP LESSON COORDINATOR

 

After starting and playing 4 years as a Right side hitter at Troy University, Julie came back home to start her coaching career. She is entering her 23rd season at Lions Juniors where she has coached volley cubs all the way up to 17Us for about 8 years and finally settled in at the 12U and 13U levels. Has 13 WCPL 1st or 2nd place finishes, 3 Windy City Qualifier Medals, including a 1st place finish and 2019 saw her team’s highest finish at Nationals in the Top 12U division with a 5th Place finish. She has 3 daughters who all play volleyball for 1st Alliance.