2025 Season: Girls Teams

~ SVC Black ~

Practice Schedule

January 10th - April 25th

at Dive

Fridays

430p-630p

Saturdays

1030a-1230p

Tournament Schedule

1/19

Power 1 Even

RMR

1/31-2/2

Colorado Crossroads

Denver

2/15-17

RMR Showdown

Greeley

3/8-9

RMR Classic

RMR

3/27-30

Northern Lights

Minneapolis

4/26-27

RMR Regionals

RMR

~ SVC Silver ~

Practice Schedule

January 11th - April 25th

at Dive

Saturdays

1030a-1230p

Sundays

430p-630p

Tournament Schedule

1/19

Power 1 Even

RMR

1/31-2/2:

Colorado Crossroads

Denver

2/22

Blue Moose Madness

NORCO

3/15

Lovelandpalooza

NORCO

4/6

Power 5 Even

RMR

4/26-27

RMR Regionals

RMR

~ SVC Purple ~

Practice Schedule

January 11th - April 25th

at Dive

Saturdays

1030a-1230p

Sundays

430p-630p

Tournament Schedule

1/19

Power 1 Even

RMR

2/9

Power 2 Even

RMR

3/2

Power 3 Even
RMR

3/23

Power 4 Even

RMR

4/13

Power 6 Even

RMR

4/26-27

RMR Regionals

RMR

Coaches

Dr. Kiersten Ellefsen-Olelewe, Silverback Assistant Director & 18 Black Head Coach: After graduating from Tufts University, where I played for four years as an outside, middle, and opposite hitter and served as a team captain for one year, I moved to Denver to begin my career in education. I coached high school volleyball in Denver for six years and have coached club volleyball for four years. As a coach, I am tremendously passionate about helping student-athletes find a sustainable and fulfilling balance between their studies and involvement in their school and local communities, and building passion, community, and leadership on the court. I believe deeply in the goal of building well-rounded and versatile athletes who are able to see their volleyball skills as transferable to all aspects of their current and future lives and professions. In addition to coaching volleyball, I also currently serve as an Associate School Director for DSST Public Schools and recently earned my doctorate in educational leadership. Outside of volleyball, I enjoy hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with my husband Ikenna, our toddler girl Nnenna, and our three dogs, Charlie, Ima, and Koda.

Aysia Carter 18 Black Asst. Coach: : I am currently a psychology student at Regis University. While in high school I played club for two years as a setter. Currently, I am playing on the Regis University club team as a pin hitter. I have coached Varsity and club ball for two years. This year will be my second season coaching with Silverback. My coaching philosophy focuses on my love for helping players develop their all-around skills while honing their positional techniques. I am passionate about creating a safe space for all to feel welcome.

Coaches

Kelly Carter, Silverback Club Administrator. Kelly joined the Silverback Family back in 2021 when her daughter, now 18s Asst. Coach Aysia, came to one of our summer open gyms. Kelly has been helping us out here and there and is always eager to contribute to the Silverback mission. We are grateful to announce she has accepted the role of Club Administrator and is already hard at work researching new uniforms, travel arrangements, and FUNdraising ideas. Because of Kelly's efforts with fundraising last season Silverback, for the first time since 2020, had positive funds allowing us to have a more robust Summer season program.

I was born in California but raised in the Far Northeast area of Denver my whole life. I love Colorado and the many locations in the state that can be visited from Grand Junction to the Great Sand Dunes! I have spent many weeknights, weekends traveling with volleyball. I enjoy the game, and volleyball has truly been a central part of our family life. As a family we’ve always been involved in our daughters; journeys, from their early days in recreation leagues to the competitive scene. Balancing family life with all the work life commitments can be challenging but we make it work. I work fulltime and I’m also on the coaching staff for the DSST GVR High School volleyball program which I’m proud to assist both of my daughter’s. Coaching at the high school level can be incredibly rewarding, especially seeing young athletes grow and develop their skills and do things they never thought they could. I love spending time with my husband who is semi- retired and my daughters, Alyssa and Aysia. I enjoy doing some cooking, listening to music and watching movies with my family. I love to do photography as it allows me to just relax in my spare time.

Coaches

Amy Wantanbe, 18 Silver Head Coach. One of the top liberos and most recognizable figures in MSU program history, Amy Watanabe was promoted to associate head coach in February, 2023, and is in her 12th year on the Metropolitan State University of Denver coaching staff in 2024. She returned to the Roadrunners in 2013 after spending one season as an assistant coach at Montana State-Billings.

Watanabe finished her four-year career as a student-athlete for the Roadrunners in 2009, when she graduated as the school's all-time leader in digs with 1,640, a record she still holds. She was also the program's all-time leader in service aces in the rally-scoring era (141) until being passed by Rylee Hladky in 2022. As a senior, Watanabe was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in digs per set, and was an All-RMAC second team selection. She also won the Mehn Award and was named Female Athlete of the Year for MSU Denver.

Watanabe began her coaching career during the offseason of her playing career. She coached local club volleyball from 2007-11 and coached one season at Denver East High School.

A native of Littleton, Colo., Watanabe earned her bachelor's degree in human performance & sport (K-12 physical education emphasis) from MSU Denver in 2010. In December 2016, she completed her master’s degree in eLearning design and implementation through the University of Colorado Denver. She enjoys musicals and has also visited nine of the 14 U.S. presidential libraries.

Coaches

Katrina Baer, Silverback Board Member At-Large and Guest Coach: Katrina is a former collegiate volleyball player turned coach who is passionate about teaching young women life skills through the sport of volleyball. Katrina is beyond excited to help make club volleyball more accessible to young women by being involved with Silverback Volleyball Club's board. Katrina has met some of her best friends and had some of her most memorable experiences through the sport of volleyball. She is passionate about giving back to the sport that gave so much to her and creating a safe environment for young women to learn to become confident, driven, and fearless. In her spare time, Katrina works as an engineer for an oilfield services company specializing in Hydraulic Fracturing and is married with one daughter.

Coaches

Anna Schneemann, Silverback Founder, Director, and 16 Purple Head Coach: Anna founded Silverback in 2019 with our first season being in 2020. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization welcoming all families and offering an affordable competitive club option for all! Anna has been affiliated with Colorado Volleyball since 1995. She is a former DI recruit, outside hitter and setter, High School and Club Coach, and now our Club Director. A passionate leader who loves ball control/passing and one whose sole mission is to bring the sport she loves to everyone.

Outside of vball I keep myself busy loving and caring for my husband of 10 years, Adam, and our three children Oriana 7yrs (Artistic Autistic), Virgil 6yr (Gifted PDA Autistic), and 3yr Gabriel (Neurotypical). I'm passionate about being a mother and also enjoy doing genealogy. I have about 40+ succulents. I have worked as a veterinary receptionist for the past 10 years and love my job. I have 10+ tattoos all dedicated to myself or family members. I can't wait for the day Adam and I take a cruise around the world! My future goals include having all my first cousins meet each other for the first time and to start another non profit on my dream farm where I'll have a rescue dog senior care center for them to live out their days in peace. I live my life following the Platinum Rule, do unto others as they wish to be done onto.

Coaches

Ivy Han, 16 Purple Assistant Coach: Ivy is a Biology undergraduate at the University of Colorado Denver, and is hoping to pursue a career in Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Ivy loves working with kids, and is very passionate about assisting in the growth and development of young children! She is a Silverback alum, and played my only two club seasons with Silverback when it was created back in 2020. Currently, she plays for (and helped create) the CU Denver Women’s Volleyball Club Program that was started last fall. Growing up, Ivy's main position on the court was as a Setter, but has also played as a Pin Hitter. She loves volleyball and working with kids, so working with Silverback and helping further our mission is something she can never turn away every season.