MEET THE COACHES
OUR TEAM
LIBERO VIRGINIA is dedicated to providing interesting, high-quality programs with experienced coaches focused on safety, healthy minds, strong bodies and good mood with a tradition of excellence.
OUR MISSION is to help kids to build their self-esteem and self-confidence through sport.
Why LIBERO VIRGINIA?
- It’s a good place to learn everything about volleyball, healthy lifestyle and passion for sports.
- Our coaches come with fresh energy and a lot of experience from the United States and Europe. They are dedicated to their students.
- LIBERO VIRGINIA is the right place to learn about team spirit, to learn how to become a winner and to respect your rival.
- At LIBERO VIRGINIA children meet new friends with whom they can share the joy of victory and the hard work at the practices.
- LIBERO VIRGINIA is a 24,000 square feet full service, clean and safe facility located just 3 minutes from Dulles Town Center.
COACH VLADIMIR JELIC
Coach Vladimir is coaching men’s and women’s competitive teams. He is dedicated to his students and focused on their goals. Holds students, parents and staff in high esteem, and interacts with the greatest degree of professionalism and personal integrity. Background includes leadership in the educational field and in business.
COACH QUALIFICATIONS
⇒ Strong organizational and motivational skills
⇒ PhD from the University of Nis, major Sport and Physical Education
⇒ Certified in Safe Sport Training
⇒ Certified in Chesapeake Region – IMPACT Program
⇒ Certified in First Aid
⇒ Certified in CPR
⇒ Excellent communication skills with students and parents
COACH NADEZHDA SHULGA
Coach Nadya stepping into her 7th season with Libero Volleyball Club. She was coaching teams from U10 to U14. She also serves as the assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Meridian High School in Falls Church City, Virginia.
She played collegiate volleyball at Moscow State University (Russia) and Chelyabinsk Polytechnical Institute (Russia). Coach Nadya recognizes the importance of hard work and practice within a well-built system, she is committed to developing young players into solid professionals. She firmly believes that this foundation is crucial for players aged 10-14 years old, as it helps build their technique, and athleticism, and sets the groundwork for their future careers, both in volleyball and beyond.
COACH QUALIFICATIONS
⇒ 12 years of playing experience
⇒ More than 8 years coaching youth sports
⇒ IMPACT and Safe Sport certified
⇒ M.S. in Journalism
⇒ More than 20 years of experience in Journalism
ANNA MCCANDLESS
Growing up in Springfield, VA, Anna has extreme passion for the sport, as she has played volleyball since the eighth grade and never looked back. She recently graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. While Anna found enjoyment and community within her many volleyball-related experiences, she hopes to provide those kinds of experiences for her own players through coaching.
Coaching highlights:
⁃2 years of experience coaching youth sports
⁃Head Coach at Village West Swim Team
⁃Assistant Coach at Village West Swim Team
⁃Volunteer coaching for U15’s team at BRYC
⁃Co-coached WSHS men’s powderpuff volleyball team
Volleyball playing career:
⁃FXA Adult Sports League; Championship Winner
⁃UMW Women’s Club Volleyball Team; co-captain
⁃West Springfield High School; Varsity, Junior Varsity & Freshmen
⁃SYC Youth Sports Volleyball League
COACH DRAGANA MEHMETOGLU
Fourth season at Libero
• Played volleyball for 13 years at:
o Volleyball Club Srbijanka, Valjevo, Serbia
o NCAA Div II Northwood University, Midland ,MI
• Position middle blocker
• Participated in NCAA Div II championship and NCAA Great Lakes Regional final
COACH STACY DENNY
⇒Played NCAA Division I at George Mason University from August 1997-2000
⇒Played USAV Adult Club Volleyball from 2001-2010
⇒Played for DC Pro Women’s Volleyball Tour 2002 season and 2003 season.
⇒Camp Coach for Patriot volleyball camps 1997-2000
⇒JV Coach Hayfield High School 2001 (Fall)
⇒JV Coach George Mason High School 2001 (Winter)
⇒Varsity coach George Mason High School 2002-2004
⇒NVVA Galaxy League 2013
⇒Coach boys elementary league volleyball at McLean Youth Volleyball, in 2023 and will be coaching again this season, 2024.
⇒Head Coach of U13’s National for 2024/2025 at Libero Virginia
COACH RICKY SINGH
COACH QUALIFICATIONS
⇒ Mentored Boy’s High School Varsity Pin Hitters (2021-2022)
⇒ D1 Boy’s High School Varsity Volleyball Assistant Statistician (2022)
⇒ Mentored Hitting and Serving on 16U San Gabriel Elite Club Team (2019
VOLLEYBALL PLAYING CAREER
⇒ D1 High School Varsity Volleyball (2016-2019)
⇒ San Gabriel Elite Club Team (2016 and 2017)
COACH MELISSA BALGAVY
Melissa Balgavy is currently a mathematics teacher at Patriot High School. During her 25 years of teaching, she has coached girls’ basketball, softball, and volleyball for school, recreational teams and travel clubs. She was a three-sport athlete in high school who loved to compete and continued with sports as a coach.
Once her oldest daughter, Haley, entered 6th grade and found a love for volleyball, Melissa began getting involved in coaching volleyball at Auburn Middle School where she was either an assistant or head coach for 7 years. She also dedicated her time at AMS as the intramural volleyball coach where she worked with both girls and boys in developing their skills. Kettle Run High School also relies on Melissa as an Assistant Varsity Coach, where she started as the freshman coach 6 years ago. She also has experience coaching travel at the u12s and u18 levels for American Volleyball Club. She has her IMPACT certification and has attended Gold Medal Squared training.
Melissa organizes all KRHS spring and summer camps for students in grades 6th-9th. Currently, Melissa’s oldest daughter, Haley, is a junior at Lycoming College where she plays on their volleyball team as a setter. Melissa’s youngest daughter, Alexa, is a setter on the Kettle Run’s Varsity Volleyball team.
COACH ARNOLD DE LEON
A professional registered nurse by day and a volleyball enthusiast by night. Teaching and nurturing the minds and capabilities of others have always been like second nature as a clinical instructor and a professor in nursing.
His interest for volleyball began in high school and continued on through college but was put on hold to focus on his career. His passion was revitalized when he migrated to Herndon in 2014 and discovered that volleyball games were available through his fitness club. From there he joined different volleyball meetup groups (both indoor and outdoor) in the area and later joined the league in the Chantilly Volleyball Club.
It started out as just being a player and then it turned into hosting volleyball events with different meetup groups. That led to organizing his own volleyball group, the Herndon Volleyball Group.
His passion and love for the game continues to evolve and he continues to enhance his skills through online volleyball education and by surrounding himself with players that support his passion and matches his eagerness to learn and improve.
For the past three years, he’s combined his love of teaching with this passion for volleyball as an assistant coach in Chantilly Volleyball Club for middle and high school boys, and Manassas Volleyball Cub for 14U girls. He continues to find new opportunities to better himself as a volleyball coach as well as impart the skills and knowledge he’s learned to a new generation of volleyball players.
COACH LAURA COBLENTZ
VOLLEYBALL PLAYING CAREER
⇒ Started playing volleyball in 7th grade.
⇒ Played for Sky High Volleyball Club in Northern Illinois
In high school, played at Crystal Lake South HS. Finished 2nd place in the State Tournament Junior year and then 3rd place Senior year. Played as a middle hitter in high school.
⇒ Played NCAA Division I volleyball at Valparaiso University (full scholarship) from 1993 – 1997 as an outside hitter
⇒ Named to the Academic All American 3rd Team 1996
⇒ Named Mid-Con Conference Student Athlete of the Year for the 1996 – 97 school year
COACH QUALIFICATIONS
During college:
⇒ Coached volleyball summer camps at Valparaiso University
After college:
⇒ Head coach for U17 team at Sky High Volleyball Club in Northern Illinois
⇒ Assistant Coach for the U11 Libero team last season
⇒ Assistant coach for Girls on the Run since 2023
