Coaches

12-1: Jane Becker: Head Coach, Syd Stricker: Assistant Coach

Jane: Hello! I am incredibly excited to join the exceptional SAJO volleyball staff and community. I have been playing and/or coaching volleyball for the past 35 years. I graduated from the University of St. Thomas and had the privilege of playing volleyball there for four years. I was a setter for my team, and I still enjoy playing to this day. After college, I pursued a career in collegiate coaching, serving as an assistant at both the Division I and Division III levels, and as a head coach at the Division III level. My last 15 years of college coaching were spent as the head volleyball coach at Augsburg University. In 2023, I stepped away from my career to focus on my family, but I have remained active in the volleyball world as a coach for my three children, who also thankfully share a love for the game.

Syd: Hi! I am a senior at Stillwater Area Highschool and am planning on going to college for engineering next year. I started playing volleyball in third grade and have been playing for SAJO since sixth grade. I have played all positions in the front row all through my career and have loved every second of this sport. I can’t wait to continue being in this community as this is my first-year coaching and I am so excited to meet the girls and have a great season!

 

12-2: Sierra Lindemann: Co-Head Coach. Shea Murphy: Co-Head Coach

Sierra: I am so excited to coach for the very first time with SAJO! I have over 15 years of playing experience from high school varsity to college and adult recreational leagues. I am a Minnesota native as I grew up in Glenwood, MN and now live in Saint Paul where I work in community engagement. Volleyball has always been my favorite sport to play and watch, and I can’t wait to share my knowledge and passion with young athletes as they grow in skill and confidence.

Shea: My name is Shea Murphy; I’m 25 years old and a graduate from University of Iowa. I work at the opus group as a project accountant. I played volleyball in 6th grade through high school (Cretin-Derham Hall) and played club volleyball. I’ve also coached the middle school at Highland Middle School. Excited to keep coaching and getting girls excited about volleyball!!

 

13-1: Maddie Oeltjen: Co-Head Coach, Lexi Oeltjen: Co-Head Coach

Maddie: I have been playing volleyball since I was 7 years old...what is that? 16 years now?! From the moment I started playing, I was in love with the sport! Throughout my volleyball career, I played in two national championships at the AAU and USA levels, two MNHSL state tournaments, and was named captain and all-conference in Stillwater High School's 2019 season. As for coaching, I have four years of experience built up from coaching a club team, high school summer camps, and various volleyball clinics. I have always been a stickler for the volleyball technique and have played every position on the court! I also believe in a work hard, play hard mentality and have a lot of passion for how teamwork shapes young athletes and people. I am overjoyed to be back at SAJO and coaching 13s again!

Lexi: Hi! I have been playing volleyball since I was 8 years old and have loved it ever since. I played on the Stillwater High Schools varsity team for 3 years, helping the team reach the state tournament twice, and was named Honorable Mention in 2018. After High School, I continued playing at the University of Wisconsin-Superior where we made it to the conference final game. I have been coaching for a total of about 3 years now, from club teams to summer camps and clinics. I’ve played just about every position, but outside hitter was my main spot. I really believe in working hard, supporting each other, and having fun while doing it. I am so excited to coach with my sister this year and look forward to helping each player grow and enjoy the game as much as I do!

 

13-2: Sally Fabio: Co-Head Coach, Chelsea VanderHeyden: Co-Head Coach

Sally: Hello! I graduated high school in 2002, where I was a three-sport athlete – playing volleyball, basketball, and softball. Out of the three, volleyball was by far my favorite to play and to watch. I played as a middle hitter and right-side hitter and later continued all three sports at a nearby community college. One of my favorite memories from that time was when our team placed 2nd at the NJCAA National Tournament in Rochester in 2003 — such an unforgettable experience!

Fast forward 22 years, I now play sand volleyball and join winter leagues occasionally. These days, I mostly enjoy watching my kids play their own sports and seeing them grow. Outside of athletics, I love road trips with my family, cooking, baking, gardening, canning, and helping others. I’m so excited to share my enthusiasm for volleyball with these young ladies! This season, my focus is on building teamwork, confidence, awareness, and a true love for the game. It’s going to be a great season — GO SAJO!

Chelsea: Hi - I’m 29, and love everything about competition, teamwork and the energy of the game. Volleyball has always been a great way to channel that drive. I have experience playing in JO, high school and now in club teams all across the twin cities while working locally in Stillwater. I love bringing my coaching and leadership experience from my career to the court - helping players grow, push their limits and enjoy every single point. My goal is to help players discover more confidence every day and compete with heart that they can take on and off the court!

 

14-1: Jim Larson: Head Coach, Jamie Siseman: Assistant Coach

Jim: I began playing volleyball immediately after high school and quickly developed a passion for the sport. After an injury ended my playing career, I transitioned to coaching, starting with my daughter’s team at the local athletic club. Over several seasons, I coached girls ages 10 to 14 in both club and JO programs. As my daughter advanced and became a coach herself, I shifted to administrative roles within the JO program until eventually joining my daughter in coaching with the SAJO family. My coaching philosophy centers on playing hard and having fun—encouraging athletes to give their best effort, support their teammates, celebrate successes, and learn from challenges. I believe a strong foundation of skills and a positive team environment are essential to enjoying and excelling in volleyball.

Jamie: Hi everyone! I'm Jamie, a life-long volleyball player. I started playing at the age of 11 in my hometown, North Branch, and still play in adult leagues to this day! Throughout my volleyball career, I played in two MN State volleyball tournaments, winning the consolation championship the first year I went and 2nd place my last year as a captain. I also played in two Northern Lights National Qualifiers. While on JV and Varsity, I played every position volleyball has. As for my coaching experience, I coached community ed volleyball for 6–8-year-olds before transitioning to being a JO coach a few years ago. Outside of volleyball, I love to read, be outdoors, and listen to music. I look forward to this season!

 

14-2: Emily Maloney: Head Coach, Zoe Kolodzek: Assistant Coach

Emily: I’ve been a lifelong volleyball player—starting with cabin and backyard games, then moving up through youth JO Club Volleyball, SAHS Volleyball, and the University of Minnesota Women’s Club Volleyball. I also coached club volleyball for a few years after college. These days, you’ll find me back where it all began: enjoying cabin games and grass volleyball in the backyard. I’m excited to get back indoors and share my love of the game with the girls this season.

By day, you’ll find me designing, selling, and managing the construction of playgrounds, splash pads, and shelters—basically anything that makes play happen. Outside of work, life’s an adventure with my husband and our four kids. We love to travel, spend time at the cabin, play in the backyard, dive into house projects, and cheer on our kids in all their sports—hockey, lacrosse, soccer, skiing, track, and, of course, volleyball!

Zoe: Coming soon

 

15-1: Olivia Foss: Head Coach, Ela Chambers: Assistant Coach

Olivia: Hello! This season I will be the head coach for the 15-1’s. I am excited to be back with the SAJO community as this was the first ever volleyball club I was a part of! A little about me: I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, attending and graduating from Stillwater Area High School, while playing Varsity volleyball all 4 years. I started club volleyball at the age of 11 and from there I played at SAJO (1 year), Kokoro (1 year), M1 (4 years), and Vital (2 years). For the 8 years of playing, I was a setter at each level. I finished my volleyball career after my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. Now, I am Senior at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management.

My goal for this season is to create a positive, motivating, and comfortable space for your athlete to challenge themselves, grow their confidence, and celebrate every win - big or small. I am stoked to be back in the gym and am excited for this season to begin!

Ela: Hello! I’m a graduate of Stillwater High School, and I’m thrilled to be coaching for SAJO this season. It’s my first year in coaching, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to share my passion for volleyball with the girls. Growing up, I was an avid volleyball player, and I’ve always been curious about what it’s like to be on the coaching side of things. I started playing volleyball in second grade and continued throughout my high school years, participating in rec leagues, middle school, and high school volleyball. I also played a couple years for SAJO and a few years with Kokoro. After I stopped playing club volleyball, I still enjoyed the sport as much as possible, even participating in outdoor sand volleyball leagues and intramural teams during college. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach with SAJO, and I can’t wait to see these girls grow and succeed this season.

 

16-1: Bill Schoonover: Head Coach, Taylor Schoonover: Assistant Coach

Bill S: Hello! I’m Bill, your new 16’s Coach. I’m a husband to Laura and a father to Taylor, (more on her later!). This will be my second year coaching and I am truly excited to join the SAJO Coaching team. We are lucky to have a lot of passionate coaches and players in this community, and I feel honored to be a part of it. I played volleyball in college (setter), and that experience imprinted a love for volleyball in my heart. I’ve played in some competitive men’s leagues (indoor and out), until a soccer injury ended that…. If I had to sum up my approach to coaching volleyball, I would say that if we build the individuals (skills, confidence, attitude) to ensure that each of us can be the best teammate we can be, winning will follow. I bring a fun, but focused approach to coaching by setting individual and team goals, fostering leadership, and teaching young players a diverse skill-set. I am also excited to coach along-side my daughter Taylor! She’s an exceedingly positive force in the world, and the team is gonna love her!!

Taylor S: Hi! I’m currently a student at Stillwater area high school and enjoy showing my llama and riding horses. I’ve played volleyball for 7 years and am very excited to help continue my career but from a different perspective! I was always known as the utility player, so I’ve got a skill set in almost everything. Looking forward to the season! Go Sajo!

 

17-1: Sam Gora: Co-Head Coach, Taylor Hoikka: Co-Head Coach

Sam: Coming soon

Taylor H: This will be my 4th year coaching and 3rd year with SAJO. I played indoor middle/high school and now have been playing mostly sand as much as possible. My favorite thing about coaching 17’s and 18’s is helping them renew their love for volleyball and see them continue staying active in it after high school. I also enjoy paddle boarding, camping, yoga, and traveling. Looking forward to another fun season!