Volleyballer was founded by two accomplished women, Ariel Newman and Jocelyn Drye.
They bring years of experience in leading teams and teaching volleyball and life skills.
Both share a passion for creating a positive impact in young lives and they look forward to working with your athlete!
Meet our team members below!
They bring years of experience in leading teams and teaching volleyball and life skills.
Both share a passion for creating a positive impact in young lives and they look forward to working with your athlete!
Meet our team members below!
Co-Founder & Director of Training + Athlete Development
Ariel Newman is a native of Greensboro, NC. Coming from a basketball and football family, Newman wasn't introduced to the sport of volleyball until middle school when she began playing for her school team. This is where her love for the sport manifested. She began her high school career at Southern Guilford, where she was the only freshman starter on the varsity team, earning MVP honors and other accolades throughout her 4 years.
Newman was introduced to AAU/Club volleyball in 2004 by Kim Mansfield, the founder of Piedmont Volleyball Club. This was a life changing experience for a 14 year old, who was still new to the game. Training and competing over the next four years, she learned that volleyball brought so many good things into her life, including more structure, new friends, other great volleyball families, and the motivation to be better everyday.
Newman earned a scholarship and was offered the opportunity to play volleyball in college. She was a 4-year starter at two Division 1 programs, Virginia CommonWealth University & the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her Bachelor’s in Sociology in 2012 from UNCG, and her Master’s in Psychology: Sports and Performance at the University of the Rockies in 2014.
Newman’s passion for the sport led to her desire to coach. She has been involved in leading and coaching AAU/Club teams since 2010. In 2012, Newman took the role of head coach for the Greensboro Panthers Homeschool program. Here, she really learned the importance of being a role model to young females. She helped lead the program to two championships in the 2013 and 2014. Newman states, “It was a privilege to watch them fall in love with the game.”
In the fall of 2015 Newman became the assistant coach at Guilford College. This was the stepping stone that led her to achieve higher collegiate coaching goals. Since 2016 she has been in the role of Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at North Carolina A&T State University.
As Newman has continued to learn from various collegiate and club volleyball coaches throughout her career, she has gained the understanding that fundamental skill development of young athletes is the cornerstone of elevating the sport. The more attention that is given to developing our youth, the more well-rounded athletes we will have throughout all levels of the sport. Athletic development is a process and with time, commitment, drive, and passion, anything is possible. Newman is excited to be starting this new chapter at Volleyballer Training Academy.
Coach Ariel's Volleyball Resume:
High School (2003-2007)
College (VCU (07’-08’) then transferred to UNCG(09’- 12’)
School and AAU Coaching Career ( Middle - High School)
College Coaching Career (2015-2021)
Newman was introduced to AAU/Club volleyball in 2004 by Kim Mansfield, the founder of Piedmont Volleyball Club. This was a life changing experience for a 14 year old, who was still new to the game. Training and competing over the next four years, she learned that volleyball brought so many good things into her life, including more structure, new friends, other great volleyball families, and the motivation to be better everyday.
Newman earned a scholarship and was offered the opportunity to play volleyball in college. She was a 4-year starter at two Division 1 programs, Virginia CommonWealth University & the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her Bachelor’s in Sociology in 2012 from UNCG, and her Master’s in Psychology: Sports and Performance at the University of the Rockies in 2014.
Newman’s passion for the sport led to her desire to coach. She has been involved in leading and coaching AAU/Club teams since 2010. In 2012, Newman took the role of head coach for the Greensboro Panthers Homeschool program. Here, she really learned the importance of being a role model to young females. She helped lead the program to two championships in the 2013 and 2014. Newman states, “It was a privilege to watch them fall in love with the game.”
In the fall of 2015 Newman became the assistant coach at Guilford College. This was the stepping stone that led her to achieve higher collegiate coaching goals. Since 2016 she has been in the role of Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at North Carolina A&T State University.
As Newman has continued to learn from various collegiate and club volleyball coaches throughout her career, she has gained the understanding that fundamental skill development of young athletes is the cornerstone of elevating the sport. The more attention that is given to developing our youth, the more well-rounded athletes we will have throughout all levels of the sport. Athletic development is a process and with time, commitment, drive, and passion, anything is possible. Newman is excited to be starting this new chapter at Volleyballer Training Academy.
Coach Ariel's Volleyball Resume:
High School (2003-2007)
- Broke the school record for the most kills in a season as a freshman
- A four-year letterwinner at Southern Guilford HS in Greensboro, N.C.
- Four-time North State all-conference player
- Two-time Mid-Piedmont 3-A Conference player of the Year.
- Conference player of the year honors as a sophomore and senior
- MVP of the conference tournament as a freshman and senior
- Named to the all-area team by the Greensboro News & Record
- Selected as team captain her senior season.
College (VCU (07’-08’) then transferred to UNCG(09’- 12’)
- 4 year starter as an Outside Hitter at both Universities
- Played 6 rotations at both Universities
- Earned multiple all-tournament team awards
- Led VCU to 2007 CAA semifinals
- Led UNCG to 2010 SoCon Quarterfinals
School and AAU Coaching Career ( Middle - High School)
- Coached for Piedmont VBC (09’-20’)
- Head Coach for Greensboro Panthers (12’-14’)
- Trained all positions and levels
- Led Panthers Varsity program to win Championships back to back
- Led 15 Elite to Capitol Hill Championship win
College Coaching Career (2015-2021)
- Assistant Coach at Guilford College (15’-16’)
- Assistant Head Coach at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (16’-21’)
- Recognized as VolleyBallMag Under 40 Coaching HotShots (2020)
- Helped N.C A&T win the MEAC 2020 Championship Game
- Participated in the 2020 NCAA Tournament
- Participated in the 2019 and 2021 National Invitational Volleyball Championships Tournament (NIVC)
- Helped players win conference all tournament team and player awards (2016-2021)
- Recruiting and Travel Coordinator
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Co-Founder, Director of Operations
Jocelyn Drye is a native of Burlington, NC. She and her husband, Josh have raised two high level volleyball athletes and Jocelyn feels that she knows the volleyball world best as a parent. As her two daughters have grown into athletes, an enormous amount of time and dedication has been put into their volleyball development, as they have both competed at the national club volleyball level for top teams in NC, and have both gone through the collegiate recruiting process.
Maddy, her oldest played one season collegiately at App State University, before deciding to focus exclusively on her her double major in Packaging Design and Cross Media Production. Ava, her youngest daughter has committed to play Division I volleyball at Towson University in Maryland, starting in the fall of 2025. Jocelyn's family has spent countless weekends at club volleyball tournaments all over the United States in the past 8 years. This 2024-25 season will be her ninth and final season as a club volleyball mom!
Jocelyn's idea for Volleyballer Training Academy came to her during the years when her daughters were younger and wanting to get extra training to improve their skills. Her concept was a volleyball specific training facility that focused on the development of volleyball skills, mental performance, and confidence through a strong female leadership model. Coach Ariel was Maddy's 18U coach and that is how Volleyballer was born!
Jocelyn remembers what it was like to have an athletic 12 year old daughter who had never touched a volleyball before, but wanted to learn fast. She understands what it takes to get a young athlete from "newbie" to "excelling on the court" and why having quality training opportunities available to them is vital to their development.
Jocelyn also understands the tremendous value of the life skills that are taught through the sport, and thinks that is just as important as the physical skills that they learn. Her passion is helping young girls grow and progress in a fun and healthy way. She is looking forward to helping other families and athletes through Volleyballer Training Academy.
Jocelyn has a background in entrepreneurship, marketing and design and has been a small business owner for over 18 years. Her former business, Journey Lockets, was a national jewelry brand that was sold in stores across the US for 12 years. She currently serves at the Director of Operations for VTA and handles the behind the scenes business duties, plus marketing and communication.
Maddy, her oldest played one season collegiately at App State University, before deciding to focus exclusively on her her double major in Packaging Design and Cross Media Production. Ava, her youngest daughter has committed to play Division I volleyball at Towson University in Maryland, starting in the fall of 2025. Jocelyn's family has spent countless weekends at club volleyball tournaments all over the United States in the past 8 years. This 2024-25 season will be her ninth and final season as a club volleyball mom!
Jocelyn's idea for Volleyballer Training Academy came to her during the years when her daughters were younger and wanting to get extra training to improve their skills. Her concept was a volleyball specific training facility that focused on the development of volleyball skills, mental performance, and confidence through a strong female leadership model. Coach Ariel was Maddy's 18U coach and that is how Volleyballer was born!
Jocelyn remembers what it was like to have an athletic 12 year old daughter who had never touched a volleyball before, but wanted to learn fast. She understands what it takes to get a young athlete from "newbie" to "excelling on the court" and why having quality training opportunities available to them is vital to their development.
Jocelyn also understands the tremendous value of the life skills that are taught through the sport, and thinks that is just as important as the physical skills that they learn. Her passion is helping young girls grow and progress in a fun and healthy way. She is looking forward to helping other families and athletes through Volleyballer Training Academy.
Jocelyn has a background in entrepreneurship, marketing and design and has been a small business owner for over 18 years. Her former business, Journey Lockets, was a national jewelry brand that was sold in stores across the US for 12 years. She currently serves at the Director of Operations for VTA and handles the behind the scenes business duties, plus marketing and communication.
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Lead Trainer + Elite Setting Coach
Tara Farmer is a lead trainer at Volleyballer. She is also the current JV and Varsity Volleyball coach at Burlington Christian Academy, 2022 TRI-TAAC Conference Winners.
Tara was a four-year starter for Division I Big East member Seton Hall University, and holds records in blocking and hitting percentage.
Tara then moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to earn her Master's Degree, while coaching for Club South (now Upward Stars) and acting as the head coach at Converse College (Division II).
After she finished her education, she began her eight years of lead assistant coaching at Wofford College (Division I), while coaching various successful club teams aged 14’s-16’s for Club South (now Upward Stars).
Tara is married to Edgar Farmer, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Elon University, and mom to Kalan and Kieryn.
Tara was a four-year starter for Division I Big East member Seton Hall University, and holds records in blocking and hitting percentage.
Tara then moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to earn her Master's Degree, while coaching for Club South (now Upward Stars) and acting as the head coach at Converse College (Division II).
After she finished her education, she began her eight years of lead assistant coaching at Wofford College (Division I), while coaching various successful club teams aged 14’s-16’s for Club South (now Upward Stars).
Tara is married to Edgar Farmer, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Elon University, and mom to Kalan and Kieryn.
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Lead Trainer
I am originally from Greenville, NC. I began playing volleyball in the third grade and have been hooked since. I played throughout middle and high school, on both school and travel teams. At DH Conley High School, I had the opportunity to play on the varsity team all four years as an outside hitter. While there, I helped lead the team through tournament runs, as well as led the team in kills both my junior and senior years. I also played at East Carolina Junior Volleyball club for seven seasons. During my time there, I had the privilege of playing on the highest-level team for my age group each year. After high school, I earned an athletic and academic scholarship and attended Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC where I continued my volleyball career at the collegiate level for four seasons. During my time there, I played as an outside hitter and helped lead the team to a conference tournament championship and the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament in 2021.
My love for the game has led me to coach in various settings. I have coached travel teams at East Carolina Junior Volleyball Club in Greenville, NC and at Carolina Select in Hickory, NC. At both clubs I coached middle school teams and found a passion for teaching young players the game of volleyball. I have also coached clinics for all ages and levels of volleyball. Through coaching, I have enjoyed the mentorship of working with young athletes and watching them grow both on and off the court.
Right now, I am working on my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Elon University and plan to graduate in December 2025. I have not been at Volleyballer Training Academy long, but have enjoyed every second so far, have built amazing relationships with the other coaches, and have enjoyed watching the girls grow in this amazing sport.
Coach Alannah’s Volleyball Resume
High School (2014-2018)
My love for the game has led me to coach in various settings. I have coached travel teams at East Carolina Junior Volleyball Club in Greenville, NC and at Carolina Select in Hickory, NC. At both clubs I coached middle school teams and found a passion for teaching young players the game of volleyball. I have also coached clinics for all ages and levels of volleyball. Through coaching, I have enjoyed the mentorship of working with young athletes and watching them grow both on and off the court.
Right now, I am working on my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Elon University and plan to graduate in December 2025. I have not been at Volleyballer Training Academy long, but have enjoyed every second so far, have built amazing relationships with the other coaches, and have enjoyed watching the girls grow in this amazing sport.
Coach Alannah’s Volleyball Resume
High School (2014-2018)
- 4-year varsity player at DH Conley HS in Greenville, NC
- Team MVP in 2017, leading the team in kills
- All-Conference Selection in 2016 and 2017
- Above the Net Award in 2016, leading the team in kills
- Carolina Region MVP and All-Tournament Selection – 2015 Region Championship
- 4 seasons as an outside hitter
- Helped lead LR volleyball to a conference tournament championship and the NCAA Sweet 16 for Division II College Volleyball
- East Carolina Junior Volleyball Club coach (2018)
- Carolina Select Volleyball Club (2019)
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Lead Trainer
Kayla is known for her strong work ethic, dedication to teamwork, and passion for the game. She comes from a family of athletes and she knew from a young age she wanted to play at the collegiate level. She played her first four years at MSU Denver where she was name Academic Player of the Year and All RMAC First Team (2021). Additionally, after transferring to UNCG to finish her fifth year, she was named SoCon Player of the Year, All-American Third Team, and Academic All American 2021. She has served as a mentor to younger players, emphasizing the importance of resilience and sportsmanship. Off the court, she is actively involved in community service initiatives and promotes youth sports in her hometown.
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