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!
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!
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
Co-Founder, Director of Operations & Communication
Jocelyn Drye is a native of Burlington, NC. She is the mother of two volleyball athletes. 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.
She remembers what it's like to have a 12 year old daughter who has never touched a volleyball before, but wants to learn. 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 through Volleyballer Training Academy.
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. Jocelyn has a background in entrepreneurship, marketing and design and has been a small business owner for over 18 years. She currently serves at the Director of Operations for VTA and handles program scheduling, marketing and parent communication.
She remembers what it's like to have a 12 year old daughter who has never touched a volleyball before, but wants to learn. 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 through Volleyballer Training Academy.
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. Jocelyn has a background in entrepreneurship, marketing and design and has been a small business owner for over 18 years. She currently serves at the Director of Operations for VTA and handles program scheduling, marketing and parent communication.
Meredith Beasley is a native of Mebane, NC. Meredith enjoyed many sports growing up from volleyball, basketball, to swimming. She attended Eastern Alamance and played for Triangle Volleyball club. Volleyball introduced her to so many lifelong friends and coaches, and her competitive spirit is still alive today as she has continued coaching the sport that has been apart of her life for so many years.
After high school and travel ball, Meredith continued her playing career at North Carolina Wesleyan College. Meredith was also named to the USA South All-Conference team during all four years of her career. Beasley would go on to finish her career with 1,337 kills to rank 2nd all-time at Wesleyan in career kills while she ranks third in career attack attempts with 3,632. Smith is also 5th on the school list in total attempts in a season with 1,027 during her junior year in 2011.
Upon graduation Meredith knew she wanted to get into the coaching world. She coached with Piedmont Volleyball Club from 2013-2020. She enjoyed being a positive light and role model to the upcoming student athletes. In the fall of 2014 Beasley became the Assistant Volleyball Coach for the Pride at Greensboro College (Division III) for two seasons. In 2016 Meredith joined the staff at Catawba College (Division II)for one season.
Meredith currently works for First Savings & Loan Association in Mebane, NC. She and her husband Will just welcomed their first baby girl Parker, in 2020. Meredith enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and going to the beach. She is very excited to help with clinics here in the community that she grew up in.
After high school and travel ball, Meredith continued her playing career at North Carolina Wesleyan College. Meredith was also named to the USA South All-Conference team during all four years of her career. Beasley would go on to finish her career with 1,337 kills to rank 2nd all-time at Wesleyan in career kills while she ranks third in career attack attempts with 3,632. Smith is also 5th on the school list in total attempts in a season with 1,027 during her junior year in 2011.
Upon graduation Meredith knew she wanted to get into the coaching world. She coached with Piedmont Volleyball Club from 2013-2020. She enjoyed being a positive light and role model to the upcoming student athletes. In the fall of 2014 Beasley became the Assistant Volleyball Coach for the Pride at Greensboro College (Division III) for two seasons. In 2016 Meredith joined the staff at Catawba College (Division II)for one season.
Meredith currently works for First Savings & Loan Association in Mebane, NC. She and her husband Will just welcomed their first baby girl Parker, in 2020. Meredith enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and going to the beach. She is very excited to help with clinics here in the community that she grew up in.
Tara Farmer is 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 (9) and Kieryn (7).
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 (9) and Kieryn (7).
