Impacting the Capital Region

Our volunteers spend countless hours in the volleyball community to grow the game! We created this idea from a specific need. People from all over need 1 spot to find volleyball opportunities in the Capital Region of New York and beyond. We host scholarships for youth players to help them afford clubs, clinics, and camps. We hope that you will benefit from our work on this website. We would love to have you join Our Community.

$k Level Up Scholarship Dollars Raised
or more tournaments run annually
$k Dollars Raised for Charitable Causes
m Americans Play Volleyball, Join Us!

Our Team

Our team of volunteers consists of volleyball enthusiasts. Within this group we have former NCAA players and coaches, referees, and players at all levels in the volleyball community. Needless to say, we are a group of people who love this sport and this community. We hope to grow this lifetime sport larger than it was when we started.

To read our bios switch to list view.
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Alex Duncan

Volunteer/Staff

Coaching: Current Boys’ Varsity Coach at Guilderland High School and Assistant Men’s Coach at Russell Sage College

Playing: College player at Carnegie Mellon University. Still competitive in both the indoor & outdoor adult leagues and tournaments.

“The sport of volleyball has given me countless opportunities to meet and learn from so many remarkable individuals that I am lucky to now consider my friends. The people I’ve interacted with in the Albany Volleyball community have only strengthened my passion for this sport, and further motivate my interest in giving back both through my platforms as a coach, and in my work with Elevate OC”

Andy Mink

Founding Member

Coaching: Former NCAA DII Head Coach and DIII Assistant, Coaching Education Provider

Officiating: Current High School Referee

Playing: Indoor & Outdoor Player

“I have made many life long friends through volleyball. It has given me the opportunity to travel the world and gain new experiences.”

Angela Mink

Volunteer/Staff

Benjamin Rosenthal

Founding Member

Coaching: Union College Women’s Assistant Coach

Officiating: USAV National Official and National Scorer, Men’s and Women’s collegiate official, Men’s VLA Professional League Official.

Playing: Competitive volleyball for over 25 years at various levels both indoor and outdoor.

“I love running, playing, and officiating events throughout the region, catching up with my volleyball family, and meeting new people.  Our community is like a big family and it is great seeing family again, even if it has been years between events.”

Caitlyn Class

Volunteer/Staff

Coaching: Current Girl’s Varsity Head Coach at Lansingburgh High School and current NorthEast Thunder 17 Lightning Head Coach with experience in age groups 12u-18u.

Playing: Played DII at Russell Sage College. Still plays competitively both indoor and outdoor as well as local adult tournaments.

“Volleyball alone has always had a huge impact on my life. Being able to play and coach has introduced me to the most wonderful people that I am fortunate enough to consider my friends! My love for the sport along with the opportunities presented by ElevateOC and Albany Volleyball have given me the chance to dive into giving back to the volleyball community as much, if not more than it has given me. Being able to help run events, play in them, and rally others to enjoy all there is to offer has been nothing short of a privilege.”

Casey Brown

Volunteer/Staff

Playing: Many leagues indoor and outdoor and also a VLA athlete with the Adirondack Avalanche.

Coaching:

 

Chris Aiello

Volunteer/Staff

Kristen Gaudreau

Volunteer/Staff

Marc Agel

Founding Member

Coaching: Current NorthEast Thunder Juniors coach with experience at the adult, high school and college levels.

Playing: Former College player, current indoor and outdoor adult player in leagues and tournaments.

 

Sam Kubik

Volunteer/Staff

Coaching: Coached collegiately at the College of Saint Rose from 2019-2023 and for Sage men’s team 2022-2023 and coached at the club level as a setter specific training coach.

Playing: Many leagues indoor and outdoor and also a VLA athlete with the Adirondack Avalanche.

“My favorite thing about the Albany Volleyball community is the relationships I’ve fostered along the way that have developed into some really great friendships. There’s no better social circle than the one where you get to do exactly what you love with some great people.”

 

Shalani Stockton

Volunteer/Staff

Playing: Many leagues indoor and outdoor and also a VLA athlete with the Adirondack Avalanche.

“The local volleyball community has helped me create a home in upstate NY by helping me meet some of my closest friends and by providing year long activities through the numerous events. Being part of Elevate OC has given me the new opportunity to give back to this new community I call home and to the sport I love that has been such a formative part of my life.”