Coaching Staff

Executive Director AJ Egli has coached club since 1998 and started United Volleyball Club of the Rockies in 2012. The success of United speaks for itself: 31 players have signed to play college volleyball in the last 5 seasons. United Beach has averaged 7 teams to Beach Nationals over the past 3 seasons, with two teams finishing 5th in the nation last July.

AJ has a passion for volleyball and has mentored many coaches and countless young ladies. He is CAP II Accredited in the USA Volleyball High Performance Program, Beach Nation Coaching Program, IMPACT Certified, and currently is an NCAA College Volleyball Referee.

In 2021, AJ's United 17 National team advanced into the Gold Medal Round at every USA Volleyball event they attended and were in the Championship Match twice.

He has been married for 31 years to his lovely wife, Jennifer. They have a son, Zachary. Email AJ

Director of Coaching Rick Reynolds coached at Idaho State (D1) for four years and had a 69-58 record and in conference, the Bengals boasted a winning percentage of 64.7% (44-24). He had six players earn first-team all-conference honors and six players earn second-team all-conference recognition. His team advanced to the tournament title game in 2015.

Prior to Idaho State, Rick had a stellar career at Western Wyoming Community College (NJCAA). In his seven years, he led the team to a 197-87 record. He won the Conference Championships twice. His team finished third in the nation in 2010 and second in the nation in 2011.

Rick was voted Coach of the Year in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013. He produced six NJCAA All-Americans, five AVCA All-Americans, and five NJCAA National Championship All-Tournament members.

Prior to his time at Western Wyoming, Reynolds spent three years at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he coached two All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie Team members, one CAA Player of the Week and two CAA Rookie of the Week award winners.

Reynolds is married to his lovely wife, Brenna and has three daughters, Keylee, Kaysen and Kyndal. Email Rick

Board Member Dennis Sunderland developed a passion for volleyball while serving in Air Force for 23 years. He has been playing indoor, outdoor- doubles, 4-man, grass and beach since 1988.

Highlights include Air Force USAFE Champions 1988, second place AMC Championship 1995; Several top 3 finishes in regional men’s open tournaments 1991-1998. Base Level Setter from 1994-2000. He has played tournaments in seven different countries. His coaching experience includes: Air Force Squadron Coach from 1993-2010 with two Base Championships, never finishing below 5th place, ever.

In 2017-19, Dennis was the Colorado Mesa University Head Coach for the Men's and Women's Club Programs. In 2017, his CMU Men's team finished 5th in the Region.

Email Dennis

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

Coach Jason Obreque has played both the Setter and Libero positions with different teams at different levels of play from high school through collegiate winning many championships along the way. He developed his love for the game at a very young age from his father and has continued to surround himself with the game in one way or another. In 2007, Jason was a libero / setter practice player for the Argentinan National Team.

“I love that moment when one of your players pulls off a play that we have been practicing, in a game, and looks over to you on the bench with a huge smile as if to say “Nailed it”; makes all the hard work, time and effort put in, worth it.”

This year, Jason is the United VBC Lead in Glenwood Springs. Email Jason

Coach Jennifer Dority comes to us with a lot of experience both on and off the court. She played Middle Blocker at NCAA D1 Bradley University in Peoria, IL from 1994-1998.

Jenn was Asst Coach at Roaring Fork High School for three seasons. Roaring Fork was a State contender in two of those years. Jenn became Head Coach from 2013-2015. In 2016, she stepped down to make United a higher priority.

Jenn started her coaching career with United as a Middle Blocker Coach in 2015. Since then she has head coached 13s, 14s, and 15s teams in Glenwood. Email Jenn

Coach Asia Arellano is new to United and will be coaching 14-2 in Glenwood. This is my first time coaching with United and I am looking forward to having my own team and to help grow their volleyball skills!

I am from Southern California where I played 4 years of high school volleyball and during the off season played club. I have had the opportunity of learning from many different coaches during my time of 4 seasons of club volleyball. I hope to bring my knowledge and help grow this upcoming team’s abilities and passion for this sport! Email Asia

GRAND JUNCTION

Coaches Michelle and Wyatt Smith met because of volleyball and have continued to play, officiate, and coach ever since. They have three adult-ish children: Lukas, Jessica, and Katie, all played college soccer. Katie is now playing professionally.

Michelle played college volleyball as a setter and opposite hitter. Currently, she is a USA Volleyball National Official and Trainer. Wyatt would play anywhere on the court they would put him. He put his defensive skills to work later in life when he took up soccer.

As coaches, they want to help their players get better technically and raise their volleyball IQ. Play hard and have fun! This year, Michelle and Wyatt are coaching United's 13-1 team. Michelle is the Lead for 14s and 13s age group in GJ.

Email Michelle

Coach Lindsay Clayton was a setter and outside in HS in New Mexico, which turned into playing for two seasons on the Adams State College volleyball team in Alamosa.

Lindsay began her coaching career in Shiprock, New Mexico in 2010 as the JV coach for the Lady Chieftains, and ended the 2011 season as the head varsity coach.

Relocating to Grand Junction brought a new focus, and Lindsay coached at Central High School from 2012-2015, manning the freshman squad. Lindsay is now the Head VB Coach at Caprock Academy and is the MS Dean at Caprock Academy. Lindsay is the United VBC Lead for the 12s age group in GJ - there are 4 teams this year.

Email Lindsay

Coach Nick Hazlewood and Ashley Emery - Nick is the 14-1 Head Coach with his long time partner, Ashley Emery as Assistant. Nick has coached for United since 2017 and has coached 14s, 16s and 17s. In 2017, he was as an Asst to the United 17 National Team that finished 5th at the Crossroads Nat'l Qualifier.

In 2018, Nick coached an 18s Beach Team of Kassie Luce and Cambell Atkins to a Gold Medal Round in Siesta Key, FL at USA VB Beach Nationals. This is the first year United finished in the Gold Medal Round at Nationals.

Nick and Ashley run the 14-12s United Beach Program and last July at USA VB Beach Nationals, they had three teams in the Gold Medal Round finishing with two 5ths and one 9th in the nation! The best of any Beach Club in Colorado.

Ashley Emery played for United (Glenwood Springs) for four years, and signed to play college vb in Vermont. She is currently finishing her Bachelors at CMU. Ashley plays middle on the CMU Womens Club VB team.

Nick is the Head Coach for the Colorado Mesa University's Club Womens Program. Email Nick and Ashley

Coach Ian Leui is a new addition to the coaching staff. During his playing career, he played high school volleyball for all 4 years in his hometown of Carson, CA where he was a middle blocker and had a varsity record of 64-24-1. He won the Division 1 City Section title in his senior year and was runner-up for the Division 3 State Title that same year. He then went on to play club volleyball for the University of California, San Diego as a setter. The team was undefeated and ranked 8th in the nation prior to the season ending prematurely due to COVID-19, bringing Coach Ian to Grand Junction!

Most recently, Ian coached at Grand Junction High School where he is the JV Head Coach. In his first year, he coached the Tigers to an 11-7 season (a major turnaround from the team's previous 1-16 record). He takes major inspiration from LBSU Coach Alan Knipe's brand of volleyball and the idea of always striving to get "1-2% better." This year at United, he has very high aspirations and believes there is a great group of athletes that are going to do a great deal of improving over the course of the season. Email Ian

Coach Shaylee Ten Eyck is new to the coaching world, but not to volleyball. She has been playing and watching volleyball for nearly 20 years. She played setter in high school and club and took pride in being a leader and role model for her peers. She was named to the UHSAA 3A Volleyball Academic All-State team and graduated salutatorian of her high school class in 2010. Shaylee earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Creighton University in 2016 and now works as a Clinical Pharmacist at the VA.

Shaylee enjoys being a smiling face on the sideline for her players. One of the biggest reasons she became a coach is because of the valuable life lessons learned through playing volleyball. Our time on the court may come to an end, but the lessons learned will stick with us for life.

When Shaylee’s not at the United Facility, she likes to spend time with her husband, Seth, and their 2 dogs, Loki & Winnie.

Email Shaylee