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Meet Ava Liss

Director of Shockwave Volleyball Club

Hello everyone! My name is Ava Liss, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Director of Shockwave Volleyball Club!

A little about me — I have been coaching volleyball for the past five years, working with athletes ranging in age from 7 to 18. Coaching has become a huge part of my life, and I truly enjoy helping athletes learn, grow, and become more confident both on and off the court.

Before becoming a coach, I was an athlete myself. I played volleyball for nine years, primarily as a libero and setter. I continued my volleyball career at UW–Whitewater Rock County, where I had the opportunity to play alongside my co-director, Evelyn Russell.

After playing volleyball through middle school, high school, and college, I found a new passion in coaching. Coaching has given me the opportunity to give back to a sport that has taught me so much throughout my life.

Volleyball is more than just a sport to me. It teaches athletes how to work as a team, communicate, overcome challenges, handle adversity, and believe in themselves. Those are lessons that can carry over into every part of life.

My goal with Shockwave is to create an environment where athletes feel supported, challenged, and valued. I want every athlete who comes through our program to have the opportunity to improve their skills, build confidence, make lasting connections, and continue to love the game of volleyball.

I am incredibly excited for what we are building with Shockwave Volleyball Club and cannot wait to meet all of our athletes and families. I look forward to helping athletes become not only better volleyball players, but also stronger, more confident young people.

Meet Evelyn Russell

Hi, I’m Evelyn! I’m excited to be co-directing Shockwave Volleyball Club with Ava and helping athletes grow both on and off the court!

I’ve been playing volleyball for 12 years, primarily as a libero, and have spent the past three years coaching boys and girls at both the club and high school levels. I’ve also helped out at several camps at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where I’ve had the opportunity to help develop young athletes and share my love for the game.

As both a player and a coach, I understand the importance of hard work, communication, teamwork, and having a strong mindset. I love sharing my passion for volleyball with the next generation of athletes and helping them discover what they’re capable of achieving.

My goal is to develop confident, hardworking athletes who compete with intensity, support their teammates, and understand that success comes from commitment, trust, and putting in the work every day.

I’m excited to help lead a program that prioritizes player development, a competitive mindset, and a standard of excellence both on and off the court. I look forward to being part of each athlete’s journey and helping them grow not only as volleyball players, but also as individuals!