Our staff features exceptional people: teachers, educators, mentors, positive thinkers, and experienced volleyball minds. Our coaches share a deep passion for volleyball and view athletics as a vehicle by which many of life's lessons can be learned. We encourage you to read about our people, both here at LAVA Ventura ("VC") and also our LAVA staff as a whole.
KIM MACHNIC
CLUB DIRECTOR
Formerly of Blue Crush Volleyball Club in Ventura, long-time Ventura County coaching fixture Kim took the reins of Lava Ventura in June of 2021, bringing her distinct brand of enthusiasm and coaching acumen to her role as leader. Kim stated goal in coaching is "for love of the game, for the children, and for the community" and she infuses that passion for volleyball and the families and athletes she works with into everything she does.
(email) kimmachnic.lava@gmail.com
(cell) 805-701-9792
JUNIOR MOSONES
Long-time girls club volleyball coach Junior Mosones is one of the most highly regarded coaches in the Ventura County area with deep ties to the local volleyball community. He is well-known as one of the finest technical coaches in the area and returns once again to Lava Ventura for the coming season.
MAU VALOAGA
One name always seems to come up when people are talking about popular and impressive coaches in Ventura: Mau Valoaga. With more than a decade of coaching under his belt in the Ventura County volleyball community, Mau is one of the most well-liked and successful coaches in the area.
JESSICA GROGG
Blue Crush alumna Jessica Grogg ('16) returned to her alma mater club to coach as soon as she graduated high school and followed her long-time coach Kim Machnic to Lava Ventura with the rest of her Blue Crush coaching staff. Jessica is a home-grown talent from Pacific High School and Moorpark College, and brings all of the passion she has for coaching to the fore as she passes it along to the next generation.
CANDACE BIBB
Home-grown local volleyball standout Candace Bibb has been with Lava Ventura since the club's inception. A product of Santa Paula High School, she returned to her alma mater as is now currently the Head Varsity Girls Coach. Candace has coached multiple age groups for Lava Ventura, as well as run the Youth Lite and Juniors Programs.
CASSIDY SIMENTAL
Pacifica High School volleyball standout Cassidy Simental has been a fixture on the playing and coaching circuit of Ventura County for more than a decade. She has played and coached at the club, high school, and college levels and is a valuable member of the Lava Ventura coaching staff!
REBECCA SEXTON
MANNY DE LA HUERTA
Manny De La Huerta is one of our excellent returning LAVA Ventura coaches. His full bio is coming soon.
BRAD LYANS
MASTER COACH
Brad Lyans is one of the finest volleyball coaching minds in Southern California and the Head Coach of the Ventura College Women's Volleyball Program. Brad has built an impressive résumé with nearly two decades of coaching at the club and college levels. Brad is the Master Coach for Lava Ventura.
BOB HEULSKAMP
Bob Heulskamp joins the LAVA Ventura coaching staff for the first time this coming season and we are thrilled to have him on board. His full bio is coming soon.
MARKETA HEULSKAMP
Marketa Huelskamp is one of the most respected volleyball figures in the Ventura County community. A native of the Czech Republic, Marketa found volleyball at a young age, playing club volleyball in Europe at ten years old. She played professionally overseas before relocating to Southern California and swiftly making her mark as an experienced and very talented coach. Her daughter Anika is one of the best players in Ventura County, as well, and plays for Lava West in Thousand Oaks!
STEVE "YOSH" YOSHIMOTO
FOUNDING MEMBER - RETIRED
Steve "Yosh" Yoshimoto is one of the great volleyball community figures in Ventura County, having found immense success as a high school and club indoor and beach coach over many years of excellent service. Yosh was the founder of Ventura County Volleyball Club (VCVC), and after years of quality achievements joined forces with LAVA to form LAVA VC. In fall of 2020, Yosh hung up his clipboard and retired from coaching. We wish him all the best!