Club Shoreline Volleyball Club

Sissy Nilssen, Club Director

Sissy was first introduced to volleyball in Jr. High where Beth Kinns taught her how to over hand serve. She was hooked on the sport every since and armed with a tough float serve.

Sissy continued playing volleyball at Mondovi High School, Mondovi, WI where she was awarded Honorable Mention her junior year, 1985 and All Conference her senior year, 1986. She led in her division with most ace serves. She also played two years at Chippewa Valley College, WI.

Sissy moved to Santa Cruz in 1988 and played recreational indoor and beach volleyball. In 1996 she entered her first California Beach Volleyball Association tournament. Sissy’s persistence and hard work earned her an AAA beach rating eight consecutive seasons and winning four AAA tournament events. She continues to play and learn the beach game.

Sissy’s coaching experience includes two seasons at both Aptos Jr. High and at the Aptos Junior Varsity level. While at Aptos Jr. High she lead her 8th grade team to an undefeated season in 2004 and her J.V. team to undefeated season in 2005.

Sissy founded Club Shoreline Volleyball in 2005 to bring an alternative club experience in the Santa Cruz Area. Her vision is to offer players an opportunity to play club volleyball while offering balance in all areas of their life. Sissy has coached six seasons with the club including a team finish of 14th out of 82 teams in 2008, a finish of 2nd out of 89 teams in 2009 and a finish of 4th out of 78 teams in 2010, in the 18’s NCVA Area League Division.

Sissy has a true passion for both coaching and playing volleyball. “I believe this game has an opportunity to teach many life lessons; confidence, how to be a team player, discipline…and much more" When she is away from the game, she enjoys her family, her home and getting the most out of life.

“People will forget what you say, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou

Eric Pauly

Eric was born in Los Angeles, CA and introduced to volleyball at a young age by his parents. After moving to the bay area at age 10, Eric played club volleyball for 8 straight years. During that time, he set for several top teams in Northern California, including his last two years on Bay to Bay as the starting setter. In high school, Eric played for three years on Varsity as a setter and won three Central Coast Section Championships at Bellarmine College Preparatory.

Currently, Eric attends the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) in his 4th year as an undergraduate Psychology major. Just this last year, Eric assisted the UCSC men’s volleyball team to the Division III finals as the starting libero. Eric has also played competitive beach volleyball for the last five years, four of which have been as a top 10 AAA player in California.

Eric’s future plans consist of pursuing further education as a graduate and continuing his growth as an indoor volleyball coach. He plans to use his educational experience as a way to help young athletes develop mentally and emotionally, as well as athletically, to achieve personal confidence in sports and life.

Jen Bryan

Jen earned her B.S. in Exercise Physiology at UC Davis in 1996. She played college volleyball at Davis for four years and coached for the Davis Volleyball Club for two years. She received her teaching credentials in Biology and Physical Education from San Diego State University in 2000.

Jen has been teaching and coaching at Aptos High School for ten years and is now in her first year at Aptos Junior High teaching Life Science and PE. She is currently in her 8th year as the varsity coach at Aptos High, winning five league titles from 2003-2009.

Jen coached last year for Shoreline’s 14’s and has coached three previous seasons for Shoreline.

Jen’s hobbies include traveling, camping, snowboarding, tennis, and, of course, playing volleyball. She now plays at the beach and currently has a AA rating in the sand.

David Werdmuller

David Werdmuller currently works in Capitola at New Brighton Middle School teaching 7th and 8th grade Humanities. "I just had to go back, back to my first love…teaching. Simply put, I love what I do!" Prior to this transition, David served as an effective and innovative leader of an elementary school in the capacity as both vice principal and principal for several years. Affectionately known by the teens as "Mr. Dubs", David guides his students in their maturation process by creating an atmosphere in which character building, effective work ethic and inner strength training lie at the core of every discussion, activity and lesson.

David has coached both Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball at New Brighton Middle School. Highlights include reaching the division finals each year with the New Brighton Girls’ team, and going undefeated 2 years running with the Boys’ team, capping off each season with impressive wins over heavily favored Mt. Madonna in the finals. "My coaching style is just like my teaching style. Leadership principles do not change based on setting or circumstance -- We learn. We work. We reflect. Then, we celebrate!"

David first earned his AAA beach volleyball rating in 1997. Over the course of a decade he has placed 5th or better over 30 times and has made 15 appearances in sanctioned tournament finals. David has earned a top 25 AAA ranking by the CBVA for most of the years he has competed, including many top 10 rankings in the early 2000’s. More recently, after a 4 year long hiatus from beach volleyball due to injury, David and his partner Clint qualified for the Corona Light US Wide Open in Huntington Beach by winning the US Open Qualifier in Santa Cruz in July 2010 in the AA division.

David loves surfing with his 10 year old son Nate and watching his 8 year old daughter play soccer. It used to be a fairly common site to see David and Terri, his wife of 16 years, battling opponents on Main Beach. But now you’re more likely to see them battling the lines at the Home Depot or a local nursery as they both enjoy working on their home in Soquel in their spare time.

"I’m really excited about this upcoming season. Club Shoreline gives me the opportunity to share my experience on two things I love—teaching teens how to mature themselves and volleyball!"

"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player." —John Wooden.

Lily Denevan

Lily Denevan was born and raised in Santa Cruz. She first began playing volleyball in the 7th grade and quickly fell in love with the game. Lily attended Soquel High School, where she played as an outside hitter (OH) for four years. She began playing club volleyball at age 14, first for Santa Cruz Volleyball Club, then for Main Beach Volleyball Club. Lily’s last three years of club were spent on Club Shoreline’s 18’s team as an OH and she loved every minute of it.

Lily began coaching in 2008 as the assistant coach for New Brighton Middle School’s boys’ volleyball team. In addition, she was a coach at Main Beach Volleyball Camp and Mid-County Volleyball Camp in both 2008 and 2009, as well as with Shoreline Beach Club in summer 2010. This is Lily’s second year coaching for Club Shoreline. She is looking forward to working with the 14s this year, and she hopes to help her team be confident, motivated, fit, and have fun.

Lily is currently a junior Psychology major at the University of California at Santa Cruz. She hopes to become a teacher or to attend law school after she finishes her undergraduate work. In her spare time, Lily enjoys playing beach and intramural volleyball, reading, writing, drawing, cooking, and going on long bike rides. 

Kjell Nilssen, Shoreline Beach Club, Head Coach (Beginning/Intermediate) & Co-Coach (Intermediate/Advance)

Bio coming soon

Tate Walthall, Shoreline Beach Club Guest Instructor

Bio coming soon

Ilga Celmins, Shoreline Beach Club Guest Instructor

Ilga grew up in Maryland. She played volleyball in high school because there was no girls’ soccer team and tennis was a spring sport. She was given the award for “Best All Around Player” which was an omen of things to come.

After getting her B.S. in Chemical Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University, and making the trek to Virginia Beach as often as possible to play in the beach volleyball tournaments, Ilga moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB and study for her master’s degree in Chemical Engineering.

She soon hooked up with the local beach volleyball crowd and started playing more seriously. She rose to the 8th seed in the WPVA (the precursor to the AVP). More recently she played against Kerri Walsh and Misty May in the Hermosa Open in 2005 (and lost).

Ilga has held her "AAA" beach rating for over 20 years. Being a good "all around player" was/is very important in being able to achieve this.

Todd Hollenbeck, Shoreline Beach Club Co-Coach (Intermediate/Advance)

Todd Hollenbeck grew up Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He moved to Santa Cruz in 2008 to pursue coaching as a career. He is currently both the Men and Women's Assistant Volleyball Coach at U.C. Santa Cruz. Todd is also the Head Coach for the Bay-to-Bay Volleyball Club’s 17-2’s team.

Todd graduated from the University of the Pacific (UOP) in 2007 with a degree in Marketing. During his time at UOP, Todd played Division 1 volleyball for the Tigers as a middle blocker. In his senior year he received the “Most Inspirational Player” award. After college Todd traveled abroad to play professionally in Northern Germany.

Todd has been playing beach volleyball since the young age of 15. He is currently the #1 “AA” rated player in the CBVA. When he is not coaching indoors, Todd is training and coaching on the beach. Todd has run his own private beach clinics for the past year. He is currently training to qualify for the AVP tour.