Bill Hitchcock, director
Bill has been involved in club volleyball for fifteen years as a fan, parent, coach, and now as Director of Ignite Volleyball Academy. He has coached middle and high school athletes for the past 10 years and stresses the fundamentals while working hard to ensure that each athlete improves while having fun. Bill gives back to the community by volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club and other community outreach programs. He enjoys spending his downtime hanging out with his wife and four adult kids.
ali hitchcock, managing director
Head Coach 16-Red
Ali’s love for volleyball started as a player in the 7th grade. From there, she played through High School and started volunteer coaching during her Junior Year. In 2016, Ali coached the Varsity squad at Lake Washington High School before deciding to commit to creating Ignite Volleyball Academy alongside her dad, Bill. Since the inception of Ignite in 2017, Ali has been an integral part of coaching and growing the club. She is passionate not only about teaching the skills of the game but also about being a positive role model in the lives of young athletes.
marsha poischbeg, director of coaching & recruiting
Head Coach 18-Red
Marsha brings over 11 years of coaching experience to her role with Ignite. A former setter, Marsha played for Everett CC before transferring to Northwest Christian University to play another couple of years in Eugene, OR, where she graduated with her Bachelors in Exercise Science. As a coach, Marsha is dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential on and off the court. She works closely with athletes to navigate the college recruiting process, providing guidance and mentorship to those aiming to play at the next level. Marsha has helped numerous athletes continue their volleyball journeys into college. Marsha’s coaching philosophy is centered around hard work, discipline, and fostering a supportive, welcoming environment where athletes feel empowered to grow. She takes pride in helping athletes thrive as they transition to the next steps in their athletic and academic careers.
emily dittoe
Assistant Coach 18-Red
This season will be Emily’s third year coaching with Ignite, with prior experience coaching at other clubs in the area and the High School setting. Emily’s coaching philosophy is to create a safe environment that encourages and motivates players to work together to meet individual and team goals. She works hard to instill confidence in her players by helping them see their strengths while emphasizing that there is always room for improvement.
kristi eisenkraft
Head Coach 17-Red
Kristi fell in love with volleyball when she started playing in middle school. She played at Everett High School and in college at Concordia University in Portland, OR. Kristi has been consistently coaching for the last 16 years. Kristi coaches 8th grade at North Middle School, JV at Everett High, and is in her third season with Ignite. Outside the gym, Kristi has spent the last 7 years as a math teacher at Everett High School. Her favorite thing about teaching and coaching is seeing kids realize their potential. Kristi loves coaching and teaching students and feels so fortunate that she gets to do this for “work”. Kristi has two adult sons and enjoys spending time with her husband and family.
brooklyn johnson
Head Coach 16-White
Brooklyn is an Everett High School alumni who played volleyball all 4 years at EHS and received 2nd team “All Wesco” after her senior season. Brooklyn went on to play at Skagit Community College, receiving the MVP award in NWAC. Brooklyn also earned 2nd Team All-American for Jucos and continued her volleyball journey at Saint Martin’s University as a setter before coming to Ignite to coach. Brooklyn is in her third season with Ignite, sharing her love of the game and positivity with our high school athletes.
Stephanie Kuhn
Co-Head Coach 15-White
Before joining Ignite, Stephanie spent six years on the staff of the Lake Washington High School Volleyball team, including the final three as Varsity Head Coach. In 2015, she became the Head Volleyball Coach at Lake Washington and was awarded "Kingco Coach of the Year.” From 2013-2016, she coached at Nevillizms (Bill Neville's volleyball training facility in Bellevue). Her coaching philosophy is to create a positive, fun, and competitive environment where everyone involved is encouraged to always give their best effort and winning is simply the result of a great program.
kayla blair
Co-Head Coach 15-White
Kayla is an inspiring coach who loves bringing together athletes and creating a fun team. Kayla grew up in Snohomish playing volleyball, graduated from Snohomish High School, and played high school and club volleyball. She is a kindergarten teacher and also has spent the last six seasons as the C-Team Coach at Everett High School.
sarah gregarek
Head Coach 14-Red
Before joining Ignite, Sarah began her volleyball career at the age of 8 with the Boys & Girls Club. Growing up in Snohomish, she had the opportunity to play for LAKE Volleyball Club and Snohomish Valley Volleyball Club. She spent her free time playing high school or club volleyball and fell in love with the sport. She plays on adult leagues indoor and on the beach and has been teaching private clinics and lessons. She is excited and eager to coach Ignite this year!
madi solis
Head Coach 14-White
Madi started coaching club volleyball in 2016, and throughout her rewarding journey coaching, Madi’s favorite part is teaching the fundamentals of volleyball and witnessing each athlete’s growth over the season. Madi has played volleyball since her middle school years and continues to play today in adult leagues and tournaments. She is excited to coach her second season with Ignite this year!
charlie thomas
Assistant Coach 13-Red
Charlie is an Ignite VBA Alumni player who is coaching her first season with us! Charlie is an incredible setter who graduated from Lynnwood High School in 2024. Charlie and her high school varsity team placed 3rd in the WIAA 3A State Tournament in her senior year season. We are excited to have Charlie as the U13 assistant coach this year!
Heather turner
Head Coach 12-White
Heather has been coaching for numerous years at all levels of the game; from Boys & Girls Club to Middle & High school levels as well as at the last several years with Ignite. Every time she steps onto the court, Heather exudes an unmatched passion for the game. She loves helping all her athletes reach their volleyball goals and has successfully helped several athletes get recruited to play in college. Heather is the Everett High School Varsity Coach and also coaches 7th Grade at North Middle School.
gracie minks
Assistant Coach 12-White
Gracie assisted U14 Red last season and is excited to coach another season with Ignite! Gracie loves to find adult open gyms to play in, and having fun with people enjoying the sport together! During her free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, listening to music, and playing video games. She loves going to the University of Washington volleyball matches during their season! As an assistant coach, she enjoys taking stats at tournaments, watching film, communicating with parents, helping plan and implement practices, encouraging the girls, and creating a positive atmosphere for the athletes to perform in.
Bill Neville, Advisor & clinician
Bill has coached since 1967 and has been on the coaching staff of both the US and Canadian National Teams. He has been on the coaching staff at three Olympics, winning gold in 1984, and coached at the collegiate level, including at the UW, for many years. He has worked closely with other legends, such as Karch Kiraly and has become a volleyball legend himself. Bill works closely with our staff in shaping our club philosophy and coordinating clinics during the season.
