WC Elite Coaches
David Elkins
Coach David has been coaching volleyball for White Cross for over 15 years and has been co-commissioner of the rec league for the last 14 years. In 2018, he and Coach Ari co-coached the first ever White Cross Elite JVC team. David is from White Cross and has played in many co-ed leagues over the years as well as outdoor tournaments. White Cross used to have a super competitive co-ed adult league. David is also the Club Director.
Coach David is married and has two children. He, along with Coach Warren organize all youth sports for the Rec Center. David will be coaching our 12u & first ever boys team this season.
Warren Ray
Coach Warren has been coaching volleyball for over 15 years and has been co-commissioner of the rec league for the last 14 years. In 2018, he helped organized and create the White Cross Elite JVC. Warren is from White Cross and has played on many co-ed leagues over the years, as well as outdoor tournaments. White Cross used to have a super competitive co-ed adult league.
Warren is married and has two children, He, along with Coach David organize all youth sports for the Rec Center. Warren will be coaching one of our 18u teams this season.
Asha Barnes
Coach Asha began coaching at White Cross Recreation in 2019 and continued coaching with WC Elite JVC as the 12U coach for the 2020 season. Asha is from Mebane, NC and was a 4-year varsity player at Cedar Ridge High School. In addition to playing for her high school, Asha played travel volleyball for 10 seasons.
Fun fact about Coach Asha? Her favorite movie is “Superman: Into the Super-Verse”. She enjoys repeatedly listening to the Hamilton soundtrack (who doesn’t right??), traveling to new countries and learning how to play instruments. Asha is coaching our 15u Black team this season and will likely assist many other teams.
Lindsay Thompson
Coach Lindsay joined the White Cross Elite staff for the 21-22 season. This is Lindsay's 3rd season coaching for White Cross Elite. She grew up in White Cross and started playing volleyball in elementary school for WC! Lindsay played for Cape Fear Community College as a DS and also played at Cedar Ridge High School for 4 years. Lindsay has previously coached at East Coast Volleyball Club and AIM Volleyball. She was also the coach of Gravely Hill Middle School Coach in the 2019-20 season.
She play many years of Club Volleyball for Jammers VBC. Welcome home Coach Lindsay! Lindsay will be coaching one of our 18u teams this season.
Eric Dumain
Eric hails from Buffalo NY and started playing indoor and sand volleyball in the early 1980’s. He captained his AAU gold medal team in high school, and played setter, outside hitter and middle blocker throughout his college seasons at the University of Rochester.
Eric coached at the Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club (CHAVC) from 2012-2017, primarily coaching 15’s and 16’s National teams. Eric has also coach 2 seasons of Rec Ball at White Cross. This is Eric's 3rd season coaching for White Cross Elite. Watching young athletes become students of the game is one of the rewards of being a coach. Eric will be coaching our 16u Black team this season.
Aria Henry
Coach Ari has been coaching with White Cross Recreation since 2012. In 2018, she and Coach David co-coached the first-ever WC Elite JVC team. Ari is from Chapel Hill, NC and played middle blocker and outside hitter for her high school, Cedar Ridge High School, and for a travel volleyball club. After high school, Ari continued to play volleyball on several co-ed teams including intramurals during her time at UNC-CH and sand volleyball tournaments (and even won a couple of Championships with Coach Kylie!).
Fun fact about Coach Ari? She is a huge animal lover! Most days you can find her at the barn with her horse, Odin and her dog, Thor. (Extra points if you get that reference!). Ari will be coaching our 14u Black this season.
Lili Henry
Coach Lili joined the White Cross Elite staff for the 21-22 season. Although new to the coaching staff, Lili is not new to White Cross. She is currently giving lessons and assisting with clinics. Lili is a recent graduate of Methodist University and and was a 4 year setter for the Monarchs. Lili also played 4 years at Cedar Ridge High School. Lili started playing volleyball at White Cross Rec back in 2010.
One fun fact about Coach Lili is that she used to have a pet snake. The first Rec team she played on at White Cross were called the "Vipers". Lili is currently a floating resource coach for us with a specialty in setting.
Alexis Dumain
Coach Alexis Dumain is a writer, researcher, and stand-up comedian based in Chapel Hill. A senior at UNC, she is currently plying away at degrees in Psychology and Creative Nonfiction Writing. Growing up, Alexis played volleyball at Cedar Ridge High School, Chapel Hill Area Volleyball Club, and beach volleyball through Blue Sky Volleyball; she was a setter and right-side hitter and values developing young athletes’ skills and personal growth in equal measure. When she’s not coaching, Alexis takes pleasure in dance, well-curated playlists, and all things David Sedaris. Alexis will be coaching our 14 Blue team this season.
Addison Curl
This will be Addison's (can also call her Addie) first year coaching with White Cross, but she is no stranger to our program. She is a Junior at UNC-Wilmington, and is currently majoring in Criminal Justice. Addie was a member of the very first WCE travel team back in 2018 under Coach Aria/David and played 4 seasons with White Cross. A fun fact about Addison is that she has an 8 month old golden retriever named Margo, who’s a service dog in training! Addison will be coaching our 17u team this season.
Izzy Sheppard
Coach Izzy started playing rec volleyball at age 11 and then travel at age 15. She played with Carolina Edge for 15 & 16u. She then played middle for Coach David on White Cross Elite 17u and Coach Warren for 18u. She played middle school volleyball at Gravelly and then for Cedar Ridge High School. She helped coach our 12u team last season and is currently the JV coach at A.L. Stanback Middle School.
Fun fact: Izzy is a State 3A Volleyball champion for Cedar Ridge back in the 21-22 season!!
Izzy will be coaching our 13u team this season and assisting for our 14 Black team.
Sarah Clayton
Sarah has been coaching volleyball for the last 17 years starting with a homeschool team based out of the Orange & Durham County areas. She then went on to help establish the Carolina Mustangs Athletics program, an independent school team, which provides homeschooled and local athletes the opportunity to play volleyball.
Sarah has been coaching club volleyball at all age levels for the last 11 years, and in 2017 was the co- founder of North Durham Volleyball Club where she served as the Club Director and Head Coach for ages 14, 15, 17, and 18U. She will be a floater & resource coach for us this season!
Abby Nichols
Coach Abby has been playing recreational and travel volleyball since age 11. Her love of volleyball outweighed her love for softball and it has been nothing but volleyball since! Abby was a member of the first WCE Travel Ball Team in 2018, playing under Coach Aria and Coach David. Abby won MVP in the Carolina Region East Championship, Division 4, 17u in 2019.
Abby has coached both recreational and travel volleyball at White Cross, and is currently the JV Coach for Eno River Academy.
Fun Fact: Abby is a dog mom to Bailey and enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing volleyball. Abby is a preschool teacher and enjoys working with kids everyday . She will be coaching our 16 Blue team this season.
Lizbeth Woody
Coach Lizbeth is currently working as a geospatial analyst, but she is about to start back up at UNC again this fall to pursue a masters in City and Regional Planning. Lizbeth fell in love with volleyball when she was in middle school. She played club and for school as a setter until she graduated high school. Lizbeth is currently playing club volleyball at UNC. A fun fact about Lizbeth is that she is a puzzle enthusiast and can’t start a puzzle without finishing it in the same day!
Coach Lizbeth is coaching our 15 Blue team this season.