Meet our Team
Meet Our Team
Our coaching and administration team consists of volunteers from many different volleyball backgrounds. All Stars coaches support the club's philosophy of building young leaders, encouraging all players positively and working with them to improve both on the court and off. We also support all our coaches in their NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) advancement and certification.
If you are interested in joining the Stars coaching team or administration, please contact us!
Please note that the coaching positions listed below are subject to change.
Head Coaches & Board Members
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Samantha Mills
PRESIDENT & 17/18U HEAD COACH
Samantha is a proud former player who returned to the club as a coach in 2019. She joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and was appointed Club President in 2023.
With a strong player-first mentality, Sam is a Certified Advanced Development Coach (formerly Level 2) who has coached athletes from U14 to U18. Her experience includes coaching at Collingwood and Handsworth during the school season, as well as with the Volleyball Canada Regional Excellence Program (VC REP). She is committed to developing players both on and off the court, fostering a positive environment where they can thrive.
Honoured to be a part of the club that helped shape her, Samantha is inspired by the coaches who once volunteered their time to make a difference in her life.
Off the court, Sam works in sales for a Real Estate Developer.
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Laura Pickard
VICE-PRESIDENT
Laura began coaching with the Stars in 2014, but has been coaching volleyball at various levels since 2009. During the school season, she head coaches the Junior Girls team at St. Thomas Aquinas. Laura has experience coaching high performance teams, in 2024 head coaching the BC Summer Games Zone 5 team and in 2025 assistant coaching the BC Cup Zone 5 team. Laura played club and school volleyball on the North Shore until grade 12, and from 2020-2023 played post-secondary volleyball at CBC as a serve receive libero. Through her years coaching and college volleyball experience, she brings a vast knowledge of strategies and techniques to teach her players.
Laura is passionate about the sport and eager to challenge players to unlock their potential and try new things, while making new friends and having some fun along the way. When not on the court, she is a certified web and graphic designer and works at a local ticket broker.
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Karen Martin
DIRECTOR & 14U HEAD COACH
Karen has been coaching with the Stars since 2010. She has coached girls' volleyball on the North Shore, both high school teams and club teams, for 15 years. Since 2010 she has coached at Handsworth. Karen played volleyball in high school, for UBC in 1979 to 1984 (mostly Junior Varsity, but also some Varsity) and then women's club volleyball, followed by many years of co-ed rec ball. She is NCCP certified as an Advanced Development Coach (formerly Level 2).
Karen is passionate about the importance of team sport to teenage girls and is thrilled to be able to coach with the wonderful coaching and club admin team at the North Shore Stars. Karen has two grown daughters who also coach with the Stars from time to time. When she is not on the volleyball court, you can find Karen practicing construction law as a partner at Dentons Canada LLP.
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Abigail Turner
DIRECTOR
Abigail has been involved with Stars since 2016 after her daughter was first selected for the U14 team. In her high school and university days, Abigail was a volleyball enthusiast and played on numerous teams both at school and in the community. More recently she coached the Windsor High School Girls Bantam Team in 2016 and the Girls Juvenile Team in 2017. Abigail currently sits on the Stars Volleyball Club Board, which she been on since 2018. Abigail is a lawyer by profession, a Partner at Harper Grey LL, working mainly in Health and Insurance Law.
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Sara Freyvogel
DIRECTOR
From the bantam to senior level in high school, Sara played for the Handsworth team and for the Stars as a Left-side/power hitter. She studied Psychology and Humanities at Simon Fraser University.
Sara has been coaching at the Stars since 2016 and has been a referee with the LMVOA since 2015. Sara joined the Stars Board of Directors in 2024 to assist with administrative duties.
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Marnie Giblin
DIRECTOR
Marnie joined the Stars Board of Directors in 2025 when her daughter was playing for the club and saw the need for more administration support. Marnie has been an integral part of keeping the club running behind the scenes the past couple of years, even after her daughter left the club.
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RYAN SAMUELSON
15U HEAD COACH
Ryan started his coaching career with the Stars in 2022. During the high school season he assists the St. Thomas Aquinas junior girls team. Ryan's own volleyball journey began in high school at Kelowna Secondary School as well as the Kelowna Volleyball Club, where he played as a middle and then as a setter. He went on to obtain a degree while playing USPORT volleyball for the varsity team at Nipissing University in Ontario. His experiences as both a player and a coach have given him a well-rounded perspective on the sport, where he hopes to help young players achieve their goals.
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GUNTIS GRIKIS
16U HEAD COACH
Guntis played his first volleyball match in the short lived North Shore Secondary Schools Boy's League. Over the next two decades, he played in countless indoor and outdoor leagues and tournaments. This passion for the game was noticed, and sure enough, a co-worker asked Guntis to coach her daughter’s high school team. He was instantly hooked, and coached for the next 11 years in the very competitive North Shore school and club systems. Guntis took a break from coaching when his daughter was born, but after a 7 year break he felt he had waited long enough when he joined Stars as an assistant coach. When he moved to Squamish in 2019 he joined SVC as a head coach and helped grow their club. In 2027 he is returning to Stars once again!
In the unusual event that Guntis finds some spare time, he enjoys hiking, backcountry skiing, and photography. Guntis is a Certified Level 2 Volleyball Coach with experience at the U14 through U18 levels.
Assistant Coaches
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JENNY ELLIS-WHITE
14U ASSISTANT COACH
Jenny played for Stars her whole high school career as well as a middle at West Vancouver Secondary. Jenny is currently in her 5th year at UBC and, after such a positive experience with Stars herself, is now giving back to the club with her time coaching. Jenny brings a vast knowledge of the game to the table having played competitively for so many years. She recently assistant coached the U14 team at Stars and helped out with the senior team at West Van.
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EMMA DYER
15U ASSISTANT COACH
Emma began playing club volleyball with the Stars at U14 and has been with the club ever since. She has been coaching around the North Shore since 2018 at Windsor, Handsworth and Stars between the U14 to U16 levels. Emma is currently studying at BCIT and is excited to be helping out at Stars for another season!
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Quin Reimer
15U ASSISTANT COACH
Quin's volleyball journey began in Prince George, where he played for his high school and the PGYVC. He played a mix of positions through his developmental years. Quin was Captain of his high school and club teams his senior year. After hard work at a summer camp, Quin was chosen to join the CBC Bearcats as a libero. A knee injury took him out of the game as a player. Quin's love of the game has led him to continue his involvement in the sport. He has gained experience coaching players of all ages, from elementary through high school. He is excited to assist the Stars in developing the athletes' character, skills, and knowledge of the game.
Quin is in his 3rd year at Capilano University and works seasonally with the BCWS as a first-aid attendant on his crews.
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AMANDA GEORGE
15U ASSISTANT COACH
Amanda grew up in Southeast Texas, where her love for volleyball began at a young age. An avid player throughout her youth, Amanda transitioned from the court to coaching, most recently serving as the head coach for the grade 8 girls volleyball team at Handsworth Secondary in 2025.
As a dedicated mother of twins, Amanda understands the importance of sports in building character and resilience. Her daughter shares her passion for volleyball, actively participating in club and high school teams, while her son plays football with Handsworth, showcasing the family's commitment to athletic pursuits.
Amanda is a UBC alumnus, and is also a licensed naturopathic doctor with a special interest in sports medicine. This background equips her with a unique perspective on the physical and mental well-being of young athletes.
Amanda is deeply passionate about fostering a positive environment for athletes, encouraging their growth and confidence both on and off the court. She believes in cultivating a supportive atmosphere that empowers young players to reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love for the game.
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BOBBI TOBIN
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Bobbi’s passion for sport started young. She played volleyball throughout high school In her small home town of Quesnel, BC, where with great team effort and coach dedication the team qualified for provincials her senior year. In grade 12 she also coached the junior girls at Correlieu and was assistant to the junior boys team. After high school, she played varsity soccer for Thompson Rivers University and UBC Okanagan.
Graduating with her teaching degree in 2006, she coached many sports in a variety of settings. Moving to North Vancouver in 2022 brought many new opportunities. After coaching Bantam Girls Volleyball at Handsworth this year, she is super excited to become a part of the Stars community. Bobbi shares a passion for volleyball and recognizes the positive role of sport in young people’s lives. She is looking forward to working alongside the exceptional group of people at Stars.
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Genevieve Bittorf
16U ASSISTANT COACH
Genevieve’s began coaching with Stars in 2025/26, but she has been involved in a variety of volleyball programs across the North Shore for several years, from high school teams to development programs. In 2023, she moved to Nunavut, where she became deeply involved with Volleyball Nunavut and helped develop a growing volleyball program in her Arctic community.
Genevieve is excited to be back in BC and to support local athletes as they grow in skill, confidence, and love for the sport. She played competitive indoor volleyball throughout high school and now continues to play recreational beach volleyball as an adult. In addition to volleyball, Genevieve brings multi-sport experience as a high-level rugby athlete, competing at the university and provincial levels.
When she’s not on the court, Genevieve is an elementary teacher, and you can usually find her playing sports with her students, coaching, or staying active in the community. She is passionate about fostering positive team culture, building strong fundamentals, and helping every athlete find success and joy in the game.
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Emily Hardy
17/18U ASSISTANT COACH
Emily is a Stars alumna that played school and club all through high school. She graduated from UBC in 2024 with a degree in applied animal biology. She has been coaching with the Stars since 2019 and head coached the U16 team in 2022.
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SOPHIA SIMPSON
17/18U ASSISTANT COACH
Sophia played both club and school volleyball in her high school years. She is a former BCO, Ducks, and Action player who returned to volleyball for the 2025 club season as an assistant coach. Sophia is excited to start her journey with Stars and is looking forward to being a part of the community. Outside of volleyball she has recently graduated from the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business.
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Natalie Ranspot
14U ASSISTANT COACH
Natalie grew up on the North Shore and played volleyball through high school and recreationally during her four years at McGill University. She is a NCCP Level 1 certified coach and has been coaching with the Stars since 2013. Natalie also coaches at Handsworth Secondary Schoo1!
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Alisa Smigoc
SPRING LEAGUE COACH
Alisa joined the Stars coaching team in 2023 after playing for the club for several years. She is currently a student at Simon Fraser University.
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Sandy Hancock
SPRING LEAGUE COACH
Sandy has been with the Stars from the start, and has coached U14 and U15 as well as the Youth League. She has coached Elementary school grades 6 and 7, and at Handsworth Secondary school, grades 8 through 10. In her younger days, Sandy was an avid volleyball enthusiast playing indoor and outdoor ball, predominantly beach doubles and triples. More recently, she has taken part in outdoor (recreational level) 6s. In her spare time, she enjoys Irish dancing and step dance.
Sandy served as the president of Stars from 2018-2024 and has played an integral role in shaping what Stars is and stands for today.