COACH PAIGE WATSON (Founder and Club-Owner)

Coach Paige is currently a Ph.D. student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at Clemson University and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. She has been playing volleyball for over 16 years and coaching for the past 9 years. Coach Paige has coached at the middle school, high school, and club level. At the club level, she has experience coaching volleyball players ranging from ages 8-18 in the Athens-area. She also coached Jefferson High School’s Junior Varsity Team for two years and Jefferson Middle School’s team for one year.

In addition to head coaching positions, Coach Paige has shared her love for volleyball through other avenues. Coach Paige has led summer volleyball camps for Jefferson, Madison County, and Banks County school programs. She often coaches weekly skills clinics in Madison County and Banks County for players aged 7-16 years old. Coach Paige has also hosted “Coaches’ Clinics” for multiple recreation department programs, including Jefferson and Madison County, in which she teaches proper volleyball techniques and a variety of drills for practice to the Rec League volleyball coaches to ensure young players are getting good touches as early as possible.

In 2018, Coach Paige started running weekly volleyball clinics in Madison County. She loved working with these players, and their passion for and dedication to volleyball inspired her to create her own program based in Madison County. Coach Paige is excited to continue to pursue her volleyball passion with PATH Volleyball Academy!

 

COACH ZYKERIA ALLEN

Coach Zy is an Athens, GA, native and Clarke Central High School alumna where she played both volleyball and basketball. She was named 1st team All-Region for outside hitters both her junior and senior years. She began her collegiate career of playing volleyball and basketball at Truett McConnell then transferred to Life University in 2017. There she excelled both academically and athletically on the volleyball and basketball courts. In her final year of volleyball, she earned the position of one of Life’s leading attackers- breaking her career-high of 22 kills in one match three times, earning player of the week twice, and placing 1st team outside hitter for the Mid South Conference. Zykeria has also coached with NAVC (North Atlanta Volleyball Club) starting in 2017 during her time in the Smryna and Marietta area. She graduated in June of 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She now coaches at her Alma mater and assists with the Varisty volleyball program.
 
 

COACH ALISHA CHAWLA

Coach Alisha is a marketing major at the University of Georgia. She played volleyball through high school at Peachtree Ridge and has played competitive club ball for 6 years and counting. Currently, Coach Alisha plays for the A Team on UGA’s club volleyball team. Coach Alisha has helped coach 11s, 13s, and 15s club teams at GA5 and has also helped coach the Varsity, JV, and freshmen teams at Peachtree Ridge High School. She played under an All-American Penn State Setter and helped coach her club teams as well. In her senior year of high school, Coach Alisha was the number 1 blocker in the region, number 2 blocker in the state of Georgia, and number 10 blocker in the nation for high school. She is very excited to join the PATH program and share her experience with younger athletes with hopes to help grow their love and pursuance for volleyball!
 
 

COACH MAGGIE STRICKLAND

Maggie is a Newnan High School alumni and is currently studying at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens for her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. Maggie first began playing volleyball for her high school where she played three seasons at the varsity level, and competed in the Final Four two out of her four years there. She started playing club volleyball at Tsunami out of Forest Park her freshman year and fell even more in love with the sport. She is currently in her third season on the UGA women’s club team and has been able to compete at a high collegiate level as well. Her love for coaching came from helping out at a local middle school, and eventually assistant coaching there as well. She has also helped with many local volleyball clinics and summer camps.

 

COACH MATHEUS FAGUNDES

Coach Matheus is a strong volleyball player from Brazil with 17 years of experience. Coach Matheus fell in love with the sport at a young age and received offers for scholarships to play both volleyball and handball. He chose the volleyball scholarship, primarily playing as a hitter for his team. Coach Matheus is also known for his strong jump serve and set. After finishing his undergraduate degree in Brazil, Coach Matheus moved to the United States to earn his Master’s and Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Georgia. He played on the UGA men’s club team during his first year of graduate school and now competes in both indoor and beach volleyball tournaments with old teammates from club. Coach Matheus has coached with PATH as a float coach, private lessons coach, and summer camp coach since 2020. Coach Matheus is experienced and knowledgeable about volleyball, and he is very excited to share his passion with the next generation of volleyball players!
 
 

COACH NIKO KUMARAN

Coach Niko is currently a sophomore Civil Engineering major at the University of Georgia. Niko began playing volleyball at Johns Creek High School, where he played as both a setter and right-side hitter for three years. During his senior year, he served as the team captain, leading his team to the GVCA Boys State finals. Coach Niko has also played for the UGA Men’s Club team. Niko has coached elementary and middle school players, ages 6 -13, at the Montessori School at Emory. He has also hosted volleyball summer camps in DeKalb county and led one-week volleyball clinics, working one-on-one with players to improve their setting and serving technique. Niko is excited to coach with the PATH team again this season and help younger athletes find enjoyment and appreciation for the game of volleyball by emphasizing the creative aspects and team dynamic of the sport!
 
 

COACH KRISTOF KUMARAN

Coach Kristof is currently a second-year at the University of Georgia pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Coach Kristof played volleyball on the men’s club team at Johns Creek High School as an outside hitter/defensive specialist, where he helped lead the team to two GVCA boys finals appearances in 2019 and 2021. He has also played for the UGA Men’s Club team. Coach Kristof has coached volleyball players from ages 6-13 at the Montessori School at Emory, where he hosted a week-long summer clinic that focused on fundamental development and strengthening correct technique and form for new players. Coach Kristof is very excited for another year at PATH and is looking forward to sharing his passion and love for the game with the next generation of volleyball players!

 

COACH CHARLEY SUN

Coach Charley grew up in Marietta, GA, and is in the Double Dawg program at the University of Georgia for his Bachelor’s in Supply Chain and International Business and Master’s of Science in Business Analytics. Coach Charley first held a volleyball in 6th grade at his church youth group and fell in love with the sport from the annual church-wide tournaments. In high school, Coach Charley started practicing more competitively, and while in college, he played for the UGA Men’s Club Volleyball team as an outside hitter in his freshman year. Coach Charley now plays right side hitter and you can find him playing recreationally with other players at UGA multiple nights a week! He is so excited to be coaching his second season with PATH Volleyball!

 

COACH ALAINA EMMINGER

Coach Alaina is a junior at Emmanuel College where she plays as a hitter on their volleyball team. Coach Alaina has been coaching volleyball for 5 years now for both indoor and beach teams in the Greater Atlanta Area. She has coached players ranging from 10 years old to 18 years old. Coach Alaina enjoys coaching and can’t wait to continue this season with PATH!

 

COACH ABIGAIL ORR

Coach Abigail is a Sophomore at Oconee County High School and a former PATH player. She has been playing volleyball for over 5 years now with experience at the middle school, high school, and club levels as a Libero/Defensive Specialist. After taking some time off playing due to health issues, she found a passion for coaching. Coach Abigail assisted with PATH mini-club teams last season and with summer camps. She owes much of her love of the sport to a former coach who was such a positive force in her life. Coach Abigail is so excited to join the PATH coaching staff this season and be this positive force for the next generation of players!!

 

COACH JESSE JAMES

Coach Jesse is currently a senior at Madison County High School. She started playing volleyball in Oahu, Hawaii, and has been playing for 10 years. Coach Jesse played volleyball all throughout high school with 3 years on Varsity and 2 seasons with PATH. Outside of playing volleyball, she has officiated volleyball games for 10u, 12u, and 14u through Madison County Rec Department. Coach Jesse also started lifting competitively during her freshman year and is a 3x state powerlifting champion. She plans to attend college for a degree in business before earning a degree in welding and becoming a professional welder. Ultimately, she plans to become an underwater welder! Coach Jesse played on PATH for two years and is very excited to experience her first season coaching with PATH.