We recommend you train with multiple Prime Trainers to get more perspectives that bring out the best in your athlete.
MANDI COLLINS | Owner, UCLA Most Improved, CA All American, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Cell: 310-486-6191
Email: primeathletes@yahoo.com
Background: Mandi is not only recognized as an avid athlete and expert in sports performance training and volleyball training technique, but more importantly a role model and mentor for helping kids maximize their athletic potential. With her contagious enthusiasm, focused energy, and passion for kids reaching their volleyball goals, she continues to motivate, challenge and inspire her athletes. Her volleyball and sports performance expertise has been relied on by amateur and professional organizations across the south bay. She is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a former UCLA Scholarship Athlete, Most Improved UCLA after transferring to the Bruins from NC State Athletics. Mandi was a Mizuno CA All American (Top 12 Senior High School Athletes in CA alongside with Misty May), Mira Costa’s Student-Athlete of the Year and Captain of Mira Costa High. She also teaches spin at Fit On in Manhattan Beach for fun.
Note From Founder
NICK VICKNAIR | Head Personal Trainer, NASM, Corrective Exercise Specialist
Specialty: Personal Training, Injury Prevention, Agility and Jump Training, Strength, Power Maximization, Overall Fitness
Cell: 310-944-2806
Email: nicholasvicknair@yahoo.com
Background: Nick has been immersed in the fitness industry for over 15 years and involved in competitive sports for over 20 years. Nick is currently Prime’s Head Trainer working with our athletes to help reduce sports related injuries, gain strength, improve their vertical jump, overall power and athletism. He is a certified personal trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine, with a specialty in Corrective Exercise. Nick is a unique instructor in that he will develop a program based solely on your individual needs and abilities. He is the definition of a “Personal” Trainer. Whatever your age, your condition, your goals, Nick will help you get results fast. His testimonials include improving athletes’ vertical jumps 3-6 inches and the athletes’ love working with him. Nick will offer a free consultation, evaluation for anyone interested in improving gains in performance and fitness.
NILS NIELSEN | Head Trainer Prime, USA Men’s Gold Medal Olympic Training Team, All American, Professional Athlete and Aspiring Collegiate Coach
Specialty: Outside Hitters/Opposites, Middle Blockers, Liberos. Passing technique and defense, Footwork for hitting and blocking, Jump and Arm Swing Mechanics and Blocking.
Cell: 760-777-2374
Email: Nils14@hotmail.com
Background: Nils is one of the most sought after coaches. Having trained under the top Coach in the Nation with the best players in the country (the Men’s USA Gold Medal Team) and having played Professionally in 6 countries, Nils brings our youth wealth of knowledge from the best coaches all around the world. He is a master technician, results oriented and great mentor for our athletes. His Professional Volleyball experience includes playing in 6 Countries for 6 Years (Switzerland, Greece, Bahrain, Qatar, Puerto Rico and France). Currently Training with US Men’s National Team for 3 Years including the Gold Medal Winning Olympic Team in 2008. 4 year starter Cal State Northrige’01-’05. AVCA All American 2005. 2007 Member of the USA World League team. Continues to train with National Team and coaching boys club at MB Surf. See Nils’ profile on the USA Volleyball website, click here.
HEATHER HUGHES | USA Indoor and Beach National Team (Coached by USA Gold Medal Coach Hugh McCutcheon), Professional Athlete
Specialty: Setters, Liberos, Hitters and Lefties
Cell: 315-600-0606
Email: hhughes186@gmail.com
Background: Heather is a great fit to develop all athletes as she has had specialized experience in multiple positions at the highest levels of collegiate, professional and USA Team Training. Her experience playing includes positions of Opp/Setter, Outside Hitter and Libero. She has 3 years training experience on the USA National Team, under the USA Men’s Gold Medal Olympic Coach, Hugh McCutcheon. Heather played 2 years professionally in Europe. A graduate of LMU, she garnered awards of LMU Athletes of the Year and First Team All WCC three years. She currently plays professional beach. Heather is a great fit for all positions because of her unique well rounded experiences as well as specializations for lefties. Check her out on the National Volleyball League site: click here.
ANDY MCGUIRE | All American Libero, NCAA Finalist, Professional Athlete
Specialty: Liberos, Setters, All fundametals
Cell: 310-971-5949
Email: andrewmcguire23@yahoo.com
Background: Andy comes to Prime after finishing his collegiate career at UCSB as the Libero in the Men’s NCAA finals. He has been coached under one of the most prestigious NCAA Coaches, Rick McClaughlin for four years. He holds the school record in 322 digs, was named All American and All MPSF. Andy attended Loyola where he was a setter and libero and has been trained in both positions. Andy is a great fit for all athletes that want to improve their fundamentals for all skills, with specialities in the backrow game of underhand and overhead passing, defense, serving, ball control as well as setting skills.
JESSICA SWARBRICK | All American Hitter, NCAA Champion, Coached by NCAA Coach of the Year UW, Jim Mcgloughlin
Specialty: Front Row Attack at MB/OH/OPP , Blocking, Jump Serving, Fundamentals, Armswing Mechanics, 4 Step Approach Transition
Cell: 818-826-9440
Email: jvolleybrick@yahoo.com
Background: Jessica is an NCAA Champion, Three-Time All American, Three-Time All Pac 10, Pac 10 Player of the Week, Professional Athlete in 3 Countries (Switzerland, Spain and Puerto Rico), played under the NCAA Coach of the Year at University of Washington and former Club Coach. Jessica is a very positive, upbeat mentor for our athletes and is a great technician having played under the NCAA Coach of the Year, she has a lot of great knowledge and expertise to share with our atheltes. Jessica aspires to play abroad again in the winter, so is available to our athletes through Dec 2011. NOTE: JESSICA IS CURRENTLY ABROAD AND NOT AVAILABLE
TAYLOR CARICO | Two Time All American, Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Top Setter in Nation, Two Final Four Finishes, Professional Athlete
Specialty: Setters
Cell: 310-227-9163
Email: tcaricovb@aol.com
Background: USC Starting Setter for 3 years with Final Four Finish. Pac 10 Freshman of the Year. Second Team All American. University of Minnesota starting setter 1 year. Third Team All American and Final Four Finish. Played Professional in Switzerland. 2005 Andi Collins Award as Nation’s Top Senior Setter. Taylor is a seasonal trainer due to her professional volleyball career and may be going to play abroad this Fall. Please email for availability, expected return date from overseas May 2012.
MICHELLE MORIARTY | All American Univeristy of Texas
Specialty: Setters Coach, Fundamentals
Cell: 832-423-2887
Email: michjaye@gmail.com
Background:Michelle was an All American Setter, four-year starting setter at UT. She was the former Mira Costa High School Freshman Coach and is currently a pro beach player. Michelle resides in San Diego part time and is only available by request, depending on her schedule for training in the South Bay.
CHELSEA HAYES | Captain, MVP, Sweet 16 Setter, Certified Trainer, Professional VB Athlete
Specialty: Setters Coach, Gold Medal Square System Training Fundamentals, Personal Training for Jump, Strength Injury Prevention,
Cell: 805-610-4981
Email: clhayes13@gmail.com
Background: Chelsea is currently the boys and girls Head Varsity Coach at Harvard Westlake. She is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Chelsea played D1 Volleyball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned First Team All Big West Honors for three years and was named team MVP her Senior Year. As the setter and captain, she led her team to two Big West Conference titles and to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2007. She currently plays professional beach volleyball and competed in five of the six AVP main draws. She is a personal trainer at Spectrum Athletic Club and Trainer for Prime Athletes’ Team Training and Adult Training as well. Chelsea does privates for Prime Seasonally when her schedule permits, so you may request her availability.
Nick Scheftic | Six Year Pro, National Champion, Former USA Player
Speciality: Middle Blocker, Outside Hitters/Opposites, Blocking, Hitting, Footwork.
Cell: 805-450-4685
Email: schef27@gmail.com
Background: 2006 National Champion at UCLA, professional championship winner in Indonesia 2010, and Gold Medalist for Team USA Pan Am Games. Named Indonesia Proliga’s “Best Blocker” and “Top Spiker” in 2009. Nick has been doing private lessons and coaching club and collegiate camps for over nine years. Nick just retrurned from Austria where he coached a Professional Men’s Team.
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KRISTINA HINOJOSA | Mira Costa High School Freshman Coach, SCVC 12-1 Coach, Prime Team Trainer
Specialty: Instructional fundamentals for beginner to intermediate players. Offense and Defense, passing, blocking, serving, footwork, speed and agility training.
Cell: 517-410-6825
Email: krishino12@gmail.com
Background: Kristina is a professional coach for the youth in our community. She currently is the Mira Costa High School Girls’ Freshman Coach and SCVC 12-1′s Coach while leading team training sessions for Prime. Her former years experience include the Former Coach/Assistant Director of Lansing Area Volleyball Assocation, Former Collegiate Assistant Coach at Lansing, Defensive Specialist at Lansing College, Coach Lansing Everett High, Clinician/Court Coach USC. Kristina is available by request for our athletes that suit her expertise.
JAMES KA | NCAA Champion and Captain
Specialty: Setters, OH/OPP Hitters, Liberos, DS
James is not taking on any new clients due to a job relocation so call for number as needed.
Background: James comes to Prime Athletes with experience coaching at all levels of competitive boys and girls volleyball. He is a very cerebral coach “thinker’s coach” and really talks through each skill to help reach success. James is unique in that he has played all positions at the Collegiate Level (except Middle Blocker), so he can speak to a very versatile player and help athlete’s improve in multiple areas, rather than just a specialist for one position. His previous experience includes Head Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach at NDA, Assistant Coach at Pierce Junior College, coaching collegiate camps at Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara and coaching club at SMBC, SCVC and MB Surf for seven years. Prior to coaching James had a very successful and honorable personal playing career as Captain and Starting Libero at Pepperdine University while earning a National Championship Title in 2005. James played at Outrigger Canoe Club his senior year and received All-American honors at JO’s.
RYALCell: 310-850-8458
Email: ryaljagd@yahoo.com
Background: (More info coming) Utility Player, Fundamentals for all positions. Ryal is currently in season and not available until this summer.
KENDALLSpecialty: Setting
Cell:310-245-4244
Background: (More info coming soon) All American Setter
Kendall is AVAILABLE AFTER DECEMBER 2011
JESSE TUPAC
Speciality: Setters, Liberos, All Skills
Cell: 805-807-0450
Email: jtupac88@gmail.com
Background: Jesse is currently the head of the program at Notre Dame Academy, a club administrator and coach for Sunshine Volleyball Club and Riptides Volleyball Club, as well as having run the programs at Wildwood High School, Hamilton High School and shadowing the women’s collegiate programs at USC and LMU. Of 8 high school seasons 6 have been record seasons for the respective schools. Over 5 club seasons with 11 club teams (ages range from 11′s-18′s) Jesse has sent 50+ players to play collegiately while owning the Sunshine record for consecutive tournament wins (6).
Jesse’s players have gone on to be collegiate All-Americans, have been named All Conference, have won NCAA championships, have been named All Region NCAA players, have received PrepVolleyball Senior Aces, Soph 79, or top 25 Freshman in the country awards while in high school as well as garnering All CIF, All League, and Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 (boys and girls) awards.
Jesse played as a setter and libero but has worked as the middle blocker and pin hitter trainer for Sunshine over the last few years and has been running clinics for all positions and skill sets, so he is a very versatile coach that feels comfortable coaching all skills at both the fundamental and highest levels.
AUSTIN ZAHN, 6-8, MB, Graduate USC, Men’s National Team
Speciality: Middle Blockers, Blocking, Quick Attacks, Serving, Jump Serving
Cell: 310-613-1251
Email: austin.zahn@gmail.com
Bio: Austin is one of the nation’s top Middle Blockers. He was a four year starter at USC, All American, NCAA All Tournament, Two time NCAA Finalist and led USC’s regulars in hitting and blocking percentage. Currently he is a member of the US National Team and has earned a Gold Medal with the team, and is also pursuing Professional Indoor Abroad starting his career in Spain 2011. Prime is very excited to bring a local Redondo Union Graduate to our team of Trainers to develop our Front Row attackers in the Middle position.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………GEENA URANGO
Cell: 562-225-2889
Email: gee.urango@gmail.com
Bio: More info coming soon.