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Jess Leo


Jess Leo

EVJ Leadership Team
Social Media Coordinator

2023-2024
Head Coach
Girls 
15 Select

EVJ Beach Coach

A message from Coach Jess:
I’m super excited to be entering my 5th season coaching at EVJ! Volleyball has been a huge part of my life since I was a little girl. My first ever volleyball “memory” is my mom running through the Denver airport after Colorado Crossroads trying to catch her flight home while she was pregnant with me! I started playing club at EVJ when I was in 4th grade and continued playing at EVJ through my senior year. I played at the collegiate level during my freshman season at University of New Mexico before returning home to Phoenix to focus on my education.

Coaching is such a passion of mine. I love sharing my knowledge of the game and my love for the sport with my players. I strive to make every player I work with grow into a better player by building their skills and volleyball IQ. I aim to teach the value of hard work and dedication. Most of all, I love seeing relationships and camaraderie built on the court. Being a part of a team and working together towards a common goal is what athletics is all about. 

I am looking forward to stepping onto the court this season! Go EVJ!


Coaching Experience:

Club Volleyball

  • East Valley Juniors Volleyball Club, Tempe, AZ
    2019-Present (Indoor Girls Head/Assistant Coach, 13s-15s)

     - 2023-2024, Girls Head Coach, 15 Select; Social Media Coordinator
     - 2022-2023, Girls Head Coach, 14 Select; Social Media Coordinator
     - 2021-2022, Girls Assistant Coach, 13N1-Tempe
     - 2020-2021, Girls-Float-Coach

     - 2019-2020, Girls Assistant Coach, 14R1-Tempe
  • Volleyball Unlimited, Phoenix, AZ
    2017-Present

     - ASICS Fall Volleyball League, Assistant Coach
     - Player Development Camps & Clinics, Instructor
  • EVJ Beach, Phoenix, AZ
    2022-Present

     - 2v2 Beach Tournament Coordinator

​Playing Experience:

  • University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
    2016 (Division I Women's Volleyball) 

     - Earned Division I volleyball scholarship
     - Setter/Defensive Specialist
  • Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix, AZ
    2012-16 (6A Girl's Volleyball)

     - Setter, four year varsity letterman and starter
     - Youngest (13) freshman in school history to start
     - Led team to four 6A playoff appearances, with two top 8 finishes (5th in 2014)

     - All Section - 2nd Team 2013, 2014 & 2015
     - Tempe All-City Team, 2014
  • East Valley Juniors Volleyball Club, Tempe, AZ
     - Played Setter my entire club career
     - Member of the clubs first ever 10s team and one o
    f five players in 31 year club history to play the maximum eligibility of nine years at the club
     - 2014 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Prep Phenom List
     - 18N1 team finished 1st in the Silver Bracket and 9th overall at the USAV Junior National Championships Patriot Division
     - Qualified for USAV Junior National Championships (17N1, National Division; 16-Mizuno, American Division
    (5th Place Gold Bracket); 15-Mizuno, USA Division)
     -
    2nd place finish at Volleyball Festival International Championships in back to back years, 13-Mizuno & 14-Mizuno)  

Education/Other:

  • Nello's Ahwatukee
    Nov 2022-Present
     - Restaurant Manager
  • Phoenix Children's Hospital
    Feb 2022-Nov 2022
     - Licensed Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular ICU
  • Creighton University, College of Nursing, Phoenix, AZ
    2021, BS in Nursing
  • Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ
    2019, BS in Biology with emphasis in Pre-Physician's Assistant Major

     - Degree earned in 3.5 years
  • University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
    2016, Student Athlete, Exercise Sciences Major
  • Mountain Pointe High School, Phoenix, AZ
    Class of 2016

     - 4.214 GPA, 35/598 class ranking
     - Principal's Honor Roll (2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016)
  • Community Service
     
    - Relay for Life
     - Vacation Bible School
     - Feed My Starving Children
     - Ahwatukee Little League Baseball
  • Fun family facts
    My Mom was a Division I scholarship setter at Arizona State University. I was a Division I scholarship setter at UNM. My sister Gabby was a Division I scholarship setter at the University of the Pacific. Gabby and I shared the court at Mountain Pointe High School for two years running a 6-2. In 2015 our team finished 5th in the 6A conference state playoffs.