Women's Volleyball - Our Coaches

Head Coach - Vera Nelson

Vera Nelson begins her 5th season at the helm of Sierra College Volleyball program. Under her guidance last season’s team finished 2nd in the Big 8 conference and was ranked 5th in Nor Cal and 11th in the State. As a result her peers voted her 2008 Big 8 Coach of the Year.

Prior to moving to Granite Bay with her husband, two daughters, Lindsay & Taylo, and son Darren, she taught and coached full time at Mt. Eden High School in Hayward, CA. Vera Nelson has a family history which has helped guide her own career in the athletic arena, motivating her to become a teacher and coach.

Vera's grandfather was an Olympic medalist as well as an All-American football player. Her father has been in the coaching profession for 43 years. Nelson, an accomplished athlete in her own right, accepted a full scholarship to play volleyball at Division 1 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for Mike Wilton. She earned preseason All-American status prior to her senior year in which she was the team captain.

"This experience, combined with a strong background as a volleyball coach, postgraduate studies in Physical Education, and a good sense of humor allow me to effectively coach collegiate volleyball," says Nelson.

(916) 660-8125, vnelson@sierracollege.edu

Assistant Coach - Katie Silliman

I grew up in Danville, CA and went to school at San Ramon Valley High School. I did one year of track and then stuck with basketball and volleyball hoping that one of them would be my ticket to college.

I remember getting a phone call during a basketball game from the coach at Arkansas State University inviting me to come and play for him, and I accepted. I played four years at ASU, received a few awards and participated in a few clubs on campus.

My major became photojournalism after I decided elementary education wasn't for me. At that point I had taken two years of photography in high school and wanted to continue doing something that I loved. I also decided to minor in German. Ideally I could travel abroad and write for a photography magazine, utilizing what I spent four years studying.

Four memories, one from each year, of my career at Arkansas State are as follows;

1. My freshman year- ASU vs. Jackson State I set an NCAA record for hitting percentage, being in a daze as my coach and teammates tried to tell me what it meant;
2. Winning the Sunbelt Conference and getting a bid to the NCAA tournament where we played Pepperdine the first round and lost;
3. Right before practices started I broke my toe which frustrated the heck out of me because I had to let it heal for about a month and that meant no practicing during preseason;
4. My last game at the conference tournament with my family watching me and cheering me on.

Now, I'm living in Lincoln, working at a local retailer that encourages outdoor activities which I love. I have coached club and high school level teams and am very excited with the prospect of assisting Coach Vera Nelson with her team at Sierra College.

Assistant Coach - Alicia Karver

Alicia grew up in Lodi, California. She went to St. Mary’s high school in Stockton, California. She attended San Joaquin Delta College out of high school where her volleyball team was very successful.

She then went on to play at Cal State San Bernardino in Southern California. Her team won the CCAA conference both years that she was there and they were the Division II national runner up in the 2008-2009 season.

She is now pursuing her degree in kinesiology, which she plans on earning her master’s in. She has been coaching club volleyball for 3 years. She was head coach for Club Pacific volleyball for a 14’s team. She was also a head coach for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club for two years where she coached 12’s and 13’s teams.

Alicia wants to pursue her degree in kinesiology and work with students and athletes at the college level.