Volleyball Coaches

Rachel Leshovsky  

Throughout my volleyball career, I have coached grades ranging from K-10 at all different skill levels from developmental to highly competitive. Besides playing high school and junior college volleyball, I coached for Elk River Youth Volleyball for 16 years in their youth, JO, middle school, and lessons programs. For the last two years, I have coached girls ages 12 and under for Big Lake JO’s along with coaching for the new 5th/6th fall league. In addition, I am a volleyball instructor for Big Lake Community Education for grades ranging from 1-6.    

I am committed to providing quality training and believe it is a privilege to coach young ladies in volleyball. Over the years of coaching I have learned that volleyball is only a part of my responsibility. Along with coaching volleyball and helping each player to improve, my goal is to teach lifelong skills that players can carry with them forever. I enjoy teaching technical skill development which requires the ability to analyze and break down each skill into parts. I believe in offering continuous quality feedback. My patience towards players is one of my greatest strengths. It is important to me to create a positive and fun learning environment in the gym.  

Billeye Juarez

As the daughter of an Athletic Director, I was a three-sport athlete at Osseo High School playing volleyball, basketball, and running track. My volleyball career continued as a setter at North Hennepin Community College followed by the United States Air Force Academy from 1991-1995. Additionally, I was fortunate to play internationally in Germany, Croatia, Italy and Romania for seven years following college as a member of the All Air Force and All Department of Defense Volleyball Teams. I retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2016 after 26 years of service and moved back "home" to MN in 2017. Upon returning home I immersed myself in youth sports. Since 2017 I have coached Elk River Middle School and JO Volleyball Programs for 5th - 9th graders. Furthermore, I served as the Elk River Energy JO Volleyball Co-Director for the 2018-2020 seasons. In 2020 I became a volleyball coach and instructor for the Big Lake Volleyball 12 and under Programs. I have served as a coach for Big Lake JOs and the 5th/6th grade Big Lake Fall Volleyball League as well as an instructor for the Big Lake Community Education Volleyball Skills Programs.

I love volleyball and am passionate about coaching and teaching the game. I enjoy breaking down the individual skills of volleyball and seeing each player learn and grow.  Finally, I truly appreciate what team sports can teach an athlete to include social/communication skills, leadership/followership, setting/achieving goals, winning/losing with grace, rebounding from setbacks, and the list goes on. As coaches/instructors, we play a very small role in an athlete’s sports journey; however, I believe and know from experience coaches can have a lifelong impact. Regardless of a season win/loss record, my goal as a coach is always for each athlete to improve both their volleyball skills and knowledge of the game...while having some fun along the way.