LOV TEAM

A determined group of coaches, athletes, and leaders

seeking to empower our communities

through the sport of volleyball.

 

BOARD OF LEADERS

Kourtney Cockrell
LOV Evanston/Chicago

Resides:Chicago, IL
Leader:
•Kourtney Cockrell (she/her) is a change leader, strategic advisor, and social justice educator with over two decades of cross-sector experience increasing access and opportunity for marginalized students and young professionals. Kourtney is an instructor with the Master’s in Learning and Organizational Change program at Northwestern University and is a co-founder of the FGLI Consortium, a national organization providing leadership, expertise, and resources to improve the experience of first-generation and/or lower-income college students at highly selective universities and colleges.

•Kourtney serves as Vice President in Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co., leading the Chicago market for The Fellowship Initiative, a college access and leadership development program for young men of color. Kourtney is also spearheading a new investment focused on young women of color. Most recently, Kourtney served as Founding Director of Student Enrichment Services at Northwestern University, where she led a cross-functional team working with students coming from first-generation, lower-income, and/or undocumented backgrounds. She also led the Project Excite Program through the School of Education and Social Policy, and worked in talent management with Alumni Relations and Development.

•Prior to Northwestern, Kourtney worked with The Posse Foundation as the National Director of Career and Alumni Programs, served as an Admissions Officer with the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and acted as National Diversity Recruiting Manager with McMaster-Carr.

•Kourtney is a seasoned practitioner in diversity, equity, and inclusion training and facilitation, student success work, social justice education, organizational change leadership, and talent management. She is a Senior Consultant with CoAct Consulting and works with organizations to create more inclusive and welcoming environments. Kourtney also consults with universities and colleges to design and implement educational access and success initiatives for first-generation, lower-income, and underrepresented students.

•Kourtney earned her BA in African-American Studies at the University of Michigan and her MS in Learning and Organizational Change from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University.

ADVISORY LEADERS

EXECUTIVE LEADERS

Dr. Lois Kettering (PT, DPT, CSCS)
Development Leader
LOV Chicago

Born: Evergreen Park, IL
Raised: Evergreen Park, IL
Resides: Chicago, IL
Leader
• Movement Specialist; Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist ; (NSCA)SafeSport Certified
• Doctorate of Physical Therapy Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2016 – 2019
• Varsity Volleyball for Mother McAuley High School; Libero / DS, Celtic Force VBC
• Bachelor's Degree Valparaiso University, 2012-2015 Pre-Physical Therapy Studies, Magna Cum Laude, Intramurals (Volleyball and Basketball); Mentored first generation freshmen through the Multicultural Organization
My Story:
After tearing her ACL and meniscus her senior year of high school in the same year as 4 girls in her program, Lois knew she wanted to someday be an integral player in the injury prevention process. She is focused on returning her patients back to peak mental and physical performance, teasing out any underlying pathological factors with an aim to target injury prevention, and individualizing treatment based on each patient’s goals. Lois has treated in a variety of settings with vast experience in orthopaedics and sports medicine. She has evaluated and progressed Division I NCAA athletes at Northwestern University throughout the fall season through post-surgical management, pre/post practice, in preparation for and following game day, and during non-contact practice drills. Lois was inspired to receive her strength and conditioning specialist certification after spending numerous hours with the strength and conditioning coaches to modify and assess mechanics in order to prevent injuries. She has wide-ranging experience with concussion management and safe return to play with a step-wise graded approach to pin point the various sources of symptom provocation. Lois has trained under advanced orthopaedic specialists while providing video movement analysis, personalized exercise programs to target muscle imbalances, and hands on manual techniques. When she is not working with athletes, Lois enjoys spending time with family and friends, rooting on the Cubs or Notre Dame Football, playing beach volleyball, and going to the beach or park with her black lab named Clark.

LOV LEADERS CREW

Kyle Ullsperger
LOV NYC

Resides: New York City
Leader:
• UW-Milwaukee 2014 BA- Communications, Minor Psychology
• UW-Milwaukee Men's Club Volleyball President 2011-2014,
• Assistant Coach, Marquette University High School - State Champions 2014
• North Shore Milwaukee Men's Club Volleyball - Head Coach, Boys 13 and 17's - 2012-2014
• USAV Men's Open National Champion 2014 with team LIGHTS OUT
• 2014 NVL Pre-season, team Great Lakes Lightning

Volunteer:
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Milwaukee, 2011-Present
• Keen NYC

First picking up a volleyball through his middle school phy-ed teacher, Mr. Moua, Kyle never knew where the game would take him. A Hmong man living in NE Wisconsin, Mr. Moua was the first to show Kyle what this game meant to him. The Hmong community- much like many minority communities- is underrepresented and unequal in many ways in comparison to the majority and yet, ironically, just as LOV is focused on advocating for athletes that are often overlooked- this is right where Kyle learned the game.

Since that day in 2003, Kyle has been a major member of the volleyball community in the state of Wisconsin- playing first in Hmong tournaments throughout the state early on in his career, to coaching freshman boys volleyball from 2010-2012 at Homestead High School, freshman boys at MUHS, NSMVC from 2012-2014, and conducting private lessons in the greater Milwaukee area for several years during and after college.

He has a passion for uplifting others, creating new memories, and unlocking potential. He is a true believer that you can create and be anything you want in this world if you put your mind to it and if you have someone there who believes in you- because without belief, no one knows their worth. Kyle currently resides in New York City where he works as an actor, photographer, and model while continuing to pursue beach volleyball professionally on the East coast.


Daniel Rivera
LOV Puerto Rico/Chicago

Born: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Raised: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Resides: Chicago, IL
Athlete:
• Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola: Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field; Won Athlete of the Year in Graduation
• Puerto Rico High School Volleyball 7x National Champion; MVP and All-Star awards
• USAV Junior National Championship Open Division, Team Borinquen Coquí: 3x Silver, 1x Bronze; All-American
• USAV High Performance, Team Puerto Rico: 2x Gold; All-American
• Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics Games, Team Puerto Rico; Beach Volleyball, placed 5th
• Marquette Men’s Varsity Club Volleyball Team: All-American, Freshman of the Year, Best Defender, MVP of MVC and MIVA, First Team All-American Club Nationals
• Norceca Volleyball Confederation, Team Puerto Rico: Beach Volleyball, placed 8th and 6th in Punta Cana and Canada, respectively
• Puerto Rico Beach Volleyball Tour: placed 3rd
• Puerto Rico Beach Volleyball National Team, Summer 2014-present
• AVPNext Midwest Region Tournaments: 2x Gold, 2x Bronze
• Currently training for AVP Tour
Coach:
• Marquette Men’s Varsity Club Volleyball Team Coach, 2014-2019
• Waukesha North High School Junior Varsity Coach, 2016-2017
• Coach and Instructor in numerous camps in Puerto Rico for kids from 6-20 years old
Leader:
• Math tutor for other students in need, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola
• Community Service with High School National Honor Society
• 2014 Mission Trip: helped impoverished community in Arenoso, Dominican Republic by donating clothes/sport gears/sanitary essentials, organizing social events such as baseball/volleyball games and theatrical plays, and talking about family and life ethics
• Community Service with College National Biomedical Engineering Honor Society
• Member of the Alpha Eta Mu Beta: granted to students in the top 1/5th of their Marquette University class
• 2017 Global Brigades Service Volunteer: helped construct sanitary bathrooms, concrete floors, and water trenches for impoverished communities in Nicaragua
• Currently working as an LCS Field Engineer-Monitoring at GE Healthcare

Roman Tkachuk
Development Team
LOV Chicago

Resides: Chicago, IL
• I am a passionate volleyball athlete and coach with over 15 years of experience as a player and 5+ years of experience as a coach. Volleyball has become more than just a sport to me—it is my sanctuary, my escape from the challenges and issues that life throws my way.
• As an immigrant from Ukraine, I have faced numerous obstacles on my journey to success. But through my unwavering dedication to volleyball, I have found solace, purpose, and a means to rise above adversity. The sport has given me a sense of freedom and joy that I cherish every time I step onto the court.
• Now, my goal is to pass on my knowledge and skills to the younger generation, particularly those who are in need of opportunities. I want to be a catalyst for change, offering guidance and support to children who may be facing their own set of challenges. By coaching and mentoring them, I aim to provide them with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the volleyball court.
• Every time I witness the growth and progress of my young athletes, I am filled with a profound sense of fulfillment and pride. Seeing their passion ignite and their dreams take shape is the greatest reward I could ever ask for. Through volleyball, I aim to empower these kids, instilling in them the belief that they can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.
• Volleyball is not just a game; it is a vessel for personal growth, resilience, and teamwork. It has shaped me into the person I am today, and I am committed to paying it forward by nurturing the talents of the next generation. Together, we will build a community of determined, compassionate, and successful individuals who will go on to make a positive impact in the world.
Coach:
• MOD 18s Head Coach
Leader:
• Park University BA, Accounting
• Senior Recruiter with New Roots Solutions
Athlete:
• NAIA National Champion 2017

 

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