Excelsior Empire

Regional Volleyball Association

Who We Are

Executive Board

Hazel Goldstein

Hazel Goldstein

Commisioner

Hazel Goldstein was a 20 year Club Director for Whoosh Volleyball Club. She served as Asst. Juniors Director for four years, Juniors Director for 6 years and has the honor of being Regional Commissioner for the last 6 years. She has chaired the Structure and Function Committee and the Awards and Recognitions Committee for the Regional Volleyball Assembly. Hazel currently serves on the RVA  Education Committee and the Nominating Committee. Hazel has been a HS , College and USA Official. She currently works as a scorer at various colleges within the region.  Hazel enjoys running tournaments and has been happy to work with the region tournament committee to grow our region and run events.

Contact

Email: hazel@xlvball.org

Mike McNeil

Mike McNeil

Vice President

Mike has been playing volleyball for 45 years, starting after college in the local company recreation league. He played for 30 years with the Binghamton men’s USAV club and participated in over 20 USAV Adult National events. He still plays at selected Senior events, including USAV Nationals, Huntsman World Senior Games, and Empire State Senior Games. He is a certified USAV National Referee and internationally qualified National Scorer. He has been a clinician providing Scoring and R2 clinics and R1 evaluations/certifications for the past 20 years. He joined the IREVA Board of Directors over 20 years ago and has served as Eligibility Chair, Scorer Chair, and Officials Director. He currently serves as the Vice President of XLRVA.

Contact

Email: mike@xlvball.org

Theresa Vottis (no photo)

Theresa Vottis

Treasurer

Contact

Email: theresa@xlvball.org

Michele Atallah

Michele Atallah

Secretary

Michele Atallah, presently the Board secretary since 2018, has been around volleyball since childhood. Beside being a player, she coached the High school Varsity Boys and Girls as well as on a club team. A USAV Junior National Referee started in 2010, as well as a State PAVO referee started in 2014 has conducted scorekeeping clinics for clubs. Volleyball is her passion.

Contact

Email: michele@xlvball.org

Board of Directors

Heather Bernet

Heather Bernet

Board Member (2024)

Contact

Email: heather@xlvball.org

Jenni Drazkowski

Jenni Drazkowski

Board Member (2024)

Contact

Email: jenni@xlvball.org

Craig Hilchey (no photo)

Craig Hilchey

Board Member

Contact

Email: craig@xlvball.org

Ernie Ixtlahuac

Ernie Ixtlahuac

Board Member (2023)

Contact

Email: ernie@xlvball.org

Jim Kramar

Jim Kramar

Board of Directors (2024)

Contact

Email: jimk@xlvball.org

Mackenzie Pelton

Mackenzie Pelton

Board of Directors (2024)

Mackenzie has been a member of USAV and the region since playing 12u volleyball. As an athlete, she played for 2 region teams and attended regionals, HP tryouts and a multitude of tournaments. Following her high school and club career, she attended Clarkson University and played DIII volleyball my freshman year. Following that year I became a team manager for the remainder of her college career. As a team, we attended the Elite 8 all 4 years. Alongside Johan Dulfer, now at Ithaca College, she has helped run 10 summer camps. She is currently the Varsity coach at her alma mater, Glens Falls High School. She has recently taken the Director position for Storm Volleyball Club and coach training clinics and lessons at Chase Sports Complex year round. Besides living and breathing volleyball, she is also a Civil Engineer in pursuit of her Professional Engineering stamp. She is looking forward to the Excelsior rebranding of the region and can’t wait to see what we can bring to the table as we grow volleyball in Upstate NY.

Contact

Email: mackenzie@xlvball.org

Open (no photo)

Open

Board Member

Contact

Email: info@xlvball.org

Vanessa Volpe-Rivera (no photo)

Vanessa Volpe-Rivera

Board Member (2024)

Contact

Email: vanessa@xlvball.org

Chairpersons & Staff

Joyce Chicoine (no photo)

Joyce Chicoine

Ref Assignor

Contact

Email: joyce@xlvball.org

Leo Gameng

Leo Gameng

Officials Director

Contact

Email: officials@xlvball.org

Renee Gillen (no photo)

Renee Gillen

AES Coordinator

Contact

Email: renee@xlvball.org

Jackie Goldstein

Jackie Goldstein

Safesport Chairperson

Jackie Goldstein has been a part of the volleyball community for many years; first as a player, then coach, club director and now as the SafeSport Chairman. She currently lives in Orange County, NY with her daughter, Cameron and is an IT Manager for a large Beauty and Personal Care Manufacturer.

Contact

Email: jackie@xlvball.org

Mikala L’Hote (no photo)

Mikala L’Hote

Adult Chairperson

Contact

Email: mikayla@xlvball.org

Matthew Lopez (no photo)

Matthew Lopez

Coach Development Chairperson

Contact

Email: matt@xlvball.org

Tracy Manning

Tracy Manning

Juniors Coordinator

Tracy has been involved in the volleyball world for the last 18 years.  She first started as the Club Director for the Win City Volleyball club which then evolved into the Whirlwind Volleyball Club where she continues today as the Club Director.  She currently serves as the Juniors Director for the Excelsior Region and is a member of the Tournament Committee for the region as well.  In addition, she runs local tournaments within the region to continue providing opportunities for surrounding local clubs to compete and continue to improve their volleyball skills.

Contact

Email: tracy@xlvball.org

Erin McGovern (no photo)

Erin McGovern

Communications Director

Contact

Phone: 518-222-8154

Email: erin@xlvball.org

Website: https://xlvball.org

Laurie Muollo

Laurie Muollo

Registrar

Contact

Phone: 845-978-5433 (DO NOT CALL AFTER 9:00PM)

Email: laurie@xlvball.org

Jim Nichols

Jim Nichols

Outdoors/Related Sports Director

Contact

Email: outdoors@xlvball.org

Scott Wilhelm

Scott Wilhelm

Tournament/Insurance & Junior Results Coordinator

Scott started in the region as a club director & coach for Seaway Smash back in 2015.  Since then he has held multiple positions within the region as a board member, coordinator (tournament/insurance coordinator/junior results), and is also one of our regional officials.  Scott also represents Section X officials as the rules interpreter for the North Country Volleyball Officials Board.  He is also a school board member, and founder and former president of a 501(c)3 non-profit that benefited North Country food pantries.

Contact

Phone: 315-854-2657

Email: scott@xlvball.org