About the club

Pat Hennelly brings over 30 years of volleyball coaching experience at the university, provincial, and national levels. As the Head Coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men's Volleyball program since 2005, Pat has established himself as one of Canada's respected university volleyball coaches.

His coaching background includes the University of British Columbia, Northern Arizona University (NCAA Division I), Team BC, and Canada's Senior Men's National Team.

Pat led the WolfPack to a U SPORTS National Bronze Medal in 2008 and was named both the Canada West and U SPORTS Coach of the Year in 2024.

Passionate about high-performance volleyball and athlete development, Pat is committed to building a culture of excellence, accountability, and hard work while preparing young athletes to succeed at the next level.

Iuliia Pakhomenko brings extensive international playing experience, high-performance coaching knowledge, and a strong passion for athlete development to Tumbleweeds Volleyball Club.

A former Ukrainian National Team athlete, Thompson Rivers University WolfPack standout, and Canada West Hall of Fame inductee, Iuliia has competed at the highest levels of volleyball and understands the dedication, discipline, and resilience required to succeed.

As the Founder and Head Coach of Ulavolley Academy in Kamloops, Iuliia is dedicated to developing the next generation of volleyball athletes through individualized training, strong technical fundamentals, and a high-performance mindset. Her academy focuses on building confidence, consistency, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the game.

Iuliia has also coached at the university and provincial levels, bringing her international playing experience into athlete development. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes repetition, accountability, hard work, and challenging athletes to step outside their comfort zones.

Playing Experience & Achievements

• Ukrainian National Volleyball Team | Former National Team Athlete
• TRU WolfPack Women's Volleyball | Former U SPORTS Student-Athlete
• Canada West Hall of Fame | Inductee
• International Volleyball | High-Performance Playing Experience

Coaching Experience

• Ulavolley Academy | Founder & Head Coach
• TRU WolfPack Women's Volleyball | Former Assistant Coach
• Team BC U18 Girls | Coach, Canada Cup 2026
• Youth Volleyball Development | Individual, small-group, and competitive training

Certifications & Education

• FIVB Level 1 | Certified Volleyball Coach
• NCCP Advanced Development | Coaching Education
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Coaching Philosophy

"I believe success is built through discipline, consistency, and hard work. There are no shortcuts to becoming a better athlete. Every repetition matters, and every challenge is an opportunity to grow. My goal is to help athletes push beyond their comfort zones, develop confidence, and reach their full potential both on and off the court."

Rob Gowe brings over 20 years of volleyball coaching experience across university, provincial, club, and high school programs. His coaching background includes Simon Fraser University, Capilano University, Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, and multiple Team BC provincial programs.

Rob has extensive experience developing athletes at all levels, from grassroots volleyball to high-performance competition. Most recently, he guided a Kamloops Volleyball Association girls' team to a 2026 BC provincial championship.

Passionate about athlete development, Rob emphasizes strong fundamentals, discipline, teamwork, and creating an environment where athletes are challenged to reach their full potential.

With 20 years of competitive volleyball coaching experience, Drew Venables brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to Tumbleweeds Volleyball Club.

Throughout his career, Drew has worked with athletes at all levels, from beginners discovering the sport to university-level competitors. His coaching philosophy emphasizes strong fundamentals, creativity, teamwork, and disciplined practice.

Drew believes that volleyball is a lifelong learning sport and finds his greatest satisfaction in watching athletes grow, develop confidence, and achieve their potential.

Coaching Philosophy

Drew's approach to coaching is built on three core principles:

• Hard work is fun.
• Playing for your teammates is rewarding.
• Volleyball is a lifelong learning sport.

He is committed to creating a positive, competitive environment where athletes are encouraged to challenge themselves, support their teammates, and continuously improve.

Playing Experience

• University College of the Cariboo | 1 year, All-Canadian
• University of Manitoba | 4 years, Second Team All-Canadian
• Professional Volleyball, Denmark | 1 year, Danish Championship Winner

Coaching Experience

• Team BC | Coach, 5 years
• College Volleyball | Assistant Coach, 6 years
• Thompson Rivers University WolfPack | Assistant Coach, 5 years

A Message from Drew

"I'm excited to build on the success this age group had last year, and I look forward to sharing my passion for the game with this year's team."

Angus Ireland brings extensive playing and coaching experience at the provincial, collegiate, university, and club levels to Tumbleweeds Volleyball Club.

His volleyball journey began as a Team BC provincial athlete in Grades 11 and 12, followed by post-secondary playing experience at Douglas College and the University of British Columbia.

Following his playing career, Angus transitioned into coaching, spending five seasons as an Assistant Coach at Douglas College before joining the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack coaching staff, where he is currently in his fifth season.

In addition to his university coaching experience, Angus has spent three seasons coaching U18 club volleyball in Kamloops and has contributed to various Team BC provincial team tryouts.

As Assistant Coach of the U17 Boys team, Angus brings valuable technical knowledge, competitive experience, and a strong understanding of athlete development.

Playing Experience

• Team BC | Provincial Team Athlete, Grades 11–12
• Douglas College | Collegiate Volleyball
• University of British Columbia (UBC) | University Volleyball

Coaching Experience

• Douglas College | Assistant Coach, 5 seasons
• Thompson Rivers University WolfPack | Assistant Coach, currently in 5th season
• U18 Club Volleyball, Kamloops | 3 seasons
• Team BC | Assisted with provincial team tryouts