Theresa Baetzel- Director/Program Head Coach

Theresa played for Lakeland College before finishing her degree in Liberal Arts at UIC. She has coached both Girls and Boys volleyball for over 30 seasons at various clubs and high school programs, including Riverside Brookfield, Fenwick, Hinsdale South, and Resurrection. She has claimed multiple Regional and Sectional titles as the head Varsity coach at Resurrection College Prep, as well as multiple regional titles in assisting roles at Riverside Brookfield and Fenwick. Theresa is the Director at Ignite, and has run numerous camps and clinics throughout northern Illinois for decades. She is also the owner and co-founder of Ignite. 

Rita Rouleau- Head Coach

Rita has coached with Ignite since 2011 and played for Ignite VBC and Nemesis from ages 14-18. She also coached at the freshman volleyball level at Resurrection College Prep High School for 2 seasons and was the assistant Varsity Volleyball coach to both boys and girls teams at St. Joseph High School for 4 years. Rita played at Riverside/Brookfield High School all 4 years and was all conference during her junior and senior years and led the team as a varsity captain her senior year. Rita then went on to play Division I volleyball her freshman year of college at UIC and then finished her college career at Resurrection University with her BSN.



Alysia Beirne- Head Coach

Hi, I’m Coach Alysia, and am so excited to be a part of the Ignite family again. I played for Ignite VBC for 5 years starting as a middle hitter and then moving to an outside/defensive specialist. I played at Fenwick High School all 4 years including 3 years on varsity primarily as a DS/libero. I recently graduated from Saint Louis University with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy and currently work in both pediatric and worker’s compensation settings. Ignite has always fostered a positive but competitive environment for me as an athlete, and I hope to continue to add to that dynamic!

Sarah James- Head Coach

Sarah is the womens head volleyball coach at Oakton Community College. She has been coaching Ignite Volleyball Club for 7 years. She has coached at Resurrection high school, and was the head varsity softball coach at Fenwick. She was awarded the 2019 Sectional Coach of the Year from the Illinois Coaches Association. She went to Riverside Brookfield HS, and then at College of DuPage and Concordia University. 

Erin James- Head Coach

Hey everyone I am coach Erin! I have been playing volleyball since the 5th grade and played for ignite for 3 years! And this will be my second year coaching with ignite. I went to school for nutrition and dietetics and currently work as a nutritionist for WIC. In my free time I like to work out, read, spend time with friends and family (and of course my cat!) 

Yvette O'Connell- Coach, Assistant

My name is Yvette Lucente. I am the current volleyball director at St. Mary Riverside.I have been in this position for the last 4 years. I am also the coach of the 8th grade girls team. We have been playing as a team since 4th grade. I have brought the volleyball program back to St. Mary making sure we are starting in 4th grade, playing in numerous tournaments and several leagues. I have coached numerous in house leagues through First Alliance. I am also an IHSA licensed volleyball referee. Looking forward to an exciting season.

Jessica Johnson- Coach

Most of our coaches have also played in college, coached at the high school level, and are USAV IMPACT and ASEP certified.

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