Goals and Values:

1. Increase diversity and accessibility within volleyball and women's sports

2. Develop life-long volleyball players, coaches, officials and fans

3. Innovate within youth volleyball to close the "accessibility gap"

4. Bring South St. Paul Volleyball to the highest level possible

Coach LaRose came to South St. Paul in 2021 with nearly a decade of diverse volleyball coaching experience ranging from youth clubs to the collegiate level and has spent his time at SSP High School reimagining what is possible within Packer Volleyball. Under Coach LaRose, the program is seeing its highest-ever participation and program-wide success. In 2023, the Packers won their first section match since 2002 and Coach LaRose was named the Section 3AAA Coach of the Year. He helped lead the 2024 Packers to a school-record 24 wins and the program's first home playoff victory in nearly 30 years.

Also working in the classroom as the senior member of the high school Spanish department, Coach LaRose loves the South St. Paul community, where he also coaches boy's golf in the spring.

He is the Club Director for the South St. Paul Volleyball Club, officiates high school volleyball and basketball, and plays golf in his spare time.

Coach Aleah comes to SSP from just down the road at Humboldt High School, where she played multiple sports, including volleyball, and also served as a softball coach. Aleah joined the SSPVB staff in 2023 as we added a 9B freshman team for the first time in school history, and quickly rose up the ranks to 9A in 2025 and Varsity assistant in 2025.

Mikayla hates submitting bios, but that's ok because she's probably too busy to write one!

Mikayla fortuitously joined our staff in 2024 and quickly made it clear that she is one of the best young coaching minds in the area. She immediately took over our JV program and brought the level of play to new heights, and did so while being a new mom to Kingston, whom you will certainly see running around any gym while his mom coaches!

Mikayla played volleyball at Augsburg University and was a part of many successful teams at Belle Plaine High School. She, because one degree is never enough, is also currently in nursing school!

Coach Carina has been with the SSP volleyball program longer than any current coach, and she's only 21! Rising through the program as a youth athlete and high school player, Carina worked her way up to the varsity team and a captain role in 2021 for Coach LaRose.

Ever since, Carina has been dedicated to the Packers, coaching 12U, 14U and 16U teams for SSP Volleyball Club and eventually joining the high school coaching ranks, where she found immediate success by leading our co-conference champion 9A team in 2023.

During the morning, Carina is the store manager at Dunn Bros. Coffee in Eagan.

Rebecca Potter was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and now lives in South St. Paul. She has been coaching volleyball for over 10 years and is currently the volleyball director for West Side Boosters, developing a passion for teamwork and perseverance. Married for five years, Rebecca is a proud mom to a high school son. She is known for her dedication, positive spirit, and commitment to inspiring others both on and off the court. 

Victoria has been working for SSPPS for several years as a paraprofessional at Lincoln Center Elementary and made the afternoon transition over to high school coach this year to lead the 9B team.

In her spare time, Coach Menzie likes playing sand volleyball, rollerblading and spending time with her two kids!

Coaches Sielski and LeAnne have been pillars of South St. Paul Volleyball for years, first teaming up to run South St. Paul Volleyball Club in 2017, and then coaching at the high school level before reuniting again as our middle school coaches in 2022. Jody and LeAnne have given hundreds of Packers thier first taste of the game and are an indespensible part of our SSPVB family.

Both Coach Sielski and LeAnne have several children actively engaged in Athletics and Activities at SSPPS, and the two of them are one heck of a team! Jody teaches math at SSP Community Learning Center and LeAnne is a licensed therapist.