OVBC Oconomowoc volleyball club

2nd/3rd Gr.Coach: Michelle Bruss

Michelle grew up in Oconomowoc and is currently living in Oconomowoc with her husband and four kids. She played NAIA Division 1 volleyball (NCCAA All-American) and basketball for Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL and has been coaching since 2006. She spent 1 year as the freshman coach at Lake Country Lutheran High School, before coming to Oconomowoc where she spent 2 years as the JV coach for OHS. She bas been coaching Varsity since 2009. Michelle started as the 14’s coach with Oconomowoc Volleyball Club in 2007, has been our Director since 2008, transitioned to the 11's and is now a coach for the Developmental Group . Outside of coaching Michelle is now a stay at home mom who also enjoys playing doubles volleyball and misses playing basketball, so she plays whenever possible. Her favorite thing to do is be outside with her kids, but when on vacation she loves to snorkel.

Boys Coach: Shawn Voelz

I started playing volleyball from a young age in open gyms with my grandparents and Dad, and started playing organized volleyball in 6th grade at Trinity Lutheran School in Roselle. From there I was hooked and played year round throughout Middle School and High School. I played for a variety of clubs including Circus, Sports Performance, and Rolling Thunder. For the beginning of my career, I was an undersized outside hitter and played as a 4 year starter for Elk Grove High School. Unfortunately, I had a back injury my senior year, which cut my season short, and due to that injury, I switched positions and became a Libero throughout college. I was recruited to play at Lakeland College, and went on to play 4 more years with LC. During that time I was a 3 year Captain, and helped lead our 2007 team to the NIRSA Div 1 National Championship match against Oshkosh. In 2008, I helped lead our team to a win in the NIRSA Div 1 National Championship against the University of Illinois.

I started out my volleyball coaching career in 2008-2010 as the Graduate Assistant for the Men's Volleyball Team at Lakeland College. I took 10 years off from volleyball and came back in 2020 where I coached the next few years for 1st-4th graders at the Pabst Farms YMCA. Then earlier this year, I started up our boys 5th-8th grade Junior Raccoons - GMPL Volleyball program, and am the current head coach of our 5th grade team. I will also be head coaching the 11-1's Milwaukee Sting Club team as well this upcoming season.

4/5th Gr. Coach : Aaron Lang

Howdy,

My name is Aaron, and my lovely wife is Jenna. We live in Oconomowoc and absolutely love it here. We moved here six years ago to be closer to family, friends and work. We both met at Cardinal Stritch University where volleyball and friends brought us together.

As for volleyball, I started playing over 20 years ago, and I am still playing competitively today and loving it (2023 Waupaca Boatride Open Champs, baby)! I started playing volleyball in high school at Appleton North for four years, where I was awarded first team all-conference junior and senior years, all-state, and also conference player of the year as a setter. I attended Oshkosh for the 2006-07 season, starting as an outside hitter, and winning a NIRSA Div. 1 National Championship. I played one last year of collegiate volleyball for Oshkosh in the 2008-09 season, starting as outside hitter, and finishing runner-up in the National Championship.

I have been coaching volleyball for 17 years, from young kids, high school and up to adult professionals indoor and on the beach. I started coaching for the boys and girls programs at Appleton North High school, followed by years of summer volleyball camps at Oshkosh. After moving to Milwaukee, I coached the boys 16’s team for Milwaukee Volleyball Club, with an accolade of leading a 2’s team to a national open bid of only 32 teams in the country. During this time, I was also coaching the Shorewood High School boys varsity program, and growing their middle school feeder programs. I have been coaching adult and juniors beach volleyball down at Bradford Beach for the last 10 years, and am still coaching today for the indoor Milwaukee VLA pro team (Dive), on the beach, and doing private lessons for players.

Through my years, I have had the privilege of coaching, learning, and also playing alongside many great NCAA Division 1-3, NAIA and professional womens and mens players and coaches. I was also a volleyball official for five years, learning the sport from all angles. You will usually find me training and playing in the sand for the joy of the sport, and to stay in shape for the few “big” tournaments we play each year.

Volleyball has brought a lot of joy and friendships to my life, so I’m glad to share my gifts and joy that I’ve been given with others.

See you on the court :)

Aaron