Owner

Playing Experience: BJ began playing volleyball freshman year of high school at Palatine High School as a way to stay in shape for basketball. Fast forward a year and he decided to give up basketball to play club volleyball for Pipeline Coach, Rob Ridenour. He played for three seasons under Coach Ridenour and his team qualified for the “Open” division at JO’s each season. He was awarded All-Conference, and All-Area his Junior and Senior seasons at Palatine High School.

Upon graduation BJ chose to attend Lewis University, where he would leave the program as the All-Time Leader in Assists during the Rally Scoring Era. During his time at Lewis his team was ranked consistently in the top 15 in the country, won the MIVA Regular Season Championship twice, and twice was given the opportunity to compete for a national championship with an NCAA tournament berth. His team made it to the Final Four in 2012 falling to host USC, and made it to the Quarterfinals eventually losing to Penn State in 2014. He was a 2 year Captain, 4x All-MIVA player, 3x AVCA All-American, 3x VolleyballMag All-American, 2x All-MIVA Tournament player, and a 2x Capital One Academic All-American.

Following graduation from Lewis, BJ was invited to train in Anaheim, California at the USA Volleyball training facility and compete for a spot on a team that would play at the Pan American Cup games in Tijuana, Mexico along with Girls Director Scott Kevorken. He was named the team’s starting setter and was awarded the “Best Setter of the Tournament”. The team went undefeated until the Gold Medal match when they lost to eventual champion, Cuba.

Next BJ went overseas to compete in one of the highest level leagues in the world, the German Bundesliga 1.

BJ has also competed in the PVL earning two Silver Medals and an All-Tournament Team honor in 2015. He was a setter on the Chicago Icemen team for the first tournament in the newly established pro league in the US, the NVA (National Volleyball Association). He has also been an on-court demonstrator at the AVCA Coaches Convention, which runs during the Women’s NCAA Final Four, representing the VLA (Volleyball League of America) working with coaches like Team USA Men’s Head Coach John Speraw, Team USA Women’s Head Coach Karch Kiraly among others.

Coaching Experience: BJ began coaching in college with Pipeline Volleyball Club as a coach during the summer, while balancing training for the next college season. He spent three years as a summer coach. Once he returned from overseas he was able to coach a team for the full season and also became the Lead Trainer for the U16/15/14 programs. The next season BJ became the Co-Owner, and boys Director and has been in that role since. He has been the Varsity Head Coach at Plainfield Central High School, Barrington High School and the Assistant Men’s Volleyball Coach at Benedictine University. He has also helped coach at Lewis University camps and the Loyola University Chicago Men’s Volleyball Team.

Personal Information: At Lewis University, BJ graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and his MBA in five years.

Owner

Playing Experience: Stephanie began playing volleyball competitively at the age of 11 for Club Fusion-Marengo, where she was known as the club's "gym rat".  Driven by her passion for the game, competitive attitude, and work ethic, Stephanie spent every day in the gym, joining other teams practices and getting private lessons on her teams' "off days".  Over time, Stephanie's club team rose through the ranks of club volleyball and won numerous national tournaments.  Her team finished fifth in the "open" level at nationals as 15s, 17s, and 18s, and won a National Championship as 16s, where Stephanie was named the tournament MVP.  

Stephanie attended Burlington Central High School, where she was a four year Varsity starter and helped lead her team to a 3A State Runner Up finish her junior season.  Stephanie still holds the 3A state tournament record for number of kills in a semi-final match.  Her senior season, Stephanie was one of 24 high school seniors named an Under Armour All-American and was flown to the final four to compete in the High School All-American Match and attend the NCAA Division I National Championship semis and finals.  In the Under Armour All-American game, Stephanie was named the "Most Undeniable Player" (MVP).  In 2016 Stephanie was inducted into Burlington Central's Athletic Hall of Fame.  

At the age of 15 Stephanie verbally committed to play her collegiate career at Northwestern University, where she was a four year starter at outside hitter.  After being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2010, Stephanie went on to be a 3x All Big Ten performer and a 2x AVCA All-American in the country’s toughest volleyball conference.  Racking up numerous Freshman of the week and Big Ten Player of the week honors during her career, she was also named the Sports Imports / AVCA Division I National Player of the Week (9/24) after averaging 6.18 kills and 4.1 digs per set in three wins.  She was also named a Senior CLASS award candidate, an annual award given to a student-athlete who most embodies community, classroom, character, and competition.  Stephanie still holds Northwestern's All Time Kill Record with 1,797 career kills.  

Immediately after completing her collegiate eligibility in December of 2013, Stephanie left to begin her professional career overseas.  She played one season with Lancheras de Catano in Puerto Rico, one with Club Regatas in Peru, and then finished her professional career in England, winning a National Championship with Team Durham.  

Coaching Experience: Stephanie began her coaching career her freshman year at Northwestern.  Balancing her academic course load with her athletic commitments, Stephanie set aside time to coach for Wildcat Junior Volleyball Club, where she was an assistant coach.  She spent four years at "Wildcats" before taking time out of coaching club to play professionally overseas.  

In 2017 Stephanie accepted a coaching position with Schaumburg High School as the Junior Varsity Head Coach and Varsity Assistant.  

Personal Information: At Northwestern, Stephanie studied Secondary Education and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy.  In 2018 she graduated from University of Durham (England) with her Master of Arts in Education.  She currently holds her Illinois teaching license in High School Social Sciences.  

Boys Director + Recruiting Coordinator

Playing Experience: Matthew McCarthy grew up in the Western Suburbs, where he started playing volleyball at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and Sports Performance Volleyball Club. He was fortunate to be a part of some great teams - taking two fifth-place finishes at the USA Open Championships and winning the Illinois Boys State Championship in 2004 with an undefeated season. After high school, Matthew played at Ball State University from 2005-2009. He was a two-year captain and achieved 3x All-MIVA awards. During this time, McCarty was selected to the U21 Men's National Team, which placed 8th in the World Championships in Visakhapatnam, India. After college, Matthew's indoor playing days were over, but he found a new passion for the sport after he started playing beach volleyball. He has played at the Professional level after qualifying for AVP Open events. He has also won many outdoor semi-professional tournaments and still tries to play at the highest level possible today.

Coaching Experience: Matthew went straight into coaching collegiate volleyball at Lewis University in 2010 after graduating from Ball State. McCarthy spent the next 11 years coaching at the NCAA Division I level at Lewis University (2010-2018) and Loyola University (2019-2021), going 257-115 in match play. Which included 1 NCAA National Runner-up Team, 1 MIVA Championship, 4 Regular-Season Championships, 3 NCAA Tournament appearances, 2 AVCA 30 under 30 awards, 1 AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year award, 6 Top 10 Recruiting Classes, and helped produce over 30 All-American Players. During this time, McCarthy was also involved with the USA Volleyball Pipeline. Coaching various teams, including the U21 Men's National Team, A1 Youth Coach, and A2 Select Coach.

Personal: Matthew Studied Business Administration at Ball State University and graduated with his MBA from Lewis University in 2012. Matthew is also married to a volleyball player with a son named Milo and a dog named Ronnie. In his free time, he loves hanging out with his family and friends, drinking coffee, and playing beach volleyball.

Girls Director

Scott started playing volleyball at the age of 12 becoming an All-League, Co-MVP and County All Star at Westlake High School in southern California. He played his club seasons at Pacific Palisades volleyball club, achieving a 3rd place finish in the Open Division of Junior National Championships (2009).

A graduate of UC Irvine, Scott is a back-to-back National Champion (2012, 2013), as well as a recipient of All-Freshmen Team, First Team All-Conference, and AVCA All-American awards. Post-college, Scott competed for four seasons in the German Bundesliga 1.

After retiring from professional indoor, Scott joined the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball staff as an assistant coach (2021-2022), before moving to Chicago to continue assistant coaching for the Loyola Chicago Men’s Volleyball program. This will be Scott’s first year as the Girls Director at Pipeline Volleyball Club.

In his spare time, Scott enjoys building Lego, long walks with his 100 lb dog, Franklin, and being an armchair movie critic.

Boys Associate Director

USA Volleyball Experience:

2018, Assistant Coach USA Select A1 Invitational Program, Tulsa, OK

2017, Assistant Coach USA Select National A2 Invitational Program, Colorado Springs, CO

2015, Assistant Coach USA Select Continental Program, Des Moines, Iowa

2015, Assistant Coach USA Select National A2 Invitational Program, Colorado Springs, CO

2014, Assistant Coach USA Select National A2 Invitational Program, Colorado Springs, CO

2009, Men’s Junior National Training Team, Chula Vista, CA

2008, Men’s Junior National Team Alternate, Chula Vista, CA

2007, Boy’s Youth National Team, Starting Middle Blocker Youth World Championships, Tijuana, MEX

2006, Boy’s Youth National Training Team, Lake Placid, NY

Coaching Experience:

2020-2022, Assistant Coach, University of Delaware Women’s Volleyball, Newark DE

2019-2020, Volunteer Assistant Coach, Texas Christian University Women’s Volleyball, Fort Worth, TX

2017-2018, Assistant Coach, University of Texas, Arlington Women’s Volleyball, Arlington, TX

2016-2017, Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Illinois Women’s Volleyball, Champaign, IL

2015-2016, Assistant Coach, Roger Williams Women’s Volleyball, Bristol, CT

2013-2015, Graduate Assistant Coach, Springfield College Men’s Volleyball, Springfield, MA

2009-2013, Assistant Coach, 949 Volleyball Club, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Playing Experience:

2008-2012, University of California, Irvine

Team Accomplishments:

2022, Delaware- Team produced 2 All-Conference selections including 1 All-American and the conference Player of the Year.

2021, Delaware- Team produced 3 All-Conference selections, Ranked 3 rd nationally in aces per set.

2020, Delaware- Team produced 2 All-Conference selections

2019, TCU- Team produced 2 All-Conference selections including 1 All-Region selection

2019, UT Arlington- Recruiting class received “High Honorable Mention” recognition from Prep Volleyball

2018, UT Arlington- Team produced 3 All-Conference selections including Defensive Player of the Year

2017, UT Arlington- Team produced 2 All-Conference selections

2016, Illinois- Team produced 3 All-Americans including Olympian Jordyn Poulter.

2015, Roger Williams- Undefeated regular season and tournament champions, NCAA first round, Team produced 5 All-Conference selections, including the conference freshman of the year, and 1 All-Region selection.

2015, Springfield College-NCAA Division III National Runner-Up, Springfield College Men’s Volleyball, Team Garnered 3 All-Americans including the National Newcomer of the Year.

2014, Springfield College- NCAA Division III National Champions, Springfield College Men’s Volleyball, Team Garnered 4 All-Americans including the National Player of the Year.

2012, UC Irvine- NCAA Division I National Champions, University of California, Irvine Men’s Volleyball.

2009, UC Irvine- NCAA Division I National Champions, University of California, Irvine Men’s Volleyball.

Awards/Honors:

2014, Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship Winner

2008, AVCA High School Senior All-American, Volleyball Magazine Fab 50, USA BJNC All-Tournament.

Team, All CIF Southern Section First Team, All Pacific Coast League First Team

2007, Volleyball Magazine Top 25 Underclassmen to Watch, USA BJNC Silver Medalist, All CIF Southern Section First Team, All Pacific Coast League First Team

2006, BJNC All-Tournament Team, All Pacific Coast League Honorable Mention

Youth Director

National coach: 2021-present

Playing Experience: Lauren began her career at 12 years old in middle school volleyball. After finding her love for the game she started her club career at Fusion Marengo. For two years, Lauren developed her skill and IQ as an outside hitter through an influential coach, helping her stay in the position at just 5'6". In high school, Lauren transitioned clubs to Top Flight, where she helped her team earn 1st in the silver bracket at the Windy City Qualifier at Navy Pier. Her senior year, she dedicated more time in the gym doing private lessons on her days off, extra training in the weight room to improve agility and to increase her vertical to 27", to prepare for college season. This extra time she put in earned her the recognition of Female Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Lauren went to Burlington Central High School and was a 4x Varsity athlete, 4 year letter winner for high academics, and earned numerous MVPs and all-tournament player awards. She helped lead the Rockets to Regional Champions her Senior year.

After high school, Lauren continued playing at North Park University in downtown Chicago. She finished her career as a four-time all-conference selection, including being named to the first team as a junior, second team recognition as a sophomore and senior, and third team as a freshman. Lauren finished with 1,419 kills, leading the Vikings in that category for four consecutive years and holds second in the school record, even after missing part of her junior season due to a meniscus tear. She added a career total of 1,390 digs and was named North Park's Athlete of the Year during her senior year. Finally, she helped lead the Vikings to the semifinals of the CCIW Tournament for the first time in school history in 2018.

Lauren was inducted into the North Park University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023!

Coaching Experience: When Lauren graduated from North Park, she became a graduate assistant at Elmhurst University where she earned her MBA and coached the volleyball team. She created and ran the team's strength and conditioning programs, along with practices. Her final year coaching, the team placed third at the AVCA tournament and finished in the top-25 ranking in NCAA Division III. In 2021, following her graduation from Elmhurst, Lauren accepted an assistant position at DIII Colby College (Maine).

Coach Wiltsie joined Pipeline Volleyball Club in 2021, where she is a head coach, lead trainer, and Pipeline’s Youth Director.

Personal Information: At North Park University, Lauren studied Exercise Science and graduated with a Bachelors of Science. In 2020 she graduated from Elmhurst University with an MBA in Market Research.

Girls Assistant Director

2023 Season - Current

Playing Experience: Morgan was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL. She started playing volleyball when she was 9 years old and has been an outside hitter since the very beginning. She played at Schaumburg High School where she earned All-Conference Athlete, All-Area Athlete, and Co-player of the year her senior year. She played club volleyball since she was 13 at Top flight for a couple seasons as well as Club One.

When Morgan graduated high school, she went to play collegiate volleyball all 4 years at McKendree University down in Lebaon, IL.

Coaching Experience: This is Morgan’s second season coaching at Pipeline!

Personal Information:  Morgan graduated in May 2022 from McKendree University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Coach Morgan: "This is my first year coaching at Pipeline and I couldn’t be more excited! I’m looking forward to this season and helping young athletes grow!”