Nike Volleyball Camp at Episcopal Collegiate School

Paige is in her fourth season as a Head Varsity Coach at Episcopal Collegiate School (ESC) and Lower School Physical Education teacher, seventh season as EVA Head Coach, and 12th season of coaching all together. Paige took over ECS Varsity Volleyball in the summer of 2020 and has transformed it past the recognition. ECS Varsity finished the 2022 season as a runner up. 2021 season the Wild Cats were 3A Conference Champions while Coach Paige was named Conference Coach of the Year. Paige also received a huge recognition from AVCA by being name to the AVCA 30 Under 30 List."

Paige has been coaching club for the last twelve seasons. She is returning to her 6th season with EVA as the coach for the highest level team. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy, in New Orleans, LA, where she was part of the All-Star Team in 2009. She received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock (2009-2011), graduating in 2012 with a bachelors in Health Science. While at UALR, Paige was named Mississippi State's All Tournament player, Memphis University's All Tournament player and attended the Sunbelt Conference tournament every year. She finished her senior year at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and led her team to an undefeated season (21-0) finishing as Southland Conference Champions and holding the overall highest hitting percentage as a middle blocker. She graduated from UCA with a Masters of Science in Health Science in 2015. During her time at both UALR and UCA, Paige was awarded with the Sunbelt Conference Academic Honor Roll, the Southland Academic Honor Roll, Deans List and Chancellors List.

Prior to joining EVA five years ago, Paige was a head coach for Little Rock Juniors (10U-12); Arkansas Eagles (independent club 16s), and NOLA Volleyball (13s & 14s).

In 2018/19 season Paige was the Head coach for EVA 13 Regional team and led them to an impressive 4th overall rank in the Delta Region out of 97 teams in 13U age group. Last club season 2019/20, was cut short due to COVID-19, but Coach Paige's 13's regional team was showing incredible amount of growth and improvement in what turned out to be a short season for all. In 2020/21 season, Paige led EVA 14 National team to 46th placement at USA Junior National Championship in the National division.

In 2021/22 season Paige lead 16 Elite team and won three tournaments while playing in an age group up.

She am coaching 15Elite this year

We are extremely proud to see coach Paige continue to excel in professional career as we see her growth over the years and how she "arrived" at coaching philosophy that perfectly aligns with EVA culture.

Coach Rachel is in her 7th year of coaching: she has been on the coaching staff at Episcopal Collegiate School to assist with the varsity and junior varsity volleyball program going on 4 years now. She is in her 5th season of coaching on the EVA coaching staff, this year with 12 National.

Rachel started playing volleyball in the 6th grade at age 11. Her 9th grade year she was the libero for the varsity team at Mills High School (5A Conference) as well as the setter for the 9th grade. She would continue to be the setter for the school and help lead each team to win their Conference Championships (2005-2009).

During her club volleyball career she played as a Defensive Specialist/Libero. Upon graduating she was offered a half bowling and half volleyball scholarship to Grambling University. After some changes in the staffing at Grambling she accepted a bowling and academic scholarship to Texas Southern University (she has been bowling since she was 7). Upon transferring back home to Arkansas she would return to Mills and help train the current teams during the off seasons.

She continues to look forward to returning to the EVA staff, sharing her love for the sport of volleyball and increasing her knowledge of the game.

She is currently an Assistant Property Manager for a real estate company and has one daughter named Raiyne.

Hannah is a Sherwood, Arkansas, native with five years of high school volleyball experience, three years of club volleyball play, and 12 years of recreational competition. At 5'11, positions played have included both middle and right side hitter. Hannah graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 2011 and a Master of Business Administration degree in management and business ethics in 2016 also from Harding.

She currently serves as the director of digital media for Harding University. She is married to Taylor Owens, with whom she frequently plays volleyball, and lives in Sherwood.

Hannah served as floater coach during the season 2018/19 and helped several teams in their practice development but spent most of her coaching time with EVA 12 Regional Team which was ranked 12th overall in Delta Region our of 73 teams. Taylor joined mid season as a volunteer coach and rediscovered the joy for coaching alongside his wife.

Taylor first started playing recreational volleyball in college at Harding University. After competing on men’s and co-ed intramural teams at Harding, he continued to pursue volleyball in local indoor, grass and sand tournaments and leagues around central Arkansas.

Taylor graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor's degree in accounting. He has been working in the accounting department at Dillard's since 2017

We welcome Coach Brianna "Bri" to our NIKE coaching staff as a two-time All-American at Hot Springs High School. She lead the team to State for the first time ever in 2013. She started playing volleyball at 16 and quickly fell in love with the game and made a significant impact on her high school team. She played as an outside hitter and continued to love and enjoy the game past high school and continued to play as an adult.

Bri attended Henderson State University, majoring in athletic training and sports management. During her time at HSU, she worked closely with the volleyball team.

Currently, Bri works at PerfectVision Manufacturing Inc. as Operations Admin. Bri loves the game of volleyball and is looking forward to coaching at it has been her passion to coach kids to their full potential. She has a four-year-old daughter whom she hopes to grow up with a deep love of the game as hers.

Mary Herman has coached for EVA for three seasons and is entering her third season at Episcopal Collegiate School under EVA Assistant Club Director and ECS Head Coach Paige Gantar. Mary has also coached nike camps, EVA summer camps, and private lessons for three years. She has played volleyball since she was eleven years old, earning all state tournament and team captain honors in her time as a setter.

Played at Bauxite for 6 years, while playing for Little Rock Juniors National for 4. Named All-State in 2021 and 2022. Named All-Conference in 2020, 2021, 2022. Currently coaching 12s at EVA.

Sawyer Gibbons has 13 years of coaching experience in both school and club and has coached
all ages. She played at Midland College and UALR as a setter. She served as a student assistant
coach for the UALR volleyball program from 2013-2014. She then went on to become head
middle school volleyball coach at The Anthony School for five years all while still coaching club
for Elite Volleyball Academy.

Kristi Vargas is entering her 3rd year on staff at Episcopal Highschool with Coach Paige serving as a PSL coach and coordinator for 5th and 6th graders. She coached a 12s team for Elite Volleyball Academy this club season and will continue on next year as well. We are excited to have her join us!

Kristi is dedicated to developing athletes both on and off the court. She provides a fun atmosphere, and loves the team and coaches that she continues to learn from. She has a daughter, Kendall, who plays for ECS and EVA 12 National team.

Kailey Carrico played indoor for Elite Volleyball Academy for years. She was a 2x AVCA Phenom List Athlete, a 2021 5A State Champion and went on to play beach volleyball at Hendrix University. She was the Head Coach for a 12U team in 2023 and continues to coach beach with EVA.

Jason Curry is the founder of Finish Empty® and has dedicated his life to helping leaders and teams reach their full potential.

Whether in boardrooms, locker rooms, or classrooms, his mission remains constant: to help people Finish Empty®—giving their all, every single day. FinishEmpty.com

She played club volleyball at EVA under Coach Eckart. She was selected for the AVCA Phenom List. Her team placed 1st at the Show Me Tournament, earning a bid to Nationals, and 2nd in the Lone Star Open Division. She was also a standout libero at Lake Hamilton High School, earning three All-Conference and three All-State honors. She was named Defensive Player of the Year in her conference twice.

Daylee continued her athletic career at Arkansas Tech University and is now completing a Social Work program at UA Little Rock. She was head coach of EVA 11 White during the 2024–2025 club season and served as a 2025 beach volleyball coach. She’s passionate about developing young athletes and helping them fall in love with the game.