Meet our coaches and staff
Passionate Mentors, Proven Leaders
At Viper Volleyball, we believe that great coaching is the foundation of great athletes, and we’ve built one of the most complete and respected club programs in the country. With access to top-tier training, quality facilities, and a deeply experienced staff, our athletes receive the guidance they need to grow both on and off the court.
Ed Morel
Founder
Lani Morel
Owner
We don’t just train players, we mentor people. And we’re proud to help shape the next generation of athletes through integrity, knowledge, and passion.
Administrative Staff
What truly sets Viper Volleyball apart is our staff’s deep commitment to consistency and collaboration. Our coaches don’t work in isolation, they support one another, follow a shared curriculum, and invest in every player’s journey across seasons and programs.
From beginner clinics to elite travel teams, athletes benefit from a seamless training philosophy and a unified coaching voice. Many of our staff members have been with us for years, bringing not only experience but long-term relationships that build trust and community. When you join Viper, you’re not just joining a team; you’re joining a culture of care, dedication, and continuous improvement.
Kylie Morel Kusakabe, Executive Director
Kylie Morel Kusakabe became the very first Viper player at age 9! Her dad, founder Ed Morel, created Viper as the first volleyball club in the Temecula Valley to give Kylie and her little friends somewhere to play. Nearly 30 years later, Kylie is deeply honored to continue her father’s legacy of fostering community and kindness through volleyball at all levels.
Kylie played at Viper for her club career and was a part of a very successful team at Chaparral High School, including 2 CIF championships. Kylie was recruited to PLNU as a setter and was a 4-year starter; she was selected to the 2008 Tachikara All-Tournament team and the GSAC All Conference team in 2009. Kylie was also an All-GSAC Scholar Athlete.
Kylie has her BA in Literature, and 2 Masters degrees: in Education and Social Work. She was working as a hospice social worker before the Lord brought her back home to carry on the Viper legacy!
Kylie is married to her best friend Brandon and they have 3 children, Noah (7), Zaki (5) and Annie (3).
Pookie Trimble, Director of operations
Kelly Cantu, Director of youth development
Kelly started her volleyball career with Viper at the young age of 10. She immediately fell in love with the sport and the team camaraderie that accompanied it. Kelly played primarily in the outside hitter position during her club years and was a part of many successful club teams, including Volleyball Festival Champions in her 14’s and 16’s years. Her 16s team also won the Bronze Division in Open at the Salt Lake City, UT Junior Olympics.
In High School, Kelly was a four year varsity volleyball player. After starting her freshman year at Temecula Valley High School, she then spent three years on varsity at Great Oak High School where she was a member of the first graduating class in 2007. While at Great Oak, Kelly was named first-team All-League selection her sophomore through senior seasons and a second-team All-League selection her freshman year at TVHS. During her senior season at Great Oak, the Wolfpack won its first Southwestern League Championship title in its first season competing in the league.
In 2011, Kelly graduated with her B.A. in Public Relations and started graduate school immediately after. During her two years of graduate school Kelly worked for Fresno State Athletics in the communications department as a Sports Information Director. She graduated in 2013 with her Masters in Sports Administration from Fresno State.
Kelly has a passion for volleyball and can’t wait to share that passion as a coach developing not only athletes, but successful people as well.
Jolynn Faatulu, Elite & National Program Director
On the Court: Jolynn Fa’atulu grew up in Long Beach where she played club for 5 years with Ichiban Volleyball Club. She was fortunate enough to have played for some influential coaches growing up, including her uncle and others who are still coaching youth or collegiately. Jolynn and her team were able to pick up a Junior National Championship and compete in a couple national finals along the way.
Jo then went on to play college volleyball for Arizona State University where she started coaching while still playing. She found enjoyment helping others learn how to play volleyball and has been doing it since 1997. Jo has coached at four clubs, two in AZ and two here in CA since moving back with her family in 2009. Fun Fact: Jo has coached with her husband Kurstan for almost her entire coaching career!
Off the Court: Jo and Kurstan have 1 son, Makana who played volleyball and baseball growing up. He just turned 20 this year and he is still playing baseball as a sophomore for San Jose State University. Jo and Kurstan love getting to watch him play, but the outdoor elements do pose a different challenge than watching indoor volleyball. You’re either getting a decent tan or freezing your tush off!
Purpose for Coaching: “I love coaching and getting to watch all our athletes grow up in the sport. It brings me such joy and fulfillment to help our athletes work towards their goals of playing at the next level year after year. I thank every coach I’ve had growing up because they were influential in why I loved playing and why I continue to coach and spread that same love for the sport today.”
Chris Leake, Local Program Director
Chris Leake grew up in Hermosa Beach, CA where he started playing volleyball on the sand at age 10. Chris played as La Sierra University as well as club ball at CSUSB. He went on to coach at San Bernardino Valley College where he and his team won the conference championships. Chris has coached many years of club volleyball in all ages and levels. He is in his 6th year with us here at Viper and his 4th as the Director of our Locals Program.
Chris truly enjoys his job and getting to watch the daily growth, development and love of volleyball that he gets to see from our locals program players.
Chris is happily married to his wife of 28 years; they have 3 adult children. He is also entering his 28th year as an elementary school teacher!
Michael Soylular, Director of Player Development
From Europe to the United States, from the East Coast to Southern California, Coach Michael Soylular’s volleyball career spans countries, languages, and decades, achieving success at every step along the way. Throughout his time as a player and 48 plus years as a coach, Coach Soylular has continued to hold true to his belief in the importance that solid fundamentals, a strong work ethic, and one’s strength of character plays in one’s success. As Club Director or LBVBC for the past 35 years, Coach Soylular continues to emphasize these values in his coaching staff and players.
Coach Soylular began playing volleyball in Turkey at the age of 13. With hard work he went on to play for one of the top professional volleyball clubs in Europe, Eczacibasi, based out of Istanbul. During his time with Eczacibasi the team won two consecutive Turkish National Championships and Coach Soylular had the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the world. Along the way he garnered numerous All-Tournament, All-League, and MVP honors.
Coach Soylular’s coaching career in the United States began at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he served as the Women’s and Men’s Head Volleyball Coach from 1982-1986. With the Women’s Team, Coach Soylular accumulated an overall record of 124-25, garnering NAIA District Coach of the Year honors twice (1985 & 1986). Meanwhile, the Men’s Team compiled an impressive record of 27-7 and won the Trans-American Athletic Conference Title twice (1985 & 1986). Coach Soylular then moved on to Wichita State where he served as an Assistant Coach with the Women’s Program (1986-1987). Coach Soylular continued on to the West Coast where he was the Head Coach of the Men’s Volleyball Team and Assistant Coach for the Women’s Team at Cal Poly Pomona. While at Cal Poly Pomona, the team was ranked in the top 15 in National Polls and qualified for the NCAA playoffs twice. From there he became an Assistant Coach at the University of Virginia where he oversaw recruiting, scouting, and game management.
As Coach Soylular moved on from the college game, he continued to find success at the high school and club levels. As Head Coach of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball Teams at Laguna Beach High School (1991-1996) he helped guide his teams to two CIF Championship in 1991 and nine league titles, and numerous other CIF finals and State appearances. In 1997 Coach Soylular returned to the collegiate volleyball scene as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cypress College (1997-2000) where he guided his team to the State Finals twice (1998, 1999) and garnered Orange Empire Conference Community College Coach of the Year Honors (1999). In all, during his collegiate coaching career Coach Soylular accumulated an overall record of 185-57, developed nine All-Americans, and 14 All-Region players.
Since Coach Soylular was named Club Director, LBVBC has captured eight National Championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2019). As a coach, he has coached players, male and female, of all ages and skill levels, both indoors and on the beach. Over 500 of his club and high school players have gone on to play at the collegiate level. Of those, a number of players have continued on to play professionally and at the National and Olympic Teams level. Most recently, Coach Soylular has led his last five 18-1 teams to one National Championship, three bronze medals (2015, 2017, 2018) and one silver medal (2016) at the USAV Junior National Championships. Moreover, his club teams also won numerous silver and Bronze medals in all age levels at USAVB, AAU, and VF championships. His 16’s and 18’s teams won Las Vegas Classics 4 times, 2 1st place finishes at both age divisions.
Coach Soylular received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (1983) and his Master’s Degree in Management and Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (1989). He currently resides in Fallbrook, CA with his wife, Carolyn, and two daughters, Kara and Sara.
Michelle Wright, Recruiting Coordinator
Michelle joins Viper after nine years of coaching collegiate volleyball. Her coaching experience includes seven years at the NCAA Division I level at California Baptist University (CBU) and two years at the NCAA Division II level at Azusa Pacific University. At CBU, Michelle was responsible for training hitters and passers, managing scouting assignments, and coordinating in-match defensive strategies. She also served as the recruiting coordinator and established hundreds of collegiate connections over the years. During her time at CBU, Michelle played a key role in helping numerous players earn All-Western Athletic Conference honors, as well as WAC Freshman of the Year and WAC Libero of the Year awards.
As a player, Wright was an accomplished outside hitter, showcasing her talents as a senior at CBU in 2014. She earned NCAA Division II All-American honors, PacWest Newcomer of the Year, and Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors after tallying 376 kills, 306 digs, 47 blocks, and 14 aces that season.
Before her time at CBU, Wright spent the 2012-13 seasons at San Diego State University and made her collegiate debut at the University of Hawai’i in 2010. She was named to the Western Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team with Hawaii, starting for the #5 nationally ranked team at the time. She was also honored as the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year with the Aztecs in 2012 and helped lead her team to a Mountain West Conference Championship.
Wright earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from San Diego State University in 2013 and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Disability Studies at CBU, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Formerly Michelle Waber, she married her husband, Joshua Wright, in May 2017.
As Recruiting Director and coach at Viper Volleyball, Michelle Wright is dedicated to helping our athletes achieve their collegiate goals. She works closely with players and parents to navigate the recruiting process, ensuring every athlete has the opportunity to showcase their skills and find the right fit.
Viper Coaches
Our commitment to teaching is at the heart of everything we do. We see volleyball in Temecula as more than just a sport; it’s a powerful platform for learning, growth, and personal development. Every coach at Viper is dedicated to making learning fun, inspiring confidence, and helping each athlete reach their full potential.
Michael Soylular, Coach
From Europe to the United States, from the East Coast to Southern California, Coach Michael Soylular’s volleyball career spans countries, languages, and decades, achieving success at every step along the way. Throughout his time as a player and 48 plus years as a coach, Coach Soylular has continued to hold true to his belief in the importance that solid fundamentals, a strong work ethic, and one’s strength of character plays in one’s success. As Club Director or LBVBC for the past 35 years, Coach Soylular continues to emphasize these values in his coaching staff and players.
Coach Soylular began playing volleyball in Turkey at the age of 13. With hard work he went on to play for one of the top professional volleyball clubs in Europe, Eczacibasi, based out of Istanbul. During his time with Eczacibasi the team won two consecutive Turkish National Championships and Coach Soylular had the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the world. Along the way he garnered numerous All-Tournament, All-League, and MVP honors.
Coach Soylular’s coaching career in the United States began at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he served as the Women’s and Men’s Head Volleyball Coach from 1982-1986. With the Women’s Team, Coach Soylular accumulated an overall record of 124-25, garnering NAIA District Coach of the Year honors twice (1985 & 1986). Meanwhile, the Men’s Team compiled an impressive record of 27-7 and won the Trans-American Athletic Conference Title twice (1985 & 1986). Coach Soylular then moved on to Wichita State where he served as an Assistant Coach with the Women’s Program (1986-1987). Coach Soylular continued on to the West Coast where he was the Head Coach of the Men’s Volleyball Team and Assistant Coach for the Women’s Team at Cal Poly Pomona. While at Cal Poly Pomona, the team was ranked in the top 15 in National Polls and qualified for the NCAA playoffs twice. From there he became an Assistant Coach at the University of Virginia where he oversaw recruiting, scouting, and game management.
As Coach Soylular moved on from the college game, he continued to find success at the high school and club levels. As Head Coach of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball Teams at Laguna Beach High School (1991-1996) he helped guide his teams to two CIF Championship in 1991 and nine league titles, and numerous other CIF finals and State appearances. In 1997 Coach Soylular returned to the collegiate volleyball scene as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cypress College (1997-2000) where he guided his team to the State Finals twice (1998, 1999) and garnered Orange Empire Conference Community College Coach of the Year Honors (1999). In all, during his collegiate coaching career Coach Soylular accumulated an overall record of 185-57, developed nine All-Americans, and 14 All-Region players.
Since Coach Soylular was named Club Director, LBVBC has captured eight National Championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2019). As a coach, he has coached players, male and female, of all ages and skill levels, both indoors and on the beach. Over 500 of his club and high school players have gone on to play at the collegiate level. Of those, a number of players have continued on to play professionally and at the National and Olympic Teams level. Most recently, Coach Soylular has led his last five 18-1 teams to one National Championship, three bronze medals (2015, 2017, 2018) and one silver medal (2016) at the USAV Junior National Championships. Moreover, his club teams also won numerous silver and Bronze medals in all age levels at USAVB, AAU, and VF championships. His 16’s and 18’s teams won Las Vegas Classics 4 times, 2 1st place finishes at both age divisions.
Coach Soylular received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (1983) and his Master’s Degree in Management and Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (1989). He currently resides in Fallbrook, CA with his wife, Carolyn, and two daughters, Kara and Sara.
Kurstan Olaso, Coach
Kelly Cantu, Coach
Kelly started her volleyball career with Viper at the young age of 10. She immediately fell in love with the sport and the team camaraderie that accompanied it. Kelly played primarily in the outside hitter position during her club years and was a part of many successful club teams, including Volleyball Festival Champions in her 14’s and 16’s years. Her 16s team also won the Bronze Division in Open at the Salt Lake City, UT Junior Olympics.
In High School, Kelly was a four year varsity volleyball player. After starting her freshman year at Temecula Valley High School, she then spent three years on varsity at Great Oak High School where she was a member of the first graduating class in 2007. While at Great Oak, Kelly was named first-team All-League selection her sophomore through senior seasons and a second-team All-League selection her freshman year at TVHS. During her senior season at Great Oak, the Wolfpack won its first Southwestern League Championship title in its first season competing in the league.
In 2011, Kelly graduated with her B.A. in Public Relations and started graduate school immediately after. During her two years of graduate school Kelly worked for Fresno State Athletics in the communications department as a Sports Information Director. She graduated in 2013 with her Masters in Sports Administration from Fresno State.
Kelly has a passion for volleyball and can’t wait to share that passion as a coach developing not only athletes, but successful people as well.
Jolynn Faatulu, Coach
On the Court: Jolynn Fa’atulu grew up in Long Beach where she played club for 5 years with Ichiban Volleyball Club. She was fortunate enough to have played for some influential coaches growing up, including her uncle and others who are still coaching youth or collegiately. Jolynn and her team were able to pick up a Junior National Championship and compete in a couple national finals along the way.
Jo then went on to play college volleyball for Arizona State University where she started coaching while still playing. She found enjoyment helping others learn how to play volleyball and has been doing it since 1997. Jo has coached at four clubs, two in AZ and two here in CA since moving back with her family in 2009. Fun Fact: Jo has coached with her husband Kurstan for almost her entire coaching career!
Off the Court: Jo and Kurstan have 1 son, Makana who played volleyball and baseball growing up. He just turned 20 this year and he is still playing baseball as a sophomore for San Jose State University. Jo and Kurstan love getting to watch him play, but the outdoor elements do pose a different challenge than watching indoor volleyball. You’re either getting a decent tan or freezing your tush off!
Purpose for Coaching: “I love coaching and getting to watch all our athletes grow up in the sport. It brings me such joy and fulfillment to help our athletes work towards their goals of playing at the next level year after year. I thank every coach I’ve had growing up because they were influential in why I loved playing and why I continue to coach and spread that same love for the sport today.”
Luci Villafana, Coach
Luci Villafana–entering her 6th season coaching at Viper, Luci has also acted as assistant coach at La Sierra University and head coach at Rancho Christian where she led her team to a CIF Championship and earned herself the honor of Coach of the Year. As a dedicated player, Luci loved the sport, and her goal is to teach each athlete to bring out the inner competitor while falling in love with the game!
Natalie Donnels, Coach
Natalie has played volleyball since the age of 9 with many clubs throughout her playing career. Natalie won a junior national championship during her 17s club year. She graduated from Murrieta Valley High School where she went on to play D1 indoor and beach volleyball at Cal State Northridge. She is in the indoor record book for sets played (1st 468), kills (6th 1,215), and digs (5th 1,236). She won the Big West League Title and went to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Natalie started coaching club when she was still in college and has been coaching for 13 years now.
Natalie has coached club volleyball at San Gabriel Elite, 951 Elite, and DSVC. Right after college she was the assistant coach at MSJC, then went on to take the head coaching job at Xavier College Prep in Palm Desert. She was there for 7 years and went on to win 6 league titles and made it all the way to the 1/4 finals of CIF and onto the state tournament. She just recently finished coaching at MSJC where she assisted the indoor and beach volleyball team.
Natalie is a mom to two kids– 4 year old Jameson and 2 year old June, and a wife to the most supportive husband Brad. She is looking forward to this club season!
Hannah Schaffer, Coach
Hannah Schaffer — a former setter at La Sierra University in Riverside, Hannah will be entering her 9th season of coaching club volleyball. Hannah takes pride in skill development and building a family-like culture in her teams. Her goal is to continue empowering young athletes to be great players and people.
Michelle Wright, Coach
Michelle joins Viper after nine years of coaching collegiate volleyball. Her coaching experience includes seven years at the NCAA Division I level at California Baptist University (CBU) and two years at the NCAA Division II level at Azusa Pacific University. At CBU, Michelle was responsible for training hitters and passers, managing scouting assignments, and coordinating in-match defensive strategies. She also served as the recruiting coordinator and established hundreds of collegiate connections over the years. During her time at CBU, Michelle played a key role in helping numerous players earn All-Western Athletic Conference honors, as well as WAC Freshman of the Year and WAC Libero of the Year awards.
As a player, Wright was an accomplished outside hitter, showcasing her talents as a senior at CBU in 2014. She earned NCAA Division II All-American honors, PacWest Newcomer of the Year, and Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors after tallying 376 kills, 306 digs, 47 blocks, and 14 aces that season.
Before her time at CBU, Wright spent the 2012-13 seasons at San Diego State University and made her collegiate debut at the University of Hawai’i in 2010. She was named to the Western Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team with Hawaii, starting for the #5 nationally ranked team at the time. She was also honored as the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year with the Aztecs in 2012 and helped lead her team to a Mountain West Conference Championship.
Wright earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from San Diego State University in 2013 and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Disability Studies at CBU, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Formerly Michelle Waber, she married her husband, Joshua Wright, in May 2017.
As Recruiting Director and coach at Viper Volleyball, Michelle Wright is dedicated to helping our athletes achieve their collegiate goals. She works closely with players and parents to navigate the recruiting process, ensuring every athlete has the opportunity to showcase their skills and find the right fit.
Kristopher Szot, Coach
On the Court, Kris started playing volleyball in High School and continued into college. He has been coaching volleyball for 20 years—4 years with us here at Viper. Coach Kris started the boys volleyball program at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita and is currently the boys and girls varsity indoor coach at St. Jeannes Catholic School. Coach Kris brings so much experience and passion to the court.
Ashlyn Holcomb, Coach
Ashlyn is entering her 10th season with Viper Volleyball! Ashlyn currently coaches at Temescal Canyon High School where is wrapping up her 10th year. She also started the Boys program at Temescal Canyon High School. Ashlyn has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and is currently an educator in the Lake Elsinore School District. She is driven, competitive and enjoys shaping young athletes. Her goal is to create positive, competitive, and skilled athletes to advance to the next level.
Evelyn Kaiwi-Hernandez, Coach
Audrey Underwood, Coach
Chelsea Taylor, Coach
Justin Hargrove, Coach
Lyndsie Upton, Coach
Emma O'malley, Coach
Marlee Nunley, Coach
Marlee Nunley is a former setter for the Women’s Volleyball team at California State University, San Bernardino, where she helped lead the program to its first-ever NCAA National Championship with an undefeated season in 2019. Over her five-year college career, she earned All-American honors, was named First Team All-West Region and All-Conference, won three conference titles, earned Setter of the Week seven times, and was recognized as Scholar Athlete of the Year.
This past season, Marlee coached Viper’s 13-1s and 15-1s, bringing the same competitive energy and leadership she had as a player into her coaching. She’s passionate about helping athletes grow both on and off the court, with a focus on building confident, resilient, team-first players. After playing at Viper for 10 years herself, she’s excited to be back in the gym that shaped her, giving back to the next generation of players.
Josh Boze, Coach
Nohemi Gonzalez, Coach
Christie Brumbaugh, Coach
On the Court: Jolynn Fa’atulu grew up in Long Beach where she played club for 5 years with Ichiban Volleyball Club. She was fortunate enough to have played for some influential coaches growing up, including her uncle and others who are still coaching youth or collegiately. Jolynn and her team were able to pick up a Junior National Championship and compete in a couple national finals along the way.
Jo then went on to play college volleyball for Arizona State University where she started coaching while still playing. She found enjoyment helping others learn how to play volleyball and has been doing it since 1997. Jo has coached at four clubs, two in AZ and two here in CA since moving back with her family in 2009. Fun Fact: Jo has coached with her husband Kurstan for almost her entire coaching career!
Off the Court: Jo and Kurstan have 1 son, Makana who played volleyball and baseball growing up. He just turned 20 this year and he is still playing baseball as a sophomore for San Jose State University. Jo and Kurstan love getting to watch him play, but the outdoor elements do pose a different challenge than watching indoor volleyball. You’re either getting a decent tan or freezing your tush off!
Purpose for Coaching: “I love coaching and getting to watch all our athletes grow up in the sport. It brings me such joy and fulfillment to help our athletes work towards their goals of playing at the next level year after year. I thank every coach I’ve had growing up because they were influential in why I loved playing and why I continue to coach and spread that same love for the sport today.”
Abigail Wright, Coach
Abigail immediately fell in love with volleyball at the age of 13 when she joined her
middle school’s volleyball program. She played there for two seasons before joining 951 Elite
Volleyball, where her team won both the violet (2014 – 14-1’s) and gray (2016 – 18-2’s) division
championships at the AAU Junior Nationals Tournament. There she played competitively as an
outside, right side and defensive specialist for 4 seasons, and also coached a few seasons for the recreational league. She played for two seasons at Murrieta Valley HS where she won
All-Tournament MVP at the Freshman HS Girls Volleyball Tournament. As a player she was
proud of her relentless work ethic, active communication, and consistent positive attitude.
Abigail has been coaching for the ACES program ever since joining the Viper family in
November 2024. This past spring and summer she also had a blast coaching the Tiny Tippers and Junior Beginners Viper volleyball camps. She loves encouraging her kids to develop their skills and grow into more confident players with each passing week, and strives to consistently build upon players’ abilities to effectively communicate, work hard, and maintain positive energies. Her coaching philosophy is that “Every ball is a new opportunity to score”, meaning there is always an opportunity for growth. She is so incredibly honored that she is now able to work alongside the coaches who have impacted her life immensely. Fun fact: Her first club coach was Coach Christie and her final club coaches were Coach Natalie and Coach Mita!
Ashlyn Beaver
