15 White

Emma Celentano was named the head coach at the University of Mount Olive in December 2019. With COVID-19 producing some unexpected challenges to a head coaching career, Emma finally got to complete her first season in spring 2021.

The team was projected to finish 9 out of 11 and far surpassed expectations with a 3rd place finish. It was the first time UMO had finished with a winning record and won a conference playoff game since 2013. That initial success was upheld in the fall 2021 where Emma had her first “normal” season – one with a full schedule. The team sustained what they were starting to build and had their first 15-win season since 2013. In addition, one of her players Amara Eziakonwa was recognized as a First-Team All-Conference selection by leading the league in attack percentage.

The success only continued into the 2022 season, where the team will get to see the year hang in the rafters as they claimed a share of the 2022 Regular Season Championship. Some of the highlights included:

• The first 20-win season since 2005

• Two First Team All-Conference performers – Middle Blocker Amara Eziakonwa and Libero Morgan Prots

• Finishing third in all of NCAA Division II in aces per set, averaging 2.54 and leading the entire country in total aces at 302

• The team’s 9 losses only coming to regionally ranked teams

Her career started at North Carolina Central University where she worked as the associate head volleyball coach. Her on-court responsibilities with NC Central primarily included training the defense and serve receive. Emma’s off-court responsibilities ranged from recruiting to developing the team’s conditioning program.

Emma started her coaching career in the club world back in 2013 and spent the last 5 years growing Carolina Edge. The club started off with 4 teams in its first season and steadily grew to having 11 teams this past year in 21/22. The focus on youth development and exposing all of the club’s athletes to high-level college coaching is exactly what she hopes to continue bringing to Advantage.

Emma graduated with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science in addition to Coaching Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her education is put to good use each and every day, and she couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to her career than at NC Central, starting Carolina Edge, and taking over Mount Olive. Emma completed her Master’s in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration from NCCU in December 2019.

Lastly, Emma’s favorite athlete is Roger Federer, and she has an unhealthy love for chocolate milk and Lululemon. If she was home more, she would definitely want a dog; and she could eat breakfast food for every meal of the day, every day.

Mallory Brown transferred to Shaw University in the Fall of 2020 from McCook Community College to complete her education and volleyball career. Mallory won the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year award, leading the conference in kills per set, points per set, and being top 5 in hitting percentage for Bears this season. When not in the gym, Mallory is working to complete her Political Science-International Relations major.

In Mallory’s sophomore season at McCook she was a co-captain for the team and she ranked top-10 in both kills and digs in Region IX South. In her free time, Mallory enjoys spending time with her dogs, watching tv, and playing volleyball.

Her goal this season is to help these young athletes develop strong fundamental skills, build their volleyball IQ, and guide them to be great people on and off the court.

Kamille Patrick is from Conway, South Carolina and is entering her junior year as a member of the Shaw University volleyball team. After her first season for the Bears was snatched away by covid, she dominated the second, making first team all-conference along with the all-rookie team with the second highest hitting percentage and top ten in points per set. Kamille also finished top 10 in the nation in aces per set.

Prior to her collegiate start, Kamille played volleyball for 8 years for Grand Strand Juniors. She had such a great experience under Coach Church in that program and now learning from JP that she wants to get a coaching career of her own started.

Kamille wants to teach the girls this season that growth is a process and it takes time and work for your game to grow and improve, with a huge part of that being the mental side to volleyball and sport. She plans to put psychology minor to good use with helping the Advantage youth grow their mental game. In her free time outside of volleyball, Kamille is pursing a Business Management degree.