Board of Directors
Sarah Sivertson
Sarah Sivertson
Board Member Bio
As a native of East Texas, she played club volleyball for various clubs in the North Texas Region before committing to play Division I volleyball at Siena College. Sarah was a four-year letter winner for the Saints and became one of the most decorated players in program history. During and after her college career, she coached at Team LVC for many years and eventually returned to Siena College as a volunteer assistant coach. After years of coaching, she decided to become an official for NYSPHSAA and USA Volleyball in hopes to grow the game and increase awareness for the need of officials in youth sports. Currently, she enjoys playing in both indoor and outdoor leagues and tournaments, as well as officiating tournaments in the region and across the country.
Mackenzie Pelton
Mackenzie Pelton
Board Member Bio
Mackenzie has been a member of USAV and the region since playing 12u volleyball. As an athlete, she played for 2 region teams and attended regionals, HP tryouts and a multitude of tournaments. Following her high school and club career, she attended Clarkson University and played DIII volleyball my freshman year. Following that year I became a team manager for the remainder of her college career. As a team, we attended the Elite 8 all 4 years. Alongside Johan Dulfer, now at Ithaca College, she has helped run 10 summer camps. She is currently the Varsity coach at her alma mater, Glens Falls High School. She has recently taken the Director position for Storm Volleyball Club and coach training clinics and lessons at Chase Sports Complex year round. Besides living and breathing volleyball, she is also a Civil Engineer in pursuit of her Professional Engineering stamp. She is looking forward to the Excelsior rebranding of the region and can’t wait to see what we can bring to the table as we grow volleyball in Upstate NY.
Caryssa Leland-Ahigian
Caryssa Leland-Ahigian
Board Member Bio
Jim Kramar
Jim Kramar
Board Member Bio
Ernie Ixtlahuac
Ernie Ixtlahuac
Board Member Bio
Craig Hilchey
Craig Hilchey
Board Member Bio
Craig Hilchey brings decades of experience as a certified NCAA, USAV, and AAU volleyball official. A former player from 1976 to 2016, Craig competed across military leagues, USAV, and recreational settings in the U.S. and Europe, building a lifelong passion for the game.
As an official since 1976, Craig has officiated at every level, from high school to college and national tournaments. His notable accomplishments include:
- High School Volleyball: Officiating for NYSPHSAA Regionals and State Championships since 1995. Served as Northern Adirondack Volleyball Officials’ Board (NAVOB) President (1998–2018) and Rules Interpreter (1998–2023).
- College Volleyball: Officiating across Division I, II, and III programs, including SUNY Plattsburgh, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, and Siena College, among others.
- USAV/JVA/AAU: Officiating regional and national tournaments, including USA Volleyball Regionals, the Nike Boston Volleyball Festival, and Rhode Island Rumble.
Craig also shares his expertise at volleyball camps and clinics, helping athletes improve their game. His current certifications include NCAA/PAVO Local Official, Line Judge, and USAV Regional Referee. His dedication to volleyball, both on and off the court, makes him a valuable member of our board and community.
Jenni Drazkowski
Jenni Drazkowski
Board Member Bio
Lauren Chyle
Lauren Chyle
Board Member Bio
Heather Bernet
Heather Bernet
Board Member Bio
My name is Heather, I am the Club Director and Owner of KODA Volleyball Club. We started small – with just 5 teams (I actually took over when the former club director moved to South Carolina in 2020 (yup the year of COVID) – needless to say I have learned a lot, and we are now a club of 24 teams (YES, I AM CRAZY – lol) – my vision is to improve the level of play in the Central New York region – and grow this amazing sport. I also want to see kids of all levels get the opportunity to learn and grow, and improve for themselves and for their schools. This may come from my own experiences, as I played for a small Class D school, and then for a small Jr College, from college I had the opportunity to be the assistant coach for my college team as the school was a 2+2 College, and I was staying to get my Bachelors degree, I then coached High School (Winter) ball, and then coached at SUNY Morrisville. I started playing club as an adult, and also had the opportunity to play Empire State Games. Flash forward ahead quite a few years when I stumbled upon KODA when my daughter was 13, I was a “parent” her first year, then started coaching for KODA, assisted the first year and then coached a 14’s team and began helping as the Assistant Director, then COVID, and then the role of the Director/Owner (I had no idea what I was about to embark on, and it has been one heck of a ride.)