COLAVOL Coaches
Chris Akers
Club Owner/Director
16 Black Head Coach
Chris Akers founded COLAVOL, which stands for “Columbus, Opelika, LaGrange, Auburn Volleyball”, in 2016. In addition to serving as COLAVOL’s Club Director, Akers has coached at two local high schools, Calvary Christian School and Columbus High School. During his tenure at Calvary, the team he coached won a state championship and four straight region championships. While at Columbus High, Akers led the Lady Blue Devils to three area championships, two Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four appearance in the state playoffs. The Blue Devils won the State Championship in 2007. Under his leadership, the Columbus High volleyball program produced 17 All Bi-City players, three Area Players of the Year, and an All-State Top 25 Senior Awardee.
Akers is a USA Volleyball certified instructor with 15 years of indoor and outdoor playing experience. He has coached COLAVOL teams to earn four regional championships, including two power level (2019 15s and 2018 16s). In 2022, his COLAVOL 13s team finished in the top 5 at the AAU Classic National Championships, followed by a top 20 finish as a 14s team in the Aspire division and a No. 5 ranking as 15s the Southern Region.
Club Owner/Director
16 Black Head Coach
Chris Akers founded COLAVOL, which stands for “Columbus, Opelika, LaGrange, Auburn Volleyball”, in 2016. In addition to serving as COLAVOL’s Club Director, Akers has coached at two local high schools, Calvary Christian School and Columbus High School. During his tenure at Calvary, the team he coached won a state championship and four straight region championships. While at Columbus High, Akers led the Lady Blue Devils to three area championships, two Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four appearance in the state playoffs. The Blue Devils won the State Championship in 2007. Under his leadership, the Columbus High volleyball program produced 17 All Bi-City players, three Area Players of the Year, and an All-State Top 25 Senior Awardee.
Akers is a USA Volleyball certified instructor with 15 years of indoor and outdoor playing experience. He has coached COLAVOL teams to earn four regional championships, including two power level (2019 15s and 2018 16s). In 2022, his COLAVOL 13s team finished in the top 5 at the AAU Classic National Championships, followed by a top 20 finish as a 14s team in the Aspire division and a No. 5 ranking as 15s the Southern Region.
Lagi Figgins
18 Black Head Coach
Columbus, Georgia native Lagi Figgins is entering her second year coaching for COLAVOL, and has a vast amount of experience as an award winning volleyball player. Figgins played volleyball for Columbus High School, Augusta University and the University of Iowa. Throughout her career, she earned Player of the Week numerous times at both the high school and collegiate levels. She is a 2006 Georgia All State awardee, earning a spot as one of the top 25 players in the Peach State. Coach Figgins is married to Bruce Figgins, Jr. and they have two children: Boyce and Blakely Figgins.
18 Black Head Coach
Columbus, Georgia native Lagi Figgins is entering her second year coaching for COLAVOL, and has a vast amount of experience as an award winning volleyball player. Figgins played volleyball for Columbus High School, Augusta University and the University of Iowa. Throughout her career, she earned Player of the Week numerous times at both the high school and collegiate levels. She is a 2006 Georgia All State awardee, earning a spot as one of the top 25 players in the Peach State. Coach Figgins is married to Bruce Figgins, Jr. and they have two children: Boyce and Blakely Figgins.
Emily Kacik
17 Black Head Coach
Emily Kacik has been playing volleyball for 15 years. She’s originally from Palmdale, California, and moved to Columbus, Georgia, in 2022. After high school, Kacik played both indoor and beach volleyball for Antelope Valley Community College. Her primary positions were middle and right side hitter, and she was known for her passing defense.
Kacik has coached travel volleyball for 14s, 15s and 16s for over 10 years; the last three of those years have been with COLAVOL. “I enjoy sharing the love for the game with young athletes,” Kacik said. “My goal as a coach is to be a role model on and off the court and help these young athletes grow into amazing players and humans.”
17 Black Head Coach
Emily Kacik has been playing volleyball for 15 years. She’s originally from Palmdale, California, and moved to Columbus, Georgia, in 2022. After high school, Kacik played both indoor and beach volleyball for Antelope Valley Community College. Her primary positions were middle and right side hitter, and she was known for her passing defense.
Kacik has coached travel volleyball for 14s, 15s and 16s for over 10 years; the last three of those years have been with COLAVOL. “I enjoy sharing the love for the game with young athletes,” Kacik said. “My goal as a coach is to be a role model on and off the court and help these young athletes grow into amazing players and humans.”
McKenzie Robinson
16 Black Assistant Coach
McKenzie (Mack) Robinson started playing volleyball on an intramural team at the age of 8 at Calvary Christian School. She immediately fell in love with the sport. When she was 12, she joined COLAVOL, which was Columbus Juniors back then and was part of the club’s very first team. The 15s team went on to win SRVA Regionals their very first year of playing club. After that season Robinson was asked as an 8th grader to try out for varsity. She was the very first middle schooler to make varsity at her school. She had a stellar high school career which included All State & All Region 9th-12th grades, All-Bi-City first team 10th-12th grades, and a record high of over 1,500 kills. Her high school volleyball jersey was retired.
Post high school, Robinson went to a small college in Macon where she won many awards including runner-up freshman of the year for the NCAA Great South Atlantic Conference. The next year Columbus State University started a volleyball program and Robinson transferred to back home to play the sport she loves.
Robinson began coaching for both Calvary Christian School and COLAVOL in 2014. She coached at Calvary for a total of six years, working with JV and varsity players.
16 Black Assistant Coach
McKenzie (Mack) Robinson started playing volleyball on an intramural team at the age of 8 at Calvary Christian School. She immediately fell in love with the sport. When she was 12, she joined COLAVOL, which was Columbus Juniors back then and was part of the club’s very first team. The 15s team went on to win SRVA Regionals their very first year of playing club. After that season Robinson was asked as an 8th grader to try out for varsity. She was the very first middle schooler to make varsity at her school. She had a stellar high school career which included All State & All Region 9th-12th grades, All-Bi-City first team 10th-12th grades, and a record high of over 1,500 kills. Her high school volleyball jersey was retired.
Post high school, Robinson went to a small college in Macon where she won many awards including runner-up freshman of the year for the NCAA Great South Atlantic Conference. The next year Columbus State University started a volleyball program and Robinson transferred to back home to play the sport she loves.
Robinson began coaching for both Calvary Christian School and COLAVOL in 2014. She coached at Calvary for a total of six years, working with JV and varsity players.
Kaylee Rose
15 Carolina Head Coach
Kaylee Rose is beginning her second season at COLAVOL. A Phenix City, Alabama native, she played volleyball at Central High School and was team MVP her senior year. She played at Andrew Junior College before transferring to South Carolina State University. She still plays and competes in adult-level leagues and indoor and outdoor tournaments. Rose coached volleyball at Shaw High School in 2023. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Columbus State University. In addition to playing volleyball, Rose enjoys spending time with her 2-year-old daughter, being outdoors, and traveling.
15 Carolina Head Coach
Kaylee Rose is beginning her second season at COLAVOL. A Phenix City, Alabama native, she played volleyball at Central High School and was team MVP her senior year. She played at Andrew Junior College before transferring to South Carolina State University. She still plays and competes in adult-level leagues and indoor and outdoor tournaments. Rose coached volleyball at Shaw High School in 2023. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Columbus State University. In addition to playing volleyball, Rose enjoys spending time with her 2-year-old daughter, being outdoors, and traveling.
Mary Irving
14 Black Head Coach
Mary Irving has over a decade of travel volleyball coaching experience with COLAVOL. She is also currently the head JV volleyball coach at Calvary Christian School. “I’m passionate about coaching young athletes and instilling valuable life lessons learned through competitive sports,” Irving said. She and her husband, Harry, have four children and reside in Hamilton, Georgia.
14 Black Head Coach
Mary Irving has over a decade of travel volleyball coaching experience with COLAVOL. She is also currently the head JV volleyball coach at Calvary Christian School. “I’m passionate about coaching young athletes and instilling valuable life lessons learned through competitive sports,” Irving said. She and her husband, Harry, have four children and reside in Hamilton, Georgia.
Sam Gump
14 Black Assistant
Sam Gump has played volleyball since he was in fourth grade. “I played both club and high school, where my team went to state in 2019,” Gump said. “I decided not to play in college because I wanted to get involved in other things, but I missed the sport so much I decided to come back and coach the younger generation; it was one of the best decisions I have made.” Gump is currently studying Exercise, Performance, and Health Optimization at Auburn University, with the goal to become a strength and conditioning coach. She is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
14 Black Assistant
Sam Gump has played volleyball since he was in fourth grade. “I played both club and high school, where my team went to state in 2019,” Gump said. “I decided not to play in college because I wanted to get involved in other things, but I missed the sport so much I decided to come back and coach the younger generation; it was one of the best decisions I have made.” Gump is currently studying Exercise, Performance, and Health Optimization at Auburn University, with the goal to become a strength and conditioning coach. She is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Kendra Henthron
13 Black Head Coach
Kendra Henthron has three years of experience as a volleyball coach and experience as a high school, travel, and college club volleyball player as a middle, right side, and outside hitter. Throughout her time coaching travel volleyball, her teams have earned multiple tournament wins at ages 12U, 13U, and 17U. Henthron serves as the middle school volleyball coach at Calvary Christian School, where her team recently won state. She says she likes to focus on fundamentals and training fast processing to make smart decisions in live gameplay.
13 Black Head Coach
Kendra Henthron has three years of experience as a volleyball coach and experience as a high school, travel, and college club volleyball player as a middle, right side, and outside hitter. Throughout her time coaching travel volleyball, her teams have earned multiple tournament wins at ages 12U, 13U, and 17U. Henthron serves as the middle school volleyball coach at Calvary Christian School, where her team recently won state. She says she likes to focus on fundamentals and training fast processing to make smart decisions in live gameplay.
Landee Clifton
12 Black Assistant
Landee Clifton has played volleyball for 10 years at both the high school and collegiate level. She graduated from Norhtside High School and played collegiate volleyball at Truett McConnell and Life University. She’s entering her second year coaching for COLAVOL. “I love getting to know the girls as well as helping them get to know the game,” Clifton said.
12 Black Assistant
Landee Clifton has played volleyball for 10 years at both the high school and collegiate level. She graduated from Norhtside High School and played collegiate volleyball at Truett McConnell and Life University. She’s entering her second year coaching for COLAVOL. “I love getting to know the girls as well as helping them get to know the game,” Clifton said.
