Who We Are

LevelOne Volleyball was founded in 2023 by experienced coach Dave Kellar. Dave had previously founded DSK Volleyball in 2008, the first volleyball academy of its kind. Starting with nothing, DSK eventually became one of the top ranked volleyball clubs in Oregon and Washington. After dedicating five years to the sport he loved, Dave stepped away when he and his family moved halfway across the country. In 2023, Dave moved back to Oregon and started fresh: creating LevelOne alongside coaches that he had trained himself at DSK.

Our TEAM

Dave Kellar - Club Director/Owner

2024/25 16-1 Head Coach

Coach Dave Kellar shown instructing a player.

Dave’s passion for volleyball started in 1987 playing for Canyon High School in Southern California as a middle hitter. Upon graduation he was offered the opportunity to play for UC Santa Barbara, but was forced to decline after a car accident had left him unable to play while recovering. He started up again in 1991 at Orange Coast College as a right side hitter while also training as a beach volleyball player with the goal of playing at the professional level. In 1994, Dave, alongside his Orange Coast College team, won the state championship. That same year, he tried out and was selected for the Olympic Festival team where he took home a silver medal.

After settling down and starting a family, Dave returned to the sport in full force, starting DSK Volleyball in 2009 at the YMCA. With his coaching and experience, the club rose to national rankings and became one of the top clubs in Oregon and Washington. Dave holds multiple awards across various teams including MVP and top All League selections.

He credits volleyball with giving him lifelong opportunities and strives to “pay it forward” by helping the next generation of athletes find their way. With the support of a small group of great people, Dave plans to continue providing a place for young people to take their skill to the next level.

Ashley Forty - Club Operations Director

2024/25 16-3 Head Coach

Coach Ashley Forty pictured with her husband and child.

Ashley’s love for volleyball started at a very young age, but in 2008–when she was cut from her high school's club team–is when her life changed forever. That was the year she met Dave Kellar and the very first year of DSK Volleyball. Dave took a team of 10 girls who had been beat down, cut from teams, told they weren't good enough and built a literal Volleyball empire. She played for Dave though her high school years and says that “he not only molded me and my peers into amazing Volleyball players but he taught me lessons I still carry with me today!”

Ashley is excited to share her love for volleyball and those same lessons she was taught with every person who walks into the gym.

Lindsey Grossman - Divisional Lead

2024/25 16-1 Assistant Coach

Coach Lindsey Grossman shown playing for her college team.

Lindsey’s journey with volleyball began in 2012 when she stepped into the DSK gym for the first time. In the time that she played for DSK, her team went from being ranked in the bottom of the power league to one of the top teams in Oregon and Washington by her senior year. To this day, Lindsey says that what they built as a team and a club were the best years of her life. After playing for Dave, she played 3 years of college volleyball from the junior college level to Division 1 where she was named first team all conference as a utility player.

Lindsey says that she is grateful to be a part of this process and so excited to see what LevelOne can do as a club in the future.

Makenna Northern

Recruiting Coordinator

2024/25 18-1 Head Coach

A phot of LevelOne Volleyball Coach, Makenna Northern

Makenna started playing volleyball in 3rd grade and played throughout high school at Central Linn High School and at DSK for Dave Kellar. She then attended college at Bushnell University where she played 5 years of volleyball and received multiple awards for the school and for the Cascade Collegiate Conference, including multiple setters of the week, Setter of the Year for her first team, All-Conference awards, and 3 female athlete of the year awards.

Makenna has 4 years of coaching experience and 2 years of sand volleyball as well. She greatly enjoys the technical side of volleyball and fully believes that if you commit to something and put 100% of your effort into it, then you will be happy with the outcome. 

Samantha Solis

2024/25 14-1 Head Coach

Sam began her volleyball career when she was 9 years old. Quickly falling in love with the sport, she went on to play club volleyball for 6 years where—during one season—she competed at the platinum level in the 18s division. 

She was also a member of the West Albany High School Volleyball team, which was ranked 22nd in the nation. During her time with the team, they took second place in 5A state and won a 5A state championship. Sam was awarded with an All State Honorable Mention as a libero and the West Albany Coaches' Award her senior year. 

She then attended Western Oregon University where she played intramural volleyball and won two championships.

Sam is currently the head JV coach at West Albany High School. With this being her 15th year coaching, Sam brings with her a wealth of experience. She has worked with players aged 8-18 at various levels of skill, many of those years alongside Dave at DSK.

When she's off the court, Sam teaches high school science and enjoys spending time with her seven pets.

ally Tow

2024/25 18-1 Assistant Coach

Ally started her volleyball career as early as the 3rd grade. She played throughout high school at Sweet Home High School and for Dave at DSK. After high school, Ally attended Linn-Benton Community College where she played for two years as an outside hitter under coach Jayme Frazier. She then transferred to Corban University and played for three more years—two as a right side and her senior year as a middle. During her time at Corban, her team made two Sweet 16 appearances and finished as NAIA National Runner-up in her final year. She also competed in sand volleyball, earning a National Runner-up title in her only season.

Ally has coached 3 seasons of high school club volleyball and has returned to LBCC to assist Frazier, helping guide the team to an undefeated season in 2023. Currently in her second season as an assistant at LBCC, Ally remains dedicated to learning and coaching. For Ally, volleyball is about more than just skills; it’s about learning from failure and maintaining a positive attitude.

Samantha Neuharth

2024/25 16-1 Assistant Coach

I am a proud graduate of South Salem High School Class of 2019. I developed a passion for volleyball over the course of my 10 year career while both playing and coaching at the High School and Club levels. I began my coaching journey in 2018 as an Assistant 12-1 coach for SCVC. I began my Head coaching positions with this club at the 14u level in both 2022 & 2023. I am currently the JV2 coach at Stayton High School. My goal throughout this coaching journey is to share my love for the game while encouraging young athletes both on and off the court.

Maddi Fergason

2024/25 14-2 Head Coach

I have always had a strong connection with the sport of volleyball since a young age. I took my first coaching job 8 years ago at Scio high school and haven't looked back. I have been the JV Head Coach & Varsity Assistant with the Scio High School program for 8 seasons. I began coaching club volleyball with SCVC in 2019, working with various age levels and have loved every moment. Being able to pour my knowledge into these players and watching the success they have is a kind of joy I never want to lose.

Haylee Uffelman

2024/25 16-3 Head Coach

I was injured as a senior in high school but wanted to stay involved in volleyball in some way. I coached at my High School for a year after graduating and then when I went to OSU found myself officiating intramural. Through that I made a connection with the OSU Volleyball team and worked for them for 3.5 years. After graduating I was the assistant coach at Regis High School and then got hired at SCVC club where I coached 2 teams. I now am the assistant coach at Scio High School.

Makenzie Kellar

Picture of LevelOne's social media manager, Makenzie Kellar.

Makenzie graduated from Portland State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Arts & Letters. Though Makenzie had found her place in the theater rather than the volleyball court, she had helped her dad with DSK since day one. When he came to her and asked for help getting LevelOne Volleyball off the ground, she was more than happy to help!

Makenzie now manages LevelOne Volleyball’s social media accounts and website.