Our Story
Welcome to Natke Volleyball,
where we take your technical development to the next level and help you achieve your volleyball goals.
At Natke Volleyball, we believe in providing comprehensive training that focuses on isolating specific components of each skill and developing them with targeted drills and exercises. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the fundamentals or an advanced player aiming to refine your technique, our training programs are designed to cater to all experience levels and ages.
Our coaching team at Natke Volleyball is second to none. Led by Nataliia Klimenova, a professional athlete with over 20 years of volleyball experience, our coaches bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every training session. From beginners to advanced players, our coaches have the skills and experience to help you reach your full potential on the court.
But what sets us apart is our commitment to personalized training. Whether you prefer individual sessions, small group training, team coaching, or our exclusive camps, we have the perfect program for you. Our coaches work closely with each athlete to tailor training plans that meet their specific needs and goals, ensuring maximum progress and improvement.
At Natke Volleyball, we're more than just coaches – we're mentors, supporters, and influencers. We believe in creating an environment of support and mentorship, where athletes feel empowered to achieve their goals and reach new heights in their volleyball journey. With our guidance and encouragement, you'll not only improve your skills on the court but also develop confidence, resilience, and a love for the game that will last a lifetime.
In addition to our regular programs, we are proud to have been running programs for adults to foster a sense of community belonging. We have partnered with Calgary Social Club to run Learn to Volley programs, providing adults with advanced knowledge and skills to enhance their volleyball experience.
Whether you're aiming to improve your technique, boost your performance, or simply have fun playing volleyball, Natke Volleyball is here to help you succeed. Join us today and experience the difference that expert coaching and personalized training can make in your volleyball journey.
Meet The Team
Nataliia Klimenova
Founder & Coach
Nataliia is a professional athlete from Ukraine with over 20 years of volleyball experience as a player.
She found success playing both indoor and beach volleyball on the world level, winning multiple National Championships as well as numerous gold medals and MVP trophies across Europe. She signed professional playing contracts in multiple European countries. As a Ukrainian National volleyball team member, she achieved the national honour of the Master of Sports.
Nataliia was the starting libero for the Mount Royal University Cougars varsity volleyball team for the past five years. In 2022, she helped lead the Cougars to second place in Canada, winning the silver medal in the National U SPORTS Final.
Nataliia has played in the highest divisions in Europe and Canada. She has succeeded as a player because of her strong sense of discipline, impressive work ethic and technical proficiency. This has carried over to her coaching career, allowing her to share her knowledge and experience to help develop the next generation of athletes.
Luke Kosowan
Neurological rehab therapist & fitness coach
EXPERIENCE – BSc Kin, CSEP-CPT, P-DTR Advanced Practitioner, RMT
Luke has 15 years of experience as a Kinesiologist and Personal Trainer. His observations of clients’ experience with dysfunction and pain in his sessions led him to seek out becoming an Advanced Practitioner of P-DTR. He was the first in Canada to receive this certification and is known as the most experienced P-DTR practitioner in all of Canada. With this certification, he has focused on treating youth athletes and their sports injuries for the past five years. Luke most recently completed his education to become a registered massage therapist and is looking forward to adding these manual skills to his treatment approach.
Luke’s treatment philosophy when working with young athletes is to focus on the main problem, but also look at the body as a whole to make the body more efficient, improve performance and prevent future injury. His lifelong participation in soccer, basketball and tennis, and his 15 years as a personal trainer have provided him with the background in sports to truly understand the challenges his patients may have when it comes to injury in sports and in the fitness centre.
Luke’s expertise is working with the nervous system using P-DTR. This unique approach to treating the nervous system is a brand new perspective in the rehabilitation field. It allows for rapid assessment of the issue, and treats the root cause of musculoskeletal issues, instead of simply treating the symptoms.
Pavel Liashenko
Coach
Pavel is a professional athlete with 13 years of playing experience. He is a Ukrainian setter who represented the U16-U21 National Team. He has had the experience of playing with the best European players in different leagues. At the beginning of his career, he played as a left-side but was later retrained as a setter. Many times he was named the best player in his occupation position.
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Player CV:
Height: 195cm
Spike reach: 335cm
Block reach: 315cm
Position: Setter
Career:
2011-2013 member of the U16-U21 National Team of Ukraine
2011- EEVZA (Poland Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski)
2012-EEVZA (Estonia Tallinn)
2011-2014 Lokomotiv Kharkiv (Ukraine)
2014-2015 Kuzbass Kemerovo (Russia)
2015-2016 SumiKhimProm Sumy (Ukraine)
2016-2016 Novator Khmelnitskiy (Ukraine)
2017-2018 ASA Beersheba (Israel)
2018-20 19 Maccabi Hod- Hasharon (Israel)
2019-2020 Lokomotiv Kharkiv (Ukraine)
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Highlights:
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julia pakhomenko
Coach
We're thrilled to introduce Iuliia Pakhomenko, a volleyball legend, to our coaching staff. Hailing from Eastern Ukraine, she started playing at the age of 12, transitioning from a middle blocker to a formidable left-side hitter. Iuliia's impressive journey led her to compete in the Superleague of Ukraine and later play NCAA in the USA.
Iuliia Pakhomenko is a game-changer with a rich history in volleyball, earning U SPORTS All-Canadian honours each year during her time with the WolfPack women’s volleyball team (2014-17). She's a true asset to our team, and we're excited to have her on board.
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Player CV:
Position – Outside Hitter
Height – 190 cm
Attack Reach – 317 cm
Block Reach – 310 cm
Career:
2006-2011 Severodonchanka - Severodonetsk UKRAINE
2009-2010 Kerkinitida - Evpatoriya UKRAINE
2012-2014 Northwood University - Midland MI
2014-2017 Thompson Rivers University - Kamloops BC
2008-2012 Member of the Junior National Team of
Ukraine
2017 was invited to the National Team of Canada
2012-2014 First-team All-American
2014-2017 First-team All-Canadian
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Highlights:
https://fb.watch/nXP5SIc05i/?mibextid=v7YzmG
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Jessica osczevski
coach
Meet Jessica, our dynamic new coach, whose volleyball journey began at the age of 10 in Rocky Mountain House. Playing alongside older girls in grades 7 and 8 while in grade 5, Jessica's passion for the sport ignited.
Her journey continued with a stellar 3-year stint at the Red Deer Queens Volleyball Club, achieving a remarkable 2nd place in provincials for consecutive years during her U17 and U18 seasons. The spotlight followed her to Team Alberta, where she represented in her U16 and U17 years, paving the way for her commitment to MRU in the fall of 2017.
Jessica's university career at MRU has been nothing short of extraordinary. Qualifying for nationals three times, the pinnacle was reaching silver at the 2022 nationals. As she enters her last year of university volleyball, Jessica stands at the crossroads of an uncertain future, poised for new adventures.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Jessica ventured into coaching with Nati in 2020, expanding her expertise in beach volleyball. Their shared coaching experiences deepened their connection, leading to a collaboration with Natke Volleyball in a series of camps this summer.
Armed with an education degree, Jessica is eager to embark on her coaching journey with Natke Volleyball. Join us in welcoming Jessica, whose passion for the game is now set to inspire the next generation!
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Denys Fomin
coach
We are thrilled to announce that Denys Fomin, a distinguished Ukrainian volleyball player, has joined our coaching team! With an impressive background as both a professional player and coach, Denys brings a wealth of experience and passion to our program.
Playing Career:
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Competed in the prestigious FIVB Volleyball World League
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Represented Ukraine in numerous international tournaments
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Celebrated for his defensive skills and leadership as a libero
Coaching Career:
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Expert in developing and mentoring young athletes
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Focuses on teamwork, discipline, and continuous improvement
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Dedicated to helping athletes reach their highest potential
Denys is excited to join us and inspire our athletes to achieve greatness on and off the court. His commitment to excellence and love for the game make him a fantastic addition to our team.
Player Stats:
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Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)
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Weight: 176 lb (80 kg)
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Spike: 104 in (265 cm)
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Block: 110 in (280 cm)
Clubs:
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Ukrainian Championship:
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x8: 2009/2010, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/2017
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Ukrainian Cup:
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x7: 2009/2010, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16
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Ukrainian Supercup:
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x1: 2017/18
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National Team:
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2017 European League
Individual Honors:
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2017/2018 Best Libero Ukraine, Ukrainian Cup
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2018/2019 Best Libero Ukraine, Ukrainian Cup
We are confident that Denys Fomin's expertise and dedication will greatly benefit our athletes and our program. Join us in welcoming Denys to the team and look forward to an exciting future ahead!
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Kyle Le
coach
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Born in: Langley, BC
We are thrilled to welcome Kyle to the Natke Volleyball family! With an impressive background in both playing and coaching, Kyle brings a wealth of experience and passion to our team.
Why Volleyball?
"I chose volleyball because it was a sport that could get me to the Olympics and a sport my best friend and I could play together. I just fell in love with it."
Playing Background
Clubs: Canuck Volleyball Club
Schools: Crescent Heights, SAIT
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6ft
Spike Touch: 11ft
Coaching Achievements
2 Provincial Championships
1 National Championship
Coaching Philosophy
"What I think I’m best at is finding different ways to score as an undersized attacker and doing the right things in the right situation."
Tasha Holness
coach
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With a volleyball career that many can only dream of, Tasha brings a wealth of experience, wisdom, and passion to our team, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board!
Tasha's athletic journey began not with volleyball, but as a high school basketball standout. After being named Athlete of the Year, a coach suggested she give volleyball a try, and the rest is history. Tasha quickly fell in love with the sport, leading her to earn a scholarship to Idaho where she played for a semester before returning to Calgary to attend the University of Calgary.
Her path wasn’t without challenges—after being cut during her first tryout, Tasha showed immense determination by returning the following year and making the team as a redshirt. Despite setbacks, she remained resilient, briefly returning to basketball, but volleyball soon called her back, and she found her way to Mount Royal University (MRU). While trying out for basketball, her volleyball talent was spotted, leading to a pivotal moment in her career. She went on to help MRU win provincial titles and secure a bronze medal—achievements that still hold a special place in her heart.
But Tasha’s story doesn’t end there. After two standout seasons with MRU, she was invited to visit the University of Alberta (U of A), eventually transferring and becoming a key player for the Pandas Volleyball Team. Initially recruited as a right-side hitter, Tasha’s talent for the game saw her dominating the middle blocker position, leading to an unforgettable journey with the U of A.
In 2006, Tasha joined the Canadian National Team in Manitoba, marking the start of her professional volleyball career. Over the next decade, Tasha travelled the globe, playing for elite teams in countries like Austria, Indonesia (where she claimed victory), Spain (where she went undefeated), Germany, Russia, and Azerbaijan. She faced challenges along the way—like enduring the cold in Russia or battling injury in Azerbaijan—but her love for the game never wavered. Tasha later returned to Indonesia, Romania, and France, winning championships and leaving her mark on the international volleyball scene.
In 2019-2020, Tasha returned to MRU, where she and I (yes, we played together!) were ready to take on the nationals before COVID-19 halted those plans. Through all her experiences, from professional wins to the realities of injury and adaptation, Tasha has become a true volleyball veteran, with wisdom that stretches far beyond the court.
Tasha’s advice to aspiring athletes?
"It all depends on how serious you are. If you’re committed, put in the hard work—it’ll pay off. Volleyball will shape you as a person, allowing you to travel the world and gain valuable life experience. Never say no to opportunity, because you never know where it might take you. The experiences you gain are what will truly enrich your life. And if you decide to play professionally, make sure you know why you’re doing it.”
We are incredibly fortunate to have Tasha’s expertise in hitting and blocking, and her incredible story will undoubtedly inspire our players to reach new heights. Her experience playing in some of the most competitive environments around the world will provide our athletes with unmatched insights into the game, along with the mindset and skills necessary to succeed.
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