Ace Volleyball & Athletics
About
Who We Are
Philosophy and Approach
For over two decades, Ace Volleyball & Athletics (“ACE”) has been coaching 5-17 year old athletes and advancing volleyball programs around the Atlanta area. ACE trains players at several locations inside Atlanta’s I-285 perimeter. In addition to volleyball skills, we take pride in developing our players with life skills that serve them beyond the court.
ACTUALIZE
ACE provides an environment where athletes are encouraged to actualize their potential, not just as athletes, but as individuals who are equipped with work ethic, confidence, sportsmanship, and resilience.
COHESION
ACE’s programs focus on communication and collaboration. These practices build cohesion and unity among our athletes and coaches. Naturally, over time, these practices allow our teams to unlock their potential and improve performance.
EDIFY
Edify means to provide guidance, knowledge, or insight in a way that promotes personal growth. In addition to developing strength and motor skills, ACE coaches help develop our players’ character and mindset. We also prioritize the health of our players by providing guidance on injury prevention and nutrition so that players can enhance their physical well-being and thrive both on and off the court.
Ace History
In 2013, Janice Mathews developed, managed, and administered volleyball programs for the Decatur Y. In 2016, Sara Mathews joined her mother and together they currently coach, manage, and administer developmental and club volleyball programs for Ace Volleyball & Athletics, Haygood UMC, Druid Hills Middle School, David T. Howard (formerly Samuel M. Inman) Middle School, Christ The King School and Ebster Rec Center.
Seemingly an unlikely candidate for a career in volleyball, Janice, 4 feet 10, fell in love with the sport as a young child and set her mind on playing the game in high school and college. In her first year in junior college, she had to undergo a foot surgery and worked hard to get back in the game. Short but determined, Janice overcame the obstacles and became a successful setter, earning several MVPs along the way. Janice started coaching volleyball while in graduate school at the University of Denver where she helped start the volleyball program and served as an assistant coach for 2 years.
Sara started playing volleyball when she was 11 years old and began coaching as a young adult. For a while she coached tennis, but switched to volleyball, drawn to the team spirit of the sport. Sara is an avid learner and constantly incorporates new ways to run drills that are both hard and fun. She is a natural motivator and inspires her players to do their best and not give up even when things are tough.
In each 2019 and 2020, Janice and Sara recruited and coached over 120 volleyball players from over 50 area middle and high schools. Currently, Janice and Sara lead or partner with middle schools and rec programs to conduct competitive and developmental practices. In addition, they advise and recruit club players from the Atlanta’s Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett county middle and high schools.