FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Professional Experience:
Prior to graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Kinesiology in 1997, Cara worked for the Longhorn Athletic Department during the 1st renovation of DKR Memorial Stadium.  During that time she assisted in the promotion and sales of the new stadium suites and oversaw game day activities throughout the suites. After graduation, Cara accepted a position with AIM Mutual Funds in Houston, Texas where she worked until 2005. While at AIM Mutual Funds, she served as Director of Education Savings overseeing a $500M 529 College Savings Plan and travelled the U.S. extensively presenting and training investment professionals and their clients on the ins and outs of financing a college education. Following her time in Houston, Cara worked for State Farm as an Investments Specialist and then for Wells Fargo as a Trust & Estate Specialist in the Wealth Management Group. In 2011, Cara and her family relocated to Asheville, North Carolina for her husband’s medical residency and she obtained a degree in Medical Sonography while there. In 2015, she again relocated to Medford, Oregon where her husband began his medical practice and she worked as an ultrasound technologist at Rogue Valley Physicians until 2017.

Coaching Experience:
Cara launched RISE Volleyball in 2019 and is entering her 7th year as the Executive Director. In addition to her directorship, Cara has 4 years of experience coaching and running camps and clinics until directing RISE required 100 percent of her time and attention. She currently serves as the Chairman of CEVA Junior Girls Committee and sits on CEVA’s Board of Directors.

Playing Experience:
Cara played volleyball and basketball throughout junior high and high school in Dallas, Texas. She was a member of the University of Texas Archery team and competed in the World Indoor Championships and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. She is also a 1st degree black belt in Karate (2014).

Personal:
Cara loves the coast, anything crafty, reading, movies and being anywhere with friends and family.  She loves watching almost every sport, but is a 4th generation Texas Longhorn and lives for Longhorn sports, especially football and volleyball! Cara has three daughters...Jordyn, Poppy and Violet. Jordyn is a graduate of Texas A&M and a nurse practitioner in Austin, Texas. Poppy is a freshman at Southern Oregon University and a member of the Raider beach volleyball team. Violet is a freshman at Cascade Christian High School. In July of 2025 Cara became a grandmother to Ellie Layne, Jordyn’s first child. She met her husband/best friend/most favorite person, Jon (a Texas Tech University graduate), while working at AIM Mutual Funds. They have been married for 22 years. They have the most awesome fur babies…. Raider (for Texas Tech Red Raiders), a 5 year old boxer and Lola, a 4 year old frenchie. Outside of all of that, RISE Volleyball is Cara’s 4th baby. She describes practices and tournaments as her “happy place” because it is where she can watch, encourage and help shape the most awesome girls there are anywhere, ever!

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Professional Experience:
Coach CJ Roberts enters her 5th year as Director of Operations for Rise Volleyball Club. CJ Roberts is the Executive Director and Founder of 7 Athletics & Consulting, partnering with high school, club, and college programs to provide strength & conditioning and nutrition resources, along with volleyball-specific recruiting support. She is also the Executive Director and Founder of the Pacific Northwest Summer Volleyball Classic, the largest summer high school tournament in the region.
 

Coaching Experience:
Roberts brings over a decade of coaching experience. She most recently served as an assistant coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where the program earned a conference tournament appearance and four athletes earned All-Conference honors, including Rookie of the Year. She also served as head coach for MadFrog Volleyball (TX), a nationally recognized top-five club.

Prior to MadFrog, Roberts was head coach at Umpqua Community College (OR), posting a 33–32 record and leading the program to its most successful season since 2012 in her first year. Under her leadership, UCC ranked in the top half of the NWAC in every statistical category and produced five all-conference athletes and five collegiate transfers.

Roberts also helped launch the volleyball program at Providence Academy (AR) and coached with Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club, one of the nation's top clubs. She spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern State University (LA), where the program earned two conference tournament appearances and one of only 20 at-large bids to the 2019 NIVC Tournament, finishing 32-28 overall and 19-3 in conference play. NSU athletes under her tutelage earned the 2019 SLC Player of the Year, five All-SLC selections, four All-Academic SLC honors, five All-Louisiana selections, and the 2019 LSWA Player of the Year award.

Playing Experience:
Roberts competed at Prairie View A&M University (NCAA Division I) from 2015–2017, earning SWAC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. After starting as a six-rotation outside hitter, she transitioned to middle blocker and ranked in the SWAC's top five for hitting percentage in all three seasons, earning All-SWAC recognition and the 2018 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.

Before PVAMU, Roberts was a four-sport varsity athlete at Mossyrock High School (WA), earning all-league honors in volleyball and basketball. Her volleyball résumé includes two-time All-League MVP, All-Area MVP, All-State, and Powerful Examples of Excellence honors, and she helped lead Mossyrock to state appearances as a sophomore and a senior. She held collegiate scholarship offers in volleyball, basketball, and track before choosing to continue her volleyball career at the next level.

Education:
> B.S. in Kinesiology — Prairie View A&M University
> M.S. in Sports Administration — Northwestern State University
 

Personal:
A native of Mossyrock, WA, Roberts (formerly Hensch) enjoys concerts, traveling, fishing, lake days, game nights, and staying active in basketball and volleyball.

DIRECTOR OF CULTURE & COACHING

Professional Experience:
Coach Will Turner brings a high level of integrity, compassion, and culture to the RISE organization. His professional experience of over 10 years in both the coaching and customer service industries, allows him to elevate our club in the areas of culture and coaching to create the best possible environment for our athletes. 

Coaching Experience:
Coach Turner enters his 13th year as a Head Coach and his 20th year overall. He is in his 4th year as a Head Coach for RISE Volleyball Club and is currently the Head Coach at North Medford High School.

Playing Experience:
Coach Will Turner has played volleyball at various levels for over 25 years.

Personal:
Coach Turner prides himself on being a good person, husband, father and coach. His wife and kids mean the world to him! He is a sports fanatic because he enjoys competition. Currently, he loves volleyball and golf the most. He loves spending time with his family. Whether it’s just dinner, games or any special event! Respect, Family, Love!!!!