Since its founding in 2002, Pakmen Volleyball Club has established itself as one of the premier programs in Canadian volleyball. What began as a single boys' U14 team, made up entirely of athletes with no prior club experience and coached by someone who had never played the sport, has grown into a full-service club offering multiple teams at every age level for both boys and girls.
Remarkably, that inaugural U14 team captured the Tier 1 Provincial Championship in its very first season. Since then, Pakmen has sustained an extraordinary level of success, winning at least one national championship every year.
Equally impressive is the club's proven ability to develop athletes for Canada's national team programs. Notable alumni include:
Daniel Dearing – Member of Pakmen's 2008 National Championship team and a U18 Beach National Champion; went on to represent Canada in beach volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside partner Sam Schachter.
Xander Ketrzynski – Helped his Pakmen U18 team win a national championship before competing for Canada at the Paris Olympics.
Sharone Vernon-Evans – A multiple-time national champion with Pakmen who progressed to Canada's national team and competed at the Olympic level.
Other prominent Pakmen alumni include national team athletes Cory Schoenherr and Jackson Young, Next Gen Men's National Team members Cole Duncanson, Kaden Schmidt, and Tom Sorra, and Next Gen Women's National Team athlete Raeven Chase.
Club Director Kelly Smith credits much of Pakmen's long-term success to its early commitment to diversity and inclusion. "The club originated from a Grade 8 boys' team at a school with a highly diverse student population," Smith explains. "That diversity created opportunities for athletes from communities that traditionally hadn't been involved in club volleyball. It allowed us to draw from a much broader talent pool, both athletes and coaches, and the results were immediate."
Smith also highlights the impact of Head Coach Jessy Satti, a member of Pakmen's original U14 team who went on to win multiple provincial and national championships as a player in both indoor and beach volleyball before transitioning into coaching. Satti's résumé is unmatched, including five U18 National Championships, one as a player and four as a coach.
Over the years, Satti has established himself as one of the top coaches in the country, while also mentoring coaches and fostering a strong, winning culture throughout the club. As Pakmen's Head Coach, he has not only led elite teams but has also worked extensively with coaches and athletes across the program, providing position-specific training and development for all athletes.
"My coaching style is fairly simple", Satti says. "Be fair to all athletes and provide a training environment that allows each athlete to develop at their own pace. Early in the season, we place a strong emphasis on individual skill development. As the year progresses, our focus shifts toward team play and building a style that reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the group."
Satti adds that his primary objective has always been to have teams peak at the right time, during Provincials and Nationals, an approach that has consistently delivered results for both him and his teams.
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