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Captains Volleyball Camps

Coaching Staff

Lindsay Birch
Co-Director / Owner

Lindsay Birch finished her 18th season as Head Coach at CNU by leading her team to the school’s 13th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.  The 2019 season ups Birch’s overall record to 548-132 (.81 winning %) and conference record to 223-11 (.95 winning %).  Birch, a Williamsburg native and Bruton High School graduate, is the winningest coach in CNU Volleyball history and has paved the way for countless program firsts and school records.  A Hall of Fame player in her own right, Birch has been a part of nearly all the turning points in CNU Volleyball history.

The Birch Era...

  • 2011 NCAA Runner-up & 2012 NCAA Final Four
  • 3 NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 2009, 2010 & 2014 • 15 regular season Conference championships (‘02, ’04-’15, ‘17)
  • 15 Conference Tournament championships (’02, ’04-’05, ’07-’15, ‘17)
  • Undefeated in conference ‘07-‘16 (138 match win streak, 4th longest in NCAA)
  • AVCA Region Coach of the Year in 2010 & 2014 • 12-time Conference Coach of the Year ‘02, ‘05, ’07-’09, ’11-’15,‘17
  • 11-time VaSID State Coach of the Year ’04-‘05, ’07-‘15
  • 16 NCAA Tournament appearances in 16 years
  • Coached 32 All-Americans & 12 Conference Player of the Year recipients

Katie Crofford
Assistant Coach

After a four-year career as a Captain followed by a two-year stint as the graduate assistant coach at Marymount University, Katie Crofford joined the Christopher Newport volleyball coaching staff for her first season on the sidelines during the 2022 campaign.

Crofford, a native of Warrenton, Virginia,  stepped into the full-time assistant coach role and began working with the team in the spring of 2022.

"I am extremely excited to be back at CNU and back within the Newport News community," said Crofford. "I appreciate this opportunity to give back to the program that gave me so much as a student-athlete and I look forward to watching the team continue to grow over the years."

Crofford was a key player for the Captains during one of the most successful runs in program history. An outside hitter on the team from 2016-19, Crofford contributed to three straight conference championships and 106 total victories. She helped the Captains reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons and was a second team All-Conference selection following her stellar senior season.

"CNU Volleyball was blessed with nine amazing years with Cory Taylor as our Assistant Coach. Cory was instrumental in our success on and off the court," said head coach Lindsay Birch. "As we begin a new era within our coaching staff, we are so fortunate to have the opportunity to welcome Katie Crofford back to the program. As a former athlete, she displayed great leadership, work ethic, and toughness. Katie has a passion for coaching and this desire partners beautifully with her love for CNU Volleyball."

Crofford has served in a leadership capacity throughout her playing and coaching career including as President of the Christopher Newport Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a member of the President's Leadership Program. She attended the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar hosted at Marymount University in 2021 during her two-year tenure as a graduate assistant coach with the Saints.

Equally as impressive in the classroom, Crofford graduated Christopher Newport Cum Laude in 2020 with Service Distinction and a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology. She also graduated from Marymount in the spring of 2022 with a Master of Business Administration.

Elise Montemayor
Assistant Coach

Before joining the Captains Volleyball staff in 2021, Elise Dumouchelle Montemayor played Division I Volleyball at Saint Francis University (Loretto, PA) from 2016-2019 as a Defensive Specialist, Libero, and Outside Hitter. She graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish with a Minor in Political Science. In June of 2019, Montemayor was named the North East Conference (NEC) Scholar Athlete of the Year for completing her athletic and academic career with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA.

On the court, Montemayor saw action in 54 matches in her Saint Francis career. She recorded a career-high 18 digs against Saint Francis Brooklyn in her final season with the Red Flash. With a consistent and aggressive serve, she finished second on the team for service aces in her freshman and junior seasons with the Red Flash - including 5 service aces against La Salle in her first game as a college athlete in 2016.

Montemayor grew up in Ashburn, VA, attended Broad Run High School, and played at Virginia Elite Volleyball Club. She was recognized as Virginia Elite's E.L.I.T.E. Player of the Year in 2015, an award that had only been given out twice before in the clubs 10+ year history.

Montemayor has coached and assisted at camps, clinics, and practices at Virginia Elite Volleyball Club, Saint Francis University, and Virginia Volleyball Academy. She has also remotely helped middle school, high school, and collegiate athletes reach their volleyball and fitness goals through educational videos on TikTok and YouTube.

Montemayor works in video and media production - she is the Digital and Social Media Coordinator at Coastal Church in Yorktown, VA and owns her own small business "ELISE DUMO LLC" for wedding videography and social media management.

Montemayor is married to CNU alum Caleb Montemayor.

Camp Staff - Current & Former CNU Volleyball Players