Head Coach Mark Burik has been coaching sports for 16 years and has over a decade of playing and coaching experience in volleyball. From 2005-2008 he competed with the George Mason University Men’s Volleyball team garnering All-East honors in his final year. After receiving his degree in Exercise Science and graduating Cum Laude, he continued his career playing professionally in Sweden, Norway, and Croatia. Mark has also been the head coach for two different professional teams and served as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for Vingakers Volleyball Klubb.
During the warmer months, Burik has been a mainstay on the AVP Tour and also competes regularly on the FIVB World Tour. Recognized as one of the top beach volleyball players in the country, he has numerous championships under his belt and has won the legendary Pottstown Rumble three times. He recently added a NORCECA Continental Tour Gold Medal to his accolades. Mark has always had a passion for beach volleyball so he decided to retire from indoor in 2014 to dedicate his time and efforts to beach volleyball full time.
Since his early days as a player, Burik has taken a special interest in coaching, consistently finding opportunities to increase his volleyball IQ and share it with other players and coaches. For the past six years, he has been a part of the Gold Medal Squared staff, which promotes a system of teaching designed by national team coaches throughout the last three decades. He has spent the last 10 years competing, traveling the world, working with hundreds of coaches, thousands of players, and being employed by numerous national teams and federations.
Mark is the Founder and Owner of VolleyCamp Hermosa, where athletes can stay and play in sunny Southern California. Join him and the rest of our awesome staff for beach volleyball lessons, classes, and camps in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach.
Brandon started playing volleyball in Chester, Virginia when he was 16 years old for his high school volleyball team. As a senior, Brandon was named Virginia State Player of the Year.
Later, Brandon went on to play collegiate volleyball at George Mason University. During his career at George Mason University, Brandon accumulated accolades such as first-team All EIVA and Honorable mention All-American. Brandon was also tied for 5th in the country in blocks per set.
After his career in college, Brandon played professional indoor volleyball in Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden from 2012-2014.
Once he retired from indoor volleyball, Brandon moved to the beach where he found success in the National Volleyball League. During his time playing, he finished as high as third, and also took home the “Most Improved” award in 2016. Currently, Brandon is playing on the AVP tour and international circuit.
Brandon has also been a coach for more than 10 years.
During his playing years, Brandon was also a coach. Brandon has coached for 10+ years. He has coached volleyball camps as a head coach since 2008 and was the assistant coach for George Mason university from 2011-2013.
While David is an experienced player himself he takes takes to the depths of the internet to be responsible for the management, strategy and execution of IT infrastructure. Overseeing technical projects ensuring they are aligned with Better at Beach's overall goals.
Tonya joined the team as Director of Content in January 2019, but it was months prior to that she really “interviewed” for the job during a volleyball class when she shyly asked Mark if she could film some of the class, then went home and edited a video. I guess he liked it because here she is producing and editing videos and creating and managing social media for VolleyCamp Hermosa/Better at Beach.
Her background in video production spans over twenty years and includes working in TV news, editing movie trailers, working eight years as a producer and editor at a video game company, and more recently, serving as Creative Director at an internet marketing company before she decided to give freelancing a go!
Tonya considers working with BAB a dream because it combines her love of writing and making videos with the other love of her life: beach volleyball.
Although she discovered the sport later in life, when she did, it became an obsession, and has been playing on and off (mostly on) for 11 years, having earned a CBVA “A” rating. Her career winnings include one (used) beach volleyball from a CBVA tournament and one brand new one (yay) from winning War of the Roses, which is probably not enough to retire on, so she continues to do video work.
Jo Kremer was a 3-year starter and 3-time NCAA National Champion with the University of Southern California Beach Volleyball Team. Jo began playing beach volleyball in 2004 at 8 years old and has been coaching since 2013. She is a big believer in using coaching as a means to empower individuals both within the sport of volleyball as well as outside of sport in the rest of their lives! Jo is currently pursuing playing beach volleyball professionally on the AVP while continuing her coaching career.
AVP and FIVB Pro
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Started playing volleyball on the beaches of West Michigan at the age of 14.
Played indoor volleyball in college at Cincinnati Christian University and was an All-American in 2018
Moved to Los Angeles to play professional beach volleyball in the fall of 2018
Qualified for his first World Tour event, the Huntington Beach FIVB 4 Star in 2018
Qualified for his first AVP Main Draw at the Huntington Beach AVP in 2019 and took a 9th
Made 4 additional Main Draws on the AVP in 2019 including Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Chicago
Finished second in AVP Rookie of the Year votes in 2019
Won 3 AVPNext Gold Series events in 2021 including New Orleans, Oshkosh, and Seaside, Oregon
One of the top AVP up and coming players and Olympic hopeful
Coach Mercado began coaching after his first season in Puerto Rico (2012), joining Gold Medal Squared and running camps as a lead coach across the country. Shortly after Mercado spent a season with the 5th ranked California Baptist University Men’s team in Riverside, CA before going back to play overseas. It was after his season in the Netherlands that Mercado wanted to pursue college coaching which led to joining the University of Florida Women’s Volleyball Team. After 2 seasons, 2 Elite Eight Appearances, and collecting a wealth of knowledge, Mercado decided to bring his experience to the HS level coaching at South Walton HS and coaching club.
After a brief stent with OTVA in 2015 and 2018, Coastal Crush in 2017, and CUVC in 2019, Coach Mercado has ventured back home to Florida where he plans to invest time and hard work to help develop the high level athletes in the Hillsborough/Pinellas area.
Rob started his volleyball career at Northport High School in New York as a 3 year starter on their varsity squad. He then continued playing indoor volleyball in California, at Long Beach City College from 2009-2012 earning accolades each year, most notably the State Championship in 2012, as well as California State Tournament MVP.
Rob continued his indoor career with stints in Croatia and Luxembourg from 2012-2015. In 2015, Rob turned to beach volleyball and hasn’t looked back. Living in Hermosa Beach, CA, Rob trains under the Elite Performance Squad with Kerri Walsh’s p1440. He competes regularly and hopes to earn his place as a regular on the AVP tour.
Rob has been a coach for more than 8 years and is highly sought after in the Beach Cities with numerous roles on multiple juniors teams. We are happy to have a trainer of his intellect, patience and unique view of beach volleyball.
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