Our Team

Andy has been involved in athletics his whole life. He was the New England Junior College Tennis Singles Champion while at CCRI and then a three year starter and captain at the University of Rhode Island. He loves teaching/coaching, training and competing. Andy is currently a PE/Health teacher in the Town of South Kingstown. He was the head coach of the South Kingstown Boys’ Tennis Team for 28 years. During that time, Andy’s teams won a record seventeen Rhode Island Division 1 State Championships. He is passionate about helping players of all ages and ability levels reach their full potential. Andy became involved with the sport of pickleball three years ago and hasn’t looked back since. When people ask him why he likes the sport so much his reply is, “because it is fun and I have met a lot of great people.” Andy and Kara want to make Ocean State Pickleball Club a great pickleball destination!

Kara brings over 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, complemented by a distinguished background as an Atlantic 10 collegiate tennis player, Coach, and head professional throughout New England. As the founder of Ocean State Pickleball, Rhode Island’s first indoor pickleball club, Kara continues to set the standard as the sport rapidly grows and new venues emerge. Ocean State Pickleball remains a leader in the community. Under Kara’s leadership, Ocean State Pickleball is more than just a club—it is a welcoming community where members feel valued and supported. We foster a friendly and energetic atmosphere, on and off the court, and are committed to advancing the sport through exceptional coaching, organized events, and an inclusive culture.

Zak is from Woodbridge Ct. He currently owns a local clothing recycling company. As a multi sport athlete growing up Zak was introduced to tennis at the age of ten. Along with tennis Zak played competitive table tennis, basketball, was a snowboard instructor and currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Zak found Pickleball in the spring of 2021 and soon won two local tournaments but always considers himself a student of the sport. Zak specializes and takes pride in skill set assessment/making course corrections and game play strategy.

An accomplished tennis player for over 45 years, Walter found pickleball at OSP in early 2022 and fell in love with the sport. He plays, teaches and talks pickleball everyday.
He has coached hundreds of students, from beginner to 4.0, to raise their playing level by improving their technique, shot selection and game strategy. This multi-dimensional approach reflects his passion for bringing out the best in you on your pickleball journey.

When her 9-year-old son joined a local beginner pickleball tournament, Jamie Votta discovered a sport that her whole family could enjoy together. After finding Ocean State Pickleball in 2022, it quickly became a second home where she rediscovered her competitive spirit and built lasting friendships. Jamie loves the social and supportive nature of the OSP community and takes pride in helping new players grow, from fearless kids to active adults. Beyond pickleball, she is a certified movement instructor specializing in restorative exercise, postnatal recovery, yoga, and is a Master-Level Usui Reiki practitioner.