A former professional player joined a makeshift coaching staff this season, bringing new expertise to a girls volleyball program that has weathered three years of leadership changes. Coaches who have graduated like Jacob Rangel, who was a summer coach for Varsity, helped coach the girls in improving their skills for volleyball. However, they still have a career to chase down and have to leave the team behind. Varsity’s middle blocker, Sophia Laurel, 12, described Rangel as a strict coach who was getting them warmed up for the upcoming season.
“He really wanted us to get the basics down to ready us for the season,” Laurel said.
The previous coaching staff had been with the program for several seasons before leaving for college and other opportunities.This leaves players to adjust quickly before the fall season began. During the season, players were left without familiar coaches, forcing team captains to step up and lead practices.
“It was strange not knowing who our coach was. But our captains really helped keep the team organized, and it brought us closer together. Even though we don’t have our usual coaches, the team has learned to lead themselves,” Laurel said.
Some team members have expressed their concerns with not knowing who will be their coach at the start every year. This has been an ongoing occurrence for the past three years now, but their captains, Skyla Keophoneaxy, 10, Addison Bruizzi, 12 and Melanie Martinez, 12, always step up when their coach can’t. The team feels this has brought them closer together by running their own practices.
“We’ve had different coaches since our permanent coach has left,” Laurel said.
Through the season, the staff has been able to create a mixture of coaches suited for teaching the team. Julie Keophoneaxy brings warmth and balance to the coaching staff. While some of the other coaches focus on discipline and intensity, Keophoneaxy’s approach is more nurturing and personal. Bruizzi explained that each coach has brought something unique to the program. She said that Varsity’s coach, Noah Fontelara, gives great feedback and motivates the team with humor and support, while Keophoneaxy feels like a “team mom” who always reassures and takes care of everyone. Bruizzi added that Jose Gonzalez, a coach teaching Junior Varsity and Novice, although new and very stern, pushes the girls to perform their best and stay focused especially on the court. The mix of personalities, she said, keeps the team balanced between discipline, encouragement, and fun, creating both a challenging and supportive environment for the team.
“Because it is also his first year with us I think he makes a good addition to the team,” Bruizzi said.
To push them to be better, Gonzalez has been teaching them drills such as serve receives and passing drills. Junior Varsity’s outside and middle two, Audrinna Soto, 10, said certain drills like serve receives and passing have helped them efficiently learn how to get under the ball. Instead of wanting to win like most coaches, Gonzalez wants them to improve, not just win the game.
“He has high energy and really praises hard work. Winning is good, but his main focus is on improving our skills. With these coaches, we feel supported but also pushed to improve,” Soto said.
