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Growing up with three older sisters that were all competitive volleyball players, I was always around the game. It wasn't until I saw beach volleyball on prime ticket that I started playing. At the early age of 12, I was allowed to play with the adults because of my ball control, defense, and understanding of the game. I enjoyed volleyball, but baseball was always my first focus. Baseball was humbling after not playing much in high school, but I learned how to break down skills to get better and to play at the higher level. After a year of development, I earned a spot at Fullerton Junior College and made all conference. I went on to earn a scholarship at a top D1 school by going to Long Beach State (go Dirtbags!). While being a starting second baseman in the 1998 College World Series was definitely a highlight, it was followed by me playing professionally for six years in the minor leagues. Highlights included two championships, an all star game, and signing with the Florida Marlins. In the offseason, I provided lessons and was successful in teaching others the skills of the game. This is when I discovered that I enjoy teaching. I think the journey from not playing in high school, to earning a scholarship and playing in six professional seasons, gave me a unique understanding on how to persevere through adversity, along with my intent to succeed. Everywhere I played, I was asked to coach. After retiring from baseball, beach volleyball came back into my life as a way to stay in shape and fulfill my competitive edge. It was fun for me to analyze and break down the skills to play in tournaments, at a high level. This was highlighted by me winning my first AVP qualifier match with former UCI volleyball standout Michael Sieta (Thanks for crushing that two ball, Mike!). From there, I was back to sharing how I break down the skills to friends and began giving lessons. After teaching my niece the necessary volleyball skills, and watching her play at a high level in club and high school volleyball, I realized my unique success in baseball gave me a different understanding of the technical breakdown and competitive spirit to compete in beach volleyball. Success came quickly to those I taught, so i decided to organize a beach club to share the knowledge of the game and more importantly how to compete with others who share the love of the game! |
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