In just three seasons, the women’s volleyball team amassed a record of 9-62. Just 10 games into the 2019 season it has already won seven. Head Coach Tyler Reeves is getting a lot of the credit.
Reeves has reset the culture of the SC Volleyball program by dialing it down. He played at Hilltop High School, where he graduated in 2006. After two years on the men’s club team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo he began his coaching career at Hilltop in 2010 leading the boys’ volleyball squad – a position he still has.
Reeves helped coach the Mar Vista girls’ team to the 2015 CIF finals. Last year his varsity girls team won its league title. His boys’ team has won league three times in his 10 years of coaching.
Reeves said he could not turn down the chance to coach at SC, where he was once an assistant.
“I felt like I wanted to move up in my career,” he said. “I have been coaching at high schools, but there is a familiarity because I was an assistant coach here already. Getting to take the reins myself really was what drew me over here.”
New facilities were a plus, he said, and helped with recruiting. That and his relaxed style.
“I am probably a lot more laid back than many of their other coaches,” he said. “I like to say that I know the girls are trying to do well, they are not trying to do bad.”
Former players praised Reeves. Hilltop alumnus Diamond Lexus raved about his love for what he does, and how it rubs off on the players.
“He taught us a lot,” she said. “He is a really good role model and he loves what he does.”
SC sophomore middle blocker Zennia Chai, the team’s only returner, said Reeves has recruited more experienced players.
“We really struggled a lot by not having a lot of experienced players on the court last year,” she said.
Reeves said he wants to see contained improvement.
“We hope to do some damage in our conference and surprise some teams,” he said. “We are going to win, while having fun playing volleyball.”
