College Volleyball: Hernandez back at UCI

Former UC Irvine women’s volleyball assistant coach Sabrina Hernandez had been hired by first-year coach Ashlie Hain to take the same position for the 2015 seasons.

Hernandez spent nine years as a UCI assistant from 2003-2011. During that time, Hernandez specialized in coaching the setters and defense. Under her tutelage, the 2008 team led the Big West in digs and Hernandez also helped to bring in two ranked recruiting classes to UCI. She spearheaded the ’07 effort that resulted in a No. 21 ranking by PrepVolleyball.com and assisted in assembling the 24th-best incoming class (PrepVolleyball.com) in 2009.

“I am so excited to have Sabrina as a part of this coaching staff,” said Hain. “She has a long history as a player and coach in the Big West Conference. Her experience, enthusiasm and drive will make an immediate impact on our program. She shares my vision and is passionate about the opportunities UC Irvine has to offer student-athletes.”

A Long Beach State Hall of Fame inductee, Hernandez served as an assistant coach at Mater Dei High the past two years. She helped the Monarchs reach the CIF Southern California regional final both years with the 2014 team capturing a Trinity League title.

She spent a season as the top assistant at Occidental College from 2011-12 and helped lead the program to its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship and a Sweet 16 finish, the highest for the institution.

In the summer of 2005, Hernandez was a member of the A2 High Performance USA national team coaching staff, training and preparing junior elite volleyball athletes to become future members of the women’s Olympic team.

Hernandez began her coaching career at Oregon State (1999-01), helping the Beavers reach the NCAA postseason for the first time in 18 years in 2001.

Hernandez played at Long Beach State from 1989-92, guiding the 49ers to the Final Four three of her four years, including a national crown in 1989. She was twice named first-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. and twice garnered AVCA All-Region honors.

Hernandez was also a two-time All-Big West choice and, as a senior, Volleyball Magazine tabbed her first-team All-American. She ranks third all-time at Long Beach State with 4,796 career assists and is tied for ninth with 115 career aces. Hernandez also holds the second and fourth slots in the single-season annals, recording 1,735 assists in 1990 and 1,617 in 1991.

Hernandez resides in Long Beach with her husband, Josh.

— From staff reports

Camps at OCC

Orange Coast College men’s volleyball assistant coach Scott Panaro will hold boys’ and girls’ youth and high school summer volleyball camps, beginning in July.

The camps will take place over three weeks — July 27-31, Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14 — in OCC’s fitness complex gym.

The youth camps are open to boys and girls ages 8-14, and players of all abilities are welcome. The camps will take place from 9 a.m. until noon, and the cost for one week of camp is $175, or $150 if the participant is signed up for more than one week, or more than one child is enrolled.

The high school summer volleyball camps are open to incoming freshman through seniors, and are geared toward athletes who already play at the club/school level. The high school camps will take place from 1-4 p.m., and there will be 10 play dates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m.

Athletes will have the opportunity to train at their specific position, as well as in a team setting. The cost for the high school camps is the same as the youth camps.

Athletes will be grouped based on their age, gender, skill level and ability, to provide the most appropriate level of play and skill development. Registration is open at https://orangecoastcollege.augusoft.net/ under the “sports camp” category.

— From staff reports