rnystrom@cuesta.edu
ROCHE NYSTROM- WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Roche has been a member of the Cuesta volleyball coaching staff since 1984 serving as assistant coach before taking over the head coaching duties in 1993. Nystrom has led the Cougars to 226 wins and to six Western State Conference titles in her tenure. She is also four-time WSC Coach of the Year- 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2007. Nystrom’s teams have advanced to the post-season eleven times and into the State Championships twice- 1993 and 1999.
Raised on the Central Coast, she attended Coast Union High School in Cambria before attending Cuesta in 1978 where she was an all-conference honorable mention volleyball standout her freshmen year and a second-team selection her sophomore season. She helped lead Cuesta to the DII State Title as a sophomore in 1979.
Roche continued her playing career at Biola University and her squad finished 5th at the 1981 NAIA National Championship. She earned her undergraduate degree in Physical Education from Fresno State in 1984 and did her Master's Degree work at nearby Cal Poly.
From 1983-84 she coached both the varsity girls volleyball and basketball teams at the high school level before returning to coach with the Cougar’s volleyball program. She helped lead the Cougars to back-to-back State Championships in 1985 and 1986. Since 1985 Roche has been a coach with the Cuesta Volleyball Camp each summer and since 1990 has coached with the SLO Junior’s Volleyball program.
Roche lives in Templeton with her husband, Keith, and their daughter, Lauren.
2009 Volleyball Preview
Women’s Volleyball Eyes Return to the Elite Level
SAN LUIS OBISPO (September 3, 2009)—Cuesta volleyball has historically been a State powerhouse, but after winning three State Championships and winning 15 conference titles in the first twenty years the Cougars spent their third decade as a perennial also-ran with only one conference title and one state tournament appearance. The Cougars have won two of the past three Western State Conference titles and were on the cusp of earning their third straight playoff berth last season. This season, the program’s 34th, the Cougars expect to force their way back into the post-season with a mixture of experienced sophomores and talented freshmen. Coach Roche Nystrom (17th year/ 226-135), who is the program’s longest serving and winningest coach, returns five sophomores and nine freshmen. Nystrom noted, “It is great to have experienced sophomores, especially since they cover every position (on the floor).” She is hoping that her veterans will also take over the leadership role and help mentor the talented incoming freshman at each position. “I am excited about our freshmen. We have lots of potential,” Nystrom said, “We have enough depth that we can adjust and move people around to counter our opponents.” Coach Nystrom and her Cougars will chase their third Western State Conference title of the past four years beginning this week.
The Cougars began their season with a four-game loss at Porterville last Tuesday and lost their home opener to Victor Valley on Thursday. Their next match will be September 9th, when they host Sequoias.
Overview
Middle Blockers- 2008 All Western State Conference First Teamer Kayla Cribbs (Sutter Creek) anchors the Cougars offense and defense in the middle. Nystrom says, “She is a big force and one of the best ever at Cuesta. She commands respect.” Cribbs broke the Cuesta record with 107 total blocks last season and added 171 kills while hitting at a .308 clip. Freshman Kaitlyn Henry (Arroyo Grande: Coastal Christian) will join her in the middle. Henry will need time to get comfortable after playing at a small high school, but according to Nystrom she has been very easy to coach. Nystrom also noted with a smile, “She hits the ball REAL hard.” Fellow freshmen Tyler-Michelle Megna (Paso Robles HS) and Audrey Andrews (Cayucos: Coast Union) both have tons of potential and are expected to develop and contribute over the course of the season, although Andrews is still planning to redshirt. Nystrom also feels that she can bring some of her outside hitters over to the middle if needed.
Setter- 2007 Redshirt Brenna Lucchesi (Ripon HS) is in her third year with the program, but was only able to play the last eight matches of the 2008 campaign. She thoroughly understands the system and does a good job of leading the offense. She ended last year with 65 assists in 20 games and added a .571 hitting percentage. Freshman Ashlan Cate (Cambria: Coast Union) will battle Lucchesi for playing time, although the Cougars will mostly use a two setter system. Cate, who’s brother Quentin Cate was the 2008 State Baseball Player of the Year for Cuesta, is described by Coach Nystrom as, “Aggressive, hard working and smart. The players are responding to her.” Cate’s daring play and Luchessi grasp of the system should give opponents fits trying to figure out the Cougars attack.
Defensive Specialist- 2008 All Western State Conference Second Team Libero Joanna Hogue (Los Gatos) is working her way back onto the floor after battling an illness all spring. She led the Cougars with 280 digs last season and added 20 serving aces. Nystrom says, “She has lots of presence in the back row.” Freshman Macy Kiefer (Downey: St Joseph) will take over libero duties until Hogue is ready and adds very good ball control.
Outside Hitters- The Cougars do not return a starter on the outside, however they will not be lacking firepower. All State (Nebraska) Outside Hitter Mackenzie Sullivan (Waco, NE) will lead the Cuesta attack. She is a great all around player and a big hitter. All CIF selection Brooke Arnold (Temecula: Arroyo Grande HS) and Sara Hoversten (Morro Bay HS), who’s sister Danielle Hoversten was a first team all conference selection for Cuesta in 2007, will join Sullivan to give the Cougars two more newcomers that can provide big kills. Arnold is on of Nystrom’s moveable parts and is one of the most athletic players on the team. She can easily move into the middle if needed. Hoversten has shown good ball control and can also play all over the court. Sophomores Nicole Crump (San Mateo) and Julie English (Templeton HS) will provide sophomore stability hitting from the right and left side, respectively. Crump was fifth on the team with 52 kills in 2008, while hitting .217. She hits a heavy ball, however her consistency will be the key to her beating out the freshmen. English was used as a reserve during her freshman year, but she did come off the bench to knock home 17 service aces, 5th on the team. She spent the off-season working on her speed and is expected to earn a spot in the regular rotation this season. Freshman Erica Mazon (Hanford HS) is improving and will find her self on the frontline either as a hitter or blocker.
Roster
2009 Cuesta Volleyball
[click for all pictures]
Head Coach Roche Nystrom
Record/Years 226-135 / 17th year
Assistant Jeremy Douglas (1st)
Office Phone (805) 546-3100 x 2713
2008 Record 12-11
2008 WSC Record/ Finish 5-5/3rd |
|
Game Notes
Cuesta Women's Volleyball
#4 Moorpark 3, Cuesta 0
1 2 3
MPK 25 25 25
Cue 15 17 23
kills-
Mpk: NA
Cue: Nicole Crump 10
Digs-
Mpk: NA
Cue: Joanna Hogue 25
Blocks-
Mpk: NA
Cue: Kaitlyn Henry 6
Notes- The #4-ranked Moorpark Raiders walked into the Cuesta Gym for tonight's Western State Conference match and took over from the first whistle. The Raiders were able to neutralize the Cougars big hitters- Mackenzie Sullivan and Kayla Cribbs- and control the pace of the match against a toned down Cuesta offense. Coach Roche Nystrom said, "They were steady all through the match and they kept us off balance." She continued that Sullivan, who leads the Cougars with 263 kills, was not able to attack with her usual effectiveness, while Assistant Coach Neil Sutherland added that Cribbs received only eight sets in the middle, which Nystrom also noted as a positive for Sophomore Nicole Crump. Crump was left relatively open on the outside and made the Raiders pay with a team-high 10 kills in the three-game loss. The Cougars are now 7-13 on the year and 4-5 in the WSC
The Raiders took a quick 17-7 lead in Game 1 before Cuesta rebounded and played them even the rest of the way to a 15-25 loss. In Game 2, Moorpark took an 11-5 lead, which Cuesta was able to cut in half at 19-16, however the Raiders demonstrated the ability to focus down the stretch and allowed only one more point while taking a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win. It appeared that Game 3 was going to be more of the same, but after another early lead Cuesta pulled with 11-10. The Raiders could not shake the Cougars and for the first time in the match the Cougars took the lead 18-17. The Cougars the increased that lead to 21-17 and then 23-19, but that is where it stopped. The Raiders, once again, raced to the finish by taking the next four points and the match with a 25-23 Game 3 win.
Next- Cuesta will wrap up its regular season at home next Tuesday (11.17) against local rival Allan Hancock.
#7 Santa Barbara 3, Cuesta 1
1 2 3 4
SBCC 28 25 18 25
Cue 26 23 25 20
Kills-
SBCC: NA
Cue: Mackenzie Sullivan 26, Kayla Cribbs 12
Digs-
SBCC: NA
Cue: Joanna Hogue 26, Ashlan Cate 21
Blocks-
SBCC: NA
Cue: Kayla Cribbs 4
Notes- Cuesta opened the biggest lead of the first two games in their match against Santa Barbara City when they took an 11-8 lead in Game 1, however the Vaqueros roared back on four straight serving points from Jacqueline Kelly-Campbell to take a 13--11 lead. The two teams see-sawed back and forth with Cuesta taking back the lead at 22-20, but the Vaqueros grabbed the lead for good at 24-23 and overcame four deuce games to claim Game 1, 28-26. Game 2 was more of the same with neither team able to build a lead of more than two points after the Vaqueros held the lead at 15-12. The Cougars appeared to be on the verge of victory at 23-22, but the once again failed to close out the game and lost the final three points as well as the game, 25-23. The two near misses did not discourage the Cougars, but actually served to inspire them against the #7-ranked Vaqueros. The Cougars continued to feed Outside Hitter Mackenzie Sullivan, who gave the Vaqueros trouble all night long and continuously found holes in their defense, while Libero Joanna Hogue and Setter Ashlan Cate covered the floor on Cuesta's side. In Game 3, it all came together for the Cougars, who took the matches biggest lead, at that point, 6-2 and never looked back. The Vaqueros never closed that four-point gap as the Cougars rolled to the match's most lopsided victory, 25-18. In Game 4, the Vaqueros regained their composure, but could not shake the Cougars. A 9-3 run after being tied at a dozen points seemed to take the steam out of the Cougars, but after a quick time-out they split that lead in half before succumbing, 25-20. The Cougars fell to 5-11 on the year, while Santa Barbara City improved to 14-2. Cuesta Coach Roche Nystrom said, "I have no complaints. I loved the battle."
Next- The Cougars face the Vaqueros in Santa Barbara on Tuesday (7 PM). Tonight's was a rain make-up after it rained in the Cuesta Gym on October 13th.
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Quick Facts/Nystrom Record
Head Coach Roche Nystrom
Record/Years 226-135 / 17th year
Assistant Jeremy Douglas (1st)
Office Phone (805) 546-3100 x 2713
Email:rnystrom@cuesta.edu
2008 Record 12-11
2008 WSC Record/ Finish 5-5/3rd
Sports Information Director: Pete Schuler (805) 546-3211
Athletic Trainer:Jaison Wardrop, Anthony Geiger (805) 546-3225
Athletic Director: Bob Mariucci (805) 546-3100 ext.2709
The Nystrom Record |
|
Overall |
Conference |
Playoffs
|
| Year |
win |
loss |
pct |
win |
loss |
place |
win |
loss |
state |
| 1993 |
23 |
4 |
852 |
17 |
1 |
1st |
3 |
2 |
5th |
| 1994 |
15 |
5 |
750 |
13 |
1 |
1st |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 1995 |
17 |
5 |
773 |
12 |
2 |
1st |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 1996 |
9 |
11 |
450 |
8 |
6 |
3rd |
----- |
----- |
----- |
| 1997 |
10 |
10 |
500 |
6 |
8 |
4th |
----- |
----- |
----- |
| 1998 |
14 |
7 |
667 |
11 |
3 |
1st |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 1999 |
19 |
6 |
760 |
13 |
3 |
3rd |
3 |
2 |
5th |
| 2000 |
16 |
7 |
696 |
10 |
6 |
3rd |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 2001 |
13 |
11 |
542 |
9 |
5 |
3rd |
0 |
1 |
----- |
| 2002 |
18 |
7 |
720 |
11 |
3 |
2nd |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 2003 |
8 |
14 |
364 |
6 |
8 |
3rd |
----- |
----- |
----- |
| 2004 |
13 |
10 |
565 |
8 |
6 |
3rd |
0 |
1 |
----- |
| 2005 |
3 |
17 |
150 |
2 |
8 |
5th |
----- |
----- |
----- |
| 2006 |
16 |
6 |
727 |
7 |
1 |
1st |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 2007 |
20 |
4 |
833 |
8 |
0 |
1st |
1 |
1 |
----- |
| 2008 |
12 |
11 |
522 |
5 |
5 |
3rd |
----- |
----- |
----- |
| Total |
226 |
135 |
626 |
146 |
66 |
6 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
Western State Conference Coach of the Year
1994, 2002, 2006, 2007 |
