It’s a new day for the St. Anthony girls’ volleyball team.
Fresh off of a 13-10 overall performance last year that also saw the Saints finish 2-6 in the Del Rey League to take fourth place, the school is turning to a new coach to lead them in a fresh start. They couldn’t have picked a better face to do so than longtime local club coach Monyea Barber, who grew up in Long Beach and played at Long Beach Poly and Carson High.
Barber said that it’s been a nice start to coaching the Saints.
“It’s a blessing, the kids are amazing, they’re such high energy,” she said. “They love to compete. We’re trying to turn it into more of a family-like program and they’re definitely buying into that.”
Barber said that as important as competing on the court is, her approach has always been about people first.
“Coaching for me has always been about more than just the sport,” she said. “You’re only going to have them for so many years (as athletes), so you want to make sure you leave an impact after that. Regardless if they go play volleyball in college or if they go straight into the workforce, you want to have an impact. I can be kind of strict and mean, but it’s because I care–you have to show that caring side and also understand they have a life outside of the court.”
The leader of the team this year is Makayla Shepherd, a senior outside who is committed to the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.
“She brings an aggressive, competitive edge every time she steps on the court,” said Barber. “Despite her intensity as a player, she is extremely humble and grounded, making her easy to root for.”
Shepherd is a three-year captain for the Saints and said that the team has embraced Barber’s approach.
“We’ve done team bonding, she’s asking for feedback and also getting to know us well,” she said. “The coaching staff just gets along really well with the girls and they’re letting us be ourselves in practice while we’re staying focused, which is nice.”
Shepherd said that she’s excited about the blend of returning varsity players and new talent, and said the experience of being a captain for so many years has helped her both on and off the court.
“You can’t talk to the same person the same way as the next, everyone’s different, and so learning my teammates and learning how to talk to every type of person has been a big help,” she said.
Two other four-year varsity players for the Saints are Brooke Jondle and Quinn Bell, who Shepherd says she has great chemistry with. Jondle is a scrappy passer with a bright personality who competes hard at libero. Bell is the team’s middle and right side and another force leading the way for St. Anthony.
“She’s our hidden weapon, she’s so sweet…and then as soon as we start playing she’s like a completely different person, I love watching her play,” said Barber.
Brianna Mbire is another pin hitter option for the Saints as part of their strong senior class.
Other key players include Alice Landis and junior setter Perla Wong.
Barber is excited to see what her team can do this season as they’ve gotten off to a 2-2 start.
“I am big at pumping them up, I want them to believe there’s no team that they can’t beat,” she said. “If they believe that then it’s a success.”
