The Coronado Islanders boys’ volleyball team picked up their 14th win of the season this past week with a 3-0 victory over Mira Mesa: 25-20, 25-15, 25-13. Moving them to 4-2, they were in sole possession of first place in the city Eastern League standings. 

In the first set, Coronado jumped out to an early 12-6 advantage, with the early run being highlighted by an ace and a pair of kills from junior Cameron Lenert. The lead would eventually hit 16-9 as Ryder Moore helped push things forward with a kill and ace of his own. 

Mira Mesa would claw their way back into the set, cutting things to just a three-point deficit at 23-20. Fortunately, both Lenert and Moore would strike again, generating back-to-back kills and securing the first set for Coronado 25-20. 

In the second set, Coronado again used a scoring run to jump ahead early. The Islanders would get an excellent string of service points from junior Aidan Arendt, leading to two unforced error from Mira Mesa, and kills from Moore and Logan Berk. Making it a 7-3 Islanders lead. 

That four-point lead would soon expand to eight, thanks to the Islanders’ strong play in the middle of the set, anchored by a block and a kill from Jackson McMullen, to make it an 18-10 second-set lead. 

Finally, to finish out the second set, Coronado would be the beneficiary of a kill from Lenert and a slew of unforced errors by Mira Mesa. Clinching the second set 25-15 for Coronado. 

The third and final set of the Islanders’ match against Mira Mesa started off quite tight. After 24 points, Coronado held just a 12-11 lead. With it looking like Mira Mesa may be able to force a fourth set, Coronado turned on the jets, going on a 13-2 run to close out the set. 

Gage Gilby would be stellar while on serve, helping Coronado win seven straight points and recording two aces in the process. As a part of the run, the Islanders continued their block party with another block coming from McMullen. The mid-set run would allow the islanders to cruise to the eventual 25-13 set victory. Locking in the 3-0 win. 

The Islanders will return to action this week with road games against University City on April 22nd and Mission Bay on April 24th.

VOL. 115, NO. 17 – April 23, 2025

Ambition was never the issue for Finland’s women’s beach volleyball team. What they needed was the structure to grow. For years, coaching was divided across programmes, planning took a back seat and opportunities were limited. A single coaching appointment marked the turning point. Since then, it has grown into a national effort to put proper structures in place. With eyes on the 2025 World Championship, Finland are building a new way forward.

When the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme extended its support to Finland’s women’s beach volleyball programme, the aim was to turn potential into progress with dedicated resources and targeted coaching.

“Coaching resources were split in many places – administration, junior national team programme, women’s national team programme, other duties in federation,” said Finnish Volleyball Federation Sports Director Tapio Kangasniemi.

“There was no space or time for international or national development processes. The aim was to find more resources for women’s national team coaching and the development process.”

Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen with coach Toni Vahela during a training session in Finland. (Photo: Antti Lähteenmäki / Yle)

The turning point came with the arrival of coach Toni Vahela, whose role was made possible through FIVB Volleyball Empowerment.

“Because of Empowerment, Toni was able to use his time and resources to the women’s national team players and programme,” said Kangasniemi.

Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen introduced ahead of the medal ceremony at the Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

With Vahela at the helm, Finland’s top pairing – Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen – became one of the most active teams on the international stage.

“We were able to practise more together. Ahtiainen and Lahti-Liukkonen were, in the last two seasons, one of the teams that played the most tournaments,” said Kangasniemi. “During the last Olympic cycle, Ahtiainen and Lahti-Liukkonen, as a new composition, developed into a potential Olympic-level team.”

Although they narrowly missed qualification in the final stages of the Olympic race, the support laid the foundation for what is now a much broader strategy.

“For the 2023 World Championship we were preparing in a quite normal way, because Empowerment had just started,” said Kangasniemi. “For the World Championship 2025 we now have more resources to do a lot better planning, programming and execution of basic training, season camps and competitions.”

That planning now includes a full support system built around the players, from scouting and strength and conditioning to physiotherapy and sport psychology.

“In the year 2024–2025 we were able to build better supporting staff – scouting, S&C coaching, physiotherapy, sport psychologist,” said Kangasniemi. “Latest improvement is a new resource for administrative work to support athletes’ daily activities.”

Finland’s technical development has also sharpened, with the team focusing on key areas to compete at a higher level.

“We are developing our defence and attacking game,” said Kangasniemi. “Those are the key points in our game to get better results.”

Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen celebrate their Beach Pro Tour Futures victory in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo: CEV)

The programme has already seen tangible results. Finland claimed silver at the Beach Pro Tour Challenge 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, won the Beach Pro Tour Futures in Brussels, Belgium, in August 2024, and most recently qualified for the 2024 CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Finals, after an impressive golden set win over Czechia in Balikesir, Türkiye.

Empowerment is helping to strengthen Finland’s talent pipeline for the future.

“Number of players in our national junior tour has increased in the last two years,” said Kangasniemi. “This year we have more potential young players applying in our national training centre than ever before.”

That growth in young players is also driving new priorities for the national federation.

“Next step in our development will be to work more closely with clubs to get a more specific vision for all potential players,” said Kangasniemi.

Interestingly, while the Nations Cup has been a key competition for Finland’s top team, the federation sees greater developmental value in other events.

“The impact of the Nations Cup for our top teams is not really playing a big role. Our top teams are playing enough tournaments even without Nations Cup and for younger athletes, better platforms are zonal events and Beach Pro Tour Futures,” said Kangasniemi.

Taru Lahti-Liukkonen sees the difference in how Finland approaches every season now. With Empowerment support, the team has the coaching and structure to hone every part of their game.

“The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment support has been a really important part of our preparation for the season,” said Lahti-Liukkonen. “It helps us to have top-level coaching so we can focus on improving every aspect of our game strategy.”

Her partner Niina Ahtiainen highlights that same support as crucial, especially with major tournaments ahead.

“Being supported by the Empowerment programme is essential when we prepare ourselves for the tournaments including world championships. Goals are high so we need as good as possible coaching – continuously develop both individual and team skills in the pursuit of our sporting goals.”

Finland’s facilities have also benefitted, with the team now training in collaboration with Biitsi, a network of dedicated beach volleyball centres across the country. The partnership provides access to venues in Pasila, Salmisaari, Vantaa and Hacienda, offering year-round training environments regardless of the season. This focus on infrastructure is part of a much broader plan.

“Now we have already planned our vision toward the 2028 and 2032 Olympics,” said Kangasniemi. “At the same time, we have invested resources not only in top sport but overall development for beach volleyball in Finland.”

Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen celebrate a point during the Beach Pro Tour Elite16 in Hamburg, Germany.

The Empowerment support is tied closely to Finland’s long-term plans.

“FIVB Empowerment plays an important role in our planned vision,” said the sports director. “Empowerment will secure federation and Olympic committee support funding for the programme.”

Kangasniemi said the focus is now on maintaining quality and consistency throughout the programme.

“At the moment, the most important indicators are quality and quantity of training and amount of participation in tournaments. These are the indicators which are building better results in the future also,” he said. “Another important thing is to get more and better supporting processes around the daily actions of the national teams.”

From 2022 to 2023, the FIVB Empowerment has provided CHF 221,000 to Finland, including coaching support and national team coaching development across its volleyball and beach volleyball programmes. This support has created a system designed to strengthen Finland’s place in the sport and match its ambition for the future.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The 2025 Sharon Quarles Volleyball Clinic is Set for June 9-11^th, 2025 at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
 

 
The clinic lasts from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day and is open to ages 12-18. Summer camp costs $225 per camper and is geared toward individual skills training in serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, and individual defense. In addition, campers will work on team defensive and offensive systems. Campers will be placed into groups of similar ability and age.
 
Quarles, who led the Jaguars to their seventh  NCAA tournament appearance in the 2024 season, has compiled a 534-326 (.621) career record in twenty-eight years during four different stints as a head coach. She has recorded thirteen 20-win seasons. The Jaguars are fresh off a 21-8 record in the 2024 season.

For Registration, print and fill out the brochure and include payment with the form. Please make all checks payable to the AU Foundation c/o Volleyball.

 

For more information contact assistant coach Sharon Quarles at squarles@augusta.edu or 706-667-4766

 

 

2025 AUGUSTA VOLLEYBALL SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE