Former player replaces longtime coach

Whitney Meyer coaches her players during a lady cougars volleyball game.
Photo By Alexander, Photo and Video Editor

By Michael Baird
Co-Sports Editor

Cuesta’s women’s volleyball team has named Whitney Meyer as their new head coach for the 2017-18 season.

Roche Nystrom, the former women’s volleyball coach, departs after completing her 24th year of coaching Cougar volleyball.

Nystrom leaves the team with a career coaching record of 303-237. Their 2016-17 season record was 12-10 and the Cougars finished third in the Western State Conference.

The Cougars improved from finishing sixth in conference the previous two seasons.

“I have first-hand experience as a Cuesta College student-athlete as well as experience as an assistant coach with the program,” Meyer said. “So I know the dedication required to wear the Cougar uniform.”

The Cougars volleyball team is in constant rebuild mode as players graduate, complete their two years of eligibility and move on to universities.

Meyer brings qualities from her playing experience as a Cougar and said she can easily relate with her players.

In the following season, Meyer worked from the bench as Nystrom’s assistant coach. Meyer said she learned valuable coaching and leadership skills from the veteran coach Nystrom during her time as an assistant with the Cougars.

This season she took the head coaching vacancy as Nystrom departed from the Cougars.

Meyer played for the Cougars under the coaching of Nystrom from 2013-14. Meyer is 10th on the all time kills list with 360. A kill is a service that is not returnable and leads directly to a point. Meyer is first in all time career service aces with 76.

According to Meyer, she is focused on creating a team that is well connected and can easily communicate with each other on and off the court.

Meyer said she is focused on creating a team experience that creates a love for the game. Meyer added that she is also supportive of the academic role the players have at Cuesta.

“In my first season as coach my goals are to create a team experience that enhances the student-athlete’s love of the game,” Meyer said. “And also to build a support network that helps my players have a successful academic and social experience at Cuesta College.”