Meet Angela: GAVA Secretary & Head Coach
Angela serves as both the Secretary of the Geelong Amateur Volleyball Association (GAVA) and the Head Coach for our training programs. Her deep passion for volleyball and unwavering dedication to holistic player development make her an invaluable leader within our association.
Playing Career
Angela’s volleyball journey began in 2000, quickly establishing her as a formidable presence on the court. In 2006, she was selected for the La Araucanía Regional Team in Chile, representing the region for three consecutive years (2006-2008). Playing primarily as a Middle Blocker and occasionally as an Outside Hitter, she competed in various national and international tournaments, earning medals and recognition for her high effectiveness in blocking. In 2008, her final year with the regional selection, her leadership on and off the court was recognised when she was named team captain.
Education & Early Coaching
In 2009, Angela commenced her studies in Physical Education Pedagogy. She immediately began her transition into technical leadership by completing the National Level 1 Mini Volleyball course during her first year. Throughout her university studies, she balanced her role as an active player with assistant coaching roles in both formative and competitive squads. Simultaneously, she gained broad experience in the fitness industry, working in gyms as a personal trainer and group class instructor.
Professional Experience
After graduating as a Physical Education Teacher in 2013, Angela worked across a variety of sectors, from early childhood education to corporate wellness, always with a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles through physical activity and nutrition. At the school level, she led extracurricular workshops in volleyball and swimming. Her approach went beyond physical conditioning; she focused on instilling healthy habits and strengthening core values such as teamwork, discipline, and camaraderie.
Key Achievements
A defining moment in Angela's coaching career occurred in 2017, when she undertook a significant challenge in Puerto Natales, southern Chile, over 2,000 km from her hometown. She was tasked with a sports project that required achieving competitive results in a short timeframe, working with a group of girls with zero prior volleyball experience.
Through rigorous training and a strong partnership with the athletes and their families, the program began yielding results within nine months. After two years of development, Angela led the team to the Regional League Championship, a title they successfully defended for three consecutive years. Under her guidance, the team also secured a qualification for the National School Tournament, cementing her reputation for building high-performance teams from the ground up.