Halle Johnson
Arizona State Universitys
Indoor Volleyball Program
3/15/17
Special points of in-
terest:
A New Beginning For The ASU Indoor Volleyball Squad
Four new positions Everyone is calling it a new
were filled for the Fall beginning for the Volleyball
2017 season. Devils. Last season the team
struggled with an arduous
Read a personal inter- traveling schedule (around
view from a senior cap- 25,000 miles) and lost one of
tain. their assistant coaches half-
way through the season. Dur-
Take a look at the up- ing the month of August, the
coming summer
Devils traveled to four loca-
camps! tions in four weekends: New
Mexico, Iowa, California, and
Idaho. Previous Team Cap-
tain , senior Cassidy Pickrell,
shares, This season was one
of the hardest mental and
physical experiences of my
life. The grind was unlike any
Inside this issue:
other. Waking up for 6 a.m.
weighs after returning at
New Head Coach midnight from a preseason
2 tournament was quite the
Two New Assistant
Coaches 2 Congratulations to Ken McCarty
Sports trainer, KenMcCarty
New Director of Oper- has been a part of the Sun
ations 3 Devil Sports Performance
crew for 20 years! After com-
Interview from Team
Captain: Oluoma Okara 3 pleting his Grad Assistant
years at Arizona State, he was
promoted as an Assistant
2017 Summer Skills
Camps 4 Athletic Trainer to, now, Head
Athletic Trainer of multiple
athletic teams. His loyalty and
challenge. After a hectic
preseason and two more
weekends of travel, the team
had their first home game
against the Oregon Ducks on
September 30th. The teams
0-2 record against Oregon
and the
Oregon
State
that
weekend
seemed
to set
the tone
for the remainder of the sea-
son. The Devils struggled to
earn some wins in the Pac 12
and were ranked last for the
majority of the season. It
wasnt until the final three
games that the girls managed
dedication to the Sun Devil
athletic program has been a
joy to the community. With-
out McCarty, the program
would not be at the level it is
fortunate enough to be at
today. Head Athletic Direc-
tor, Ray Anderson, shares, It
is an honor to have such a
2017
Volume 1, Issue 1
to pull off three consecutive
wins at home (one against
their rivals, U of A). Despite
the losing season, both the
program and avid spectators
believe the 2017 season has
much more to offer. A new
coaching staff
and promis-
ing recruits
look to
brighten the
future of
Arizona State
Universitys
Women Indoor Volleyball.
caring and pas- Ken McCarty
sionate athletic trainer in-
volved with our athletes. His
job isnt easy, but he manages
it well. On the behalf of the
Arizona State Athletic Com-
munity, we can not thank you
enough for your 20 years of
service.
Arizona State
New First-Time Head Coach
After a rocky season
with many coaching
staff disputes and a
prominent losing
record, the Sun Devils hired
the previous Assistant and
Recruiting Coordinator, Sanja
Tomasevic, as permanent Head
Coach for the Fall 2017 season.
The 37 year old is anxious and
excited for the new season.
Tomasevic explains, I am both
excited and honored to be
given such an amazing oppor-
tunity to coach a rather strong
and hard working group of
girls. I have been around the
game for more years than I can
count, but this team is by far
the most special. Coming as
the second consecutive first
time Head Coach for the Ari-
zona State Volleyball program
it is not going to be any small
feat. The program is in a re-
building period and is going to
need the proper coaching staff
to make it a successful reality.
Ray Anderson and AJ of the
Sun Devils Athletic Directors
believe that Sanja is the perfect Sanja Tomasevic
one to fill this roll. Anderson
shares, It is not easy for any- challenge shows a lot about her
one to do what we have hired commendable character and
Sanja to do, but the willingness love she has for the girls.
and enthusiasm to accept the

I am both excited and Two New Assistant Coaches

honored to be given In addition to a newly hired
Head Coach for the Arizona
such an amazing State Womens Indoor Volley-
ball program, two new assistant
head coaches were added to
opportunity to coach a
the staff. Coach Carlos Moreno
and Amanda Burbridge, former
rather strong and hard
ASU Womens Indoor Volley-
ball alum, were hired to fill the
working group of girls.
positions. Both were fortunate
enough to play colligate volley-
ball and, to this day, charish the
sport as such an important part
of their lives. Each coach has
had experience coaching at the
colligate level and are excited
to have the opportunity to
finally coach in such a competi-
tive conference. Amanda di-
rects and coaches for the
womens Revolution volleyball
club on the side and Carlos
helps out with the recruiting.
Moreno and Burbridge share,
It isn't easy to be an colligate
Assistant Coach and fulfill oth-
er job demands and family
needs on the side. However,
would I ever change my life-
style? Not a chance. The Uni-
versity and players are excited
for these two new additions
and can not wait to finish out
the second half of spring sea-
son with their help.

Carlos Moreno

Amanda Burbridge
Page 2

New Director of Operations
Nellie Coleman graciously
accepted the new Director of
Operations position for the
volleyball team. After quitting
her job at Portland State to
take a year off and reside in
Arizona with her husband
(Assistant ASU Mens Basket-
ball Coach, Anthony Coleman)
to have their first child, Nellie
explains, It was great to spend
a year focusing on our first
child, but I am anxious to work
again with the sport I love the
most. Nellie was a member of
the USA Olympic National
Team from 2008-2012 and
played at UCLA during her
Words from Team Captain: Oluoma Okara
Current Team Captain, Olu-
oma Okara, was a key factor
for each win the Sun Devils
experienced in the former
season. Her athleticism and
raw talent helped lead the
team to some successful victo-
ries. Oly, as her teammates and
coaching staff refer to her,
transferred her junior year
from the University of San
Francisco to fill the role as a
middle blocker for Arizona
Oluoma Okara
colligate years. She has always
had a passion for the sport and
can never seem to get enough
of it. All of her previous team-
mates and coworkers talk high-
ly of her determination and
impeccable work ethic. Nellies
competitive nature has allowed
her to not only set goals, but
achieve them with flying colors.
Volleyball is not an easy sport.
Coleman voices, No one sud-
denly wakes up one day and
becomes a star volleyball play-
er. To get were I have been
and the seen the level of com-
petition I have seen, mental
strength is on the top of the
State University. Oly wanted to
compete at a higher Division 1
school for her last two years of
college and former Arizona
State University Head Coach,
Stevie Mussie, made that dream
a reality for her. As a Biology
Major Oly works hard to com-
plete a rigorous academic
schedule and simultaneously
put in the time to improve her
skills on the court. Okara
states, If the life of a college
Volume 1, Issue 1
priority list.
Nellie is excited
to share her
experiences with
the players and
aid in the programs recon-
struction. This is a new chapter
in her life that will light up the
path for many more future
opportunities.
Nellie Coleman
If the life of a
athlete was easy, everyone
would be doing it. Without the college athlete was
proper mindset, juggling this
lifestyle can seem impossible. easy, everyone
When asked if she enjoyed
indoor volleyball or beach bet-
ter, Oly responded, I honestly would be doing it.
love both of them equally.
There are pros and cons to
both sports; however, having
the opportunity to play both is
a true blessing.
Page 3
 Arizona State University Athletics has been around since the later 1800s. Over each decade, the

vision and mission of the organization has never wavered, only improved. The athletic program
Arizona State
strives for both academic and athlete excellence. They acquire a championship mentality both on and
University Athletics
off of the field, rink, mat, and court. Not only does the program venture to win NCAA Champion-

ships as a PAC 12 school, they work to prepare students for their individual lives after college., Each

athlete must live by all of these seven standards, Sun Devils: win, compete with passion and charac-
Sun Devil Athletics
ter, are relentless, graduate, serve, are family, and stay Sun Devils for life.

Address: 2017 Summer Skills Camps

Tempe, AZ 85281

Do not miss out on the ASU

Womens Indoor Volleyball Summer Camp Dates:
Phone: 151-515-1515 Summer Camps for 2017! Any Future Sun Devils Camp: July 10th
Fax: 555-555-5555 future Devils looking for some -12th
Email: time with the Sun Devil players
sundevilathletics@asu.edu
themselves and hoping to im- Advanced All Skills Camp: July
prove their skills in the mean 13th-16th

Fork Em Devils! time or, simply, have an intro- All Skills Camp: July 18th-20th
duction to the sport, are in for a
Team Camp: July 21st-22nd
treat. It is never too young to
develop your passion for volley-
ball and make new, lasting
friendships. Additionally, for you
high school athletes out there,
get your high school coaches to
bring your team to compete at
the Team Camp! Arizona State
University is would be happy to
have you this summer!

Picture URLs:
Front Page Volleyball Picture in Wells Fargo: http://www.cronkitesports.com/asu-volleyball-a-top-10-
team-is-rolling-into-wells-fargo-arena/

Black And White Volleyball: http://www.caltimes.org/1067/sports/vulcan-volleyball-goes-500-in-psac-

crossover-play/
Coach Sanja: http://www.thesundevils.com/coaches.aspx?rc=705&path=wvball
Coach Carlos: http://www.thesundevils.com/coaches.aspx?rc=707&path=wvball

Coach Amanda: http://www.thesundevils.com/coaches.aspx?rc=706&path=wvball

Nellie Coleman: http://www.portlandpilots.com/coaches.aspx?path=wvball&rc=524
Oluoma Okara: http://www.thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4085
Pitch Fork: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/29273466304808511/