Success has been building year by year for the Patagonia High volleyball team.
The victory totals for the last four seasons have climbed from 0 to 3 to 9 to 12.
After finishing 12-7 in 2023, the next logical step for the Lobos would seem to be qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since 2016.
But not so fast. Many of the key components of that upward trend have moved on. Three of the team’s mainstays—Jenny Vasquez, Janelle Valenzuela and Heaven Day—have graduated. Longtime head coach Stephanie Padilla and assistant Ralph, her husband, have retired.
Into this scenario steps Andres Cuevas, who is in his second year teaching science at the high school.
“The biggest challenge will be to replace the big hole of the senior students,” Cuevas said. “They were not only really good players because of their technique and the roles they were playing, they were good academic performers, they were leaders. We need to fill the leadership they had.”
Cuevas understands there will be an adjustment period for himself and assistant coach Anelie Olivarria.
“It will be difficult to keep up with the coaches they had before,” he said. “They were excellent coaches. They had experience, they were successful. We don’t have the same style, practices will be different, so that’s going to impact the students.”
Cuevas looks forward to the challenge. It helps that he and Olivarria are familiar with many of the players from watching them last year and from teaching at the school. Brianna Majalca, Alexis Fimbres, Emma Lewton and Amaya Somoza all were prominent contributors to last season’s success, and Cuevas also anticipates welcoming back several other younger players.
“I was able to watch them play last year,” he said. “They were awesome. At the end of the school year when they realized I would be the new coach, they were reaching out, coordinating with me.”
Cuevas said two points of emphasis will be serving and court coverage.
“Blocking is important, defensive position is important, because most of the time (opponents) don’t have big spikers,” he said. “We need to serve well, cover most of the court, anticipate the next play.”
Cuevas was an assistant coach for soccer last year, but volleyball is his true passion—one he developed while growing up in Cuba and following the Cuban women’s team as it won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
“I remember my father, grandpa, my mother, everybody at home waking up early morning to watch Cuban volleyball games,” he said. “Ever since then, when I was eight years old, I have been really passionate for volleyball.”
Cuevas was set to apply for volleyball coach at Patagonia’s middle school when he learned of the vacancy at the high school.
“I never thought I would have this opportunity,” he said. “When Mr. [Nate] Porter came to me and told me ‘they may have a position for you at the high school,’ I was like, no way.”
Cuevas plays in a recreational league in Tucson, but he hopes he’s a better coach than player. “I’m not a good player,” he said. “I’m only 5-7, 5-8.”
Porter said the biggest selling point for Cuevas is his passion.
“He built an amazing rapport with the students,” Porter said. “He’s incredibly passionate about volleyball. He’s going to take his love of volleyball and his talents as an educator and be a real asset to the program.”
Lobos’ Volleyball 2024 schedule
| Aug. 28 | at Bisbee | 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 29 | Tombstone (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 4 | San Manuel (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 6 | ASDB (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 7 | at Hayden | 3 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | at Baboquivari | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 19 | at Valley Union | 5 p.m. |
| Sept. 21 | Ray (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | at St. David | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 27 | at The Gregory School | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 8 | Baboquivari (H) | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 9 | San Simon (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 14 | Valley Union (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | St. David (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Superior (H) | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 21 | Lourdes Catholic (H) | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | at ASDB | 5 p.m. |
| Oct. 25 | at San Simon | 5 pm. |
| Oct. 29 | at St. David | 6 p.m. |