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Born and raised in Oceanside, Katie played at SoCal Volleyball Club from 2013 to 2017. She was on national teams for three out of her four years here, plus her strong leadership ability secured her a spot as team captain. In her spare time, she volunteered at the store, cafe, tryouts, registration, and clinics. She also worked as a referee for the North County Parochial League.
Katie was a two-year varsity libero and defensive specialist at Mission Vista High School. Both seasons, she made appearances in CIF San Diego Section Division 1 playoff games. She was also a two-time member of the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team. Another one of her hobbies is music, so she sang the national anthem before every home game. Nominated for the Timberwolf Award in 2017, she was known for her optimistic attitude, encouraging cheers, and uplifting personality.
A recent graduate of UC San Diego, Katie earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology with a minor in global health. She continued her love for volleyball on a co-ed intramural team, which advanced to the San Diego Championship Series in 2019. As a result of her excellent grades and dedicated extracurricular involvement, she was honored with the UC San Diego Alumni Outstanding Senior Award in 2022.
Katie’s strongest skills as a player are service receive and defense, which are also her main focuses as a coach. She provides in-depth explanations, thoughtful feedback, and positive reinforcement. Her passion, energy, and excitement are infectious. She strives to build character though kindness by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all players. Additionally, she makes it a point to emphasize the importance of the mental aspect of volleyball. She challenges players to keep growing and improving via discipline, concentration, and self-adjustment.
You may notice that Katie shares a last name with another one of the coaches here. Annie is her sister! Do you see the resemblance? SoCal Volleyball Club has always been a second home for the Nugent family. Both Katie and Annie are so happy to be passing on their volleyball knowledge to the next generation.
