First year varsity head coach Kaci Brazil couldn’t be any more thrilled about the upcoming season with the Hughson High Huskies volleyball team and of the future of the program. 

“This is my first year as a varsity coach,” said Brazil. “I was not involved in the program prior to this. We have all new coaches this year for Hughson High School.” 

From top to bottom it was a complete overhaul with the program as the JV welcomed first year head coach Nataushia Morelas and freshman coach is Alisha Segmiller. 

Brazil is a Turlock High graduate with coaching experience, just not at the varsity level. 

Now, Brazil heads a squad that went 9-16 overall just a season ago and 4-9 in the Trans Valley League, a league that has been dominated by Hilmar over the past six-plus seasons. 

Over the past six seasons, Hughson varsity volleyball has had just a single winning season, in 2017 when they were 18-14 overall and 7-5 in the TVL, handing Hilmar a set loss in their first meeting that year.

That year they also clinched a playoff berth, but fell in the opening round to Linden. 

Now, nearly two years later and a new head coach, Brazil is eager to bring something that has not been seen recently with the Huskies. 

“I am very excited to be a part of Husky volleyball and am really excited and appreciate how hard our athletes have been working,” said Brazil. “We expect to be a tough and scrappy team for this upcoming season. The TVL is always a tough league but we expect to be competitive and compete.” 

Leading the Huskies is Giana Martella, a four-year varsity player, among others on the roster. 

“Giana is a stand out that works hard day in and day out. We are excited about this upcoming season,” Brazil added. 

Hughson will kick off the season on the road at Johansen High at 6 p.m. Aug. 23.