Ruben Volta has been a vital part of the Sacramento State women’s volleyball team for eight seasons. This season marks his first as assistant head coach under Debby Colberg.

“Sometimes you can’t reward people with money, because there is no more money in the budget, so I rewarded him with a title and it’s for having done a good job,” Colberg said.

This season is also the fifth season Volta served as the team’s recruiting and travel coordinator.

Volta graduated from Sac State in 1993, earning his degree in physical education. Prior to coaching at Sac State, he taught

physical education at St. Philomenes.

“When I was going through school, I was studying kinesiology, which was physical education, and I enjoyed teaching. It was fun teaching little kids,” Volta said.

While studying at Sac State, Volta starred in the men’s volleyball team, although he didn’t start his volleyball career at Sac State.

“Out of high school, I went to a junior college and volleyball was just picking up. I lived in the Bay Area, so I was in Santa Cruz a lot playing outdoors and I fell in love with it,” Volta said.

In 1995, the club team at Sac State went undefeated and won the National Club Championship. During that season Volta earned All-American honors as a setter and he was named all-tourney in the Big Sky Tournament.

“I feel really fortunate that there were good players when I was on the team. Each year that I played, we went to either quarter-finals or semi-finals so it was really exciting,” Volta said.

One of Volta’s main jobs on the Hornet coaching staff is to work with the setters.

Junior setter Rose Burke had the opportunity to work with Volta as she developed her setting skills.

“He influences me because he was a setter. So he says, ‘When I was a setter I would do this.’ So then I figured if he did it and it worked, then I should probably learn how to do it so it will work for me. I value everything he has to say,” Burke said.

In August of this year, coach Colberg announced she would be retiring after the end of this season. After a 32-year tenure as coach, the Hornets were looking for someone with the ability to fill her shoes.

“It wasn’t even my decision; it was a question for the (athletic director). He must have liked Ruben so they kept him on, and I certainly supported the decision, but it wasn’t my decision to make,” Colberg said.

After working alongside Colberg for eight seasons, Volta will take on the task of coaching the Hornets starting next season.

“I’m excited about it. It’s going to be a challenge which is what coaching is. It is hard to think ahead though because we are at a very important part of the season,” Volta said.

With his experience in the volleyball world, Volta is prepared to handle the task.

“I think coaching will just pick up from where it left off. I feel like I am a pretty stable part of the program so it should be an easy move,” Volta said.

Volta is not the only one who said he will be able to handle the position of coach. Colberg said Volta has what it takes to create another successful program.

“Oh absolutely, I think he is more than ready,” Colberg said. “He has tons of club experience, I’ve watched him coach with his own club teams and he’s been a really good assistant, so he is ready.”

Senior Lindsay Haupt has been working with Volta her entire career as a Hornet and also said he is well-suited for the job that lies ahead.

“He is definitely prepared. Ruben is a great coach. He knows a lot about the game, and he knows a lot about modern volleyball and he is very good with the girls,” Haupt said.

Prior to coaching collegiate volleyball, Volta tried his hands at the other aspects of volleyball. In 1995, he started the High Voltage volleyball facility and formed a junior club team.

His High Voltage 18-over division club teams qualified for the junior nationals five times. In 1996, one team finished in 11th place in a junior national tournament.

The team respects Volta as a coach because his real-life experience allows them to get a better understanding of his coaching methods.

“The best thing about him is that he actually has actual related experience of what I’m doing too,” Burke said.

After seven seasons as an assistant coach, Volta felt it was time to move on to greater things.

“I was getting to a point in my career where it was time for me to be a coach. I guess the timing was just perfect since Debby announced her retirement,” Volta said.

Recruitment for next season is already finished so all Volta has to do is maintain the program that has brought Sac State 10 consecutive Big Sky Conference championships and two national titles.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected]