Matt Schutz is the longtime varsity head coach at Harbor High School and one of the most respected coaches in the region. With over 30 years of coaching experience, he has built a legacy of excellence and consistency within the Harbor volleyball program. Under his leadership, Harbor has captured 11 SCCAL championships and most recently earned CCS titles in 2023 and 2025. His impact on the sport was recognized statewide when he was named the 2024 California Coach of the Year. Beyond the court, Matt is also a dedicated Harbor High School chemistry teacher, bringing the same passion and precision to the classroom that he brings to coaching.

Scotty Sanborn has been a longstanding member of the Santa Cruz Volleyball Community, playing for over 15 years and coaching for over 10. He is the head coach of Harbor Beach volleyball, while running strength and conditioning for the indoor program. He has previously coached for SC Beach, Main Beach, and PCS where he won a CCS Championship in 2017.

Alongside his coaching endeavors, Scotty holds a AAA rating in beach volleyball, and is pursuing a masters degree in physical education after 2 years of teaching math at Harbor. Off the court, he enjoys tranquil walks with his companion, Corazon.

Yuki is thrilled to be a part of our volleyball community. She is a lifelong volleyball player, a coach, a former teacher, and a busy mom of three! Her passion for volleyball began when she  was eight years old, and she has been actively competing in beach volleyball since 2019, which she absolutely loves.

Beyond the court, she has had the joy of teaching elementary school in Japan, Colorado, and New Jersey. During her teaching career, she also coached volleyball, and she is proud to say we brought home three state championships! Now, she coaches both boys' and girls' volleyball teams here in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz.

More Fun Facts About Yuki:

She is a big gardener! You'll often find her in her happy place, her garden, usually with her chickens, dogs, and cats, and sometimes even with friends and family.

She holds a second-degree black belt in Karate. She competed at nationals for six years, even placing 5th in the Japanese National Title. Yes, she is strong!

Yuki is truly looking forward to working with all of you and our amazing athletes this season!

Maille Murphy is a 2024 UCSC graduate and brings extensive playing and coaching experience to the Santa Cruz Volleyball Project. She competed at the varsity level at Steamboat Springs High School and played club volleyball with Whiteout Volleyball in Colorado for eight years. Maille has also volunteered as a coach for developmental teams for two years, where she focused on building strong fundamentals and confidence in young athletes. She is excited to coach the Purple Team and is committed to creating a positive, supportive, and growth focused environment.

Alex is a Santa Cruz local who went to Harbor High and played for Main Beach Boys before going to play on the Sonoma State Mens Club Volleyball team. At Sonoma his team got second in the nation in 2015. While in college he also played hockey for four years. He graduated with a History degree and a minor in Anthropology.

Alex began his coaching career as an assistant for Cardinal Newman JV before coming back home and returning to Harbor High as the freshman coach. From there he went on to coach JV girls and boys at Harbor, girls and boys middle school at B40, and Main Beach. While at Harbor he has been on the coaching staff of three CCS winning teams.

When not coaching Alex can usually be found in his garden or coming up with new projects around the house.

Top current and former star athletes bring their skill, dedication, experience and leadership to elevate the next generation of players!

Liana Kitchel grew up on the sand, playing beach volleyball since elementary school alongside her parents, both lifelong players who inspired her love for the sport. She competed in indoor volleyball throughout middle and high school, winning a State Championship victory in 2019 with Mount Madonna! Her coaching background includes guiding girls' indoor teams at 831 Volleyball, coaching high school beach at Mount Madonna, and mentoring elementary and middle school beach athletes.

Liana focuses on cultivating a joyful, encouraging environment, believing players perform their best when they are truly having fun. She recently graduated from UCSD, where she played ultimate frisbee. Back in Santa Cruz, she enjoys creating art and spending time with her dog, Plover.

Harlina brings an incredible 23 years of coaching experience to the program, shaping athletes across middle school and high school programs. She has left a massive mark on the local volleyball scene, leading the PCS boys' team to its first-ever CCS Championship in 2014, and taking the Santa Cruz High girls' team to its first NorCal Championship game.

Harlina strongly believes that youth sports should be developmental first and competitive second. Volleyball is truly a family affair for her, she even gets to coach alongside her daughter, Kianna Lee! When she isn't on the sidelines, Harlina loves traveling, playing beach volleyball, and spending quality time with her family.

Kianna Lee brings a lifetime of experience to the program, having played volleyball since age eight through her time at Santa Cruz High School and in club competition. She has built strong coaching roots locally, serving as an assistant coach at Mission Hill Middle School for three seasons assisting Santa Cruz High for two seasons. She is passionate about mentoring young athletes and helping them build confidence both on and off the court.

Known for her sincere, humorous, and dependable approach, Kianna creates an encouraging environment where players can challenge themselves while enjoying the game. Professionally, she works as a physical therapist, bringing a deep understanding of movement and fitness to her coaching. Off the court, she enjoys crocheting, gardening (recently planting her own plumeria tree!) and taking beach walks with her dog, Charl.

Sarah Maydole brings dynamic experience to the court, having played competitive indoor volleyball for eight years across nearly every position. Over the past five years, she has shifted her focus to beach volleyball, where she activity competes in the CBVA, while also sharing her passion for the game as a coach for B40.

Her coaching style is high-energy, vibrant, and deeply supportive, prioritizing teamwork, strong community, and athlete growth over winning alone. When she isn't on the court or contemplating math, Sarah enjoys hiking, running, spending time with friends, diving into creative crafts, or treating herself to ice cream.

Coach Cora can be seen roaming the beach courts, cautiously approaching strangers in hopes of free food. When she's not digging sand or chasing seagulls, she can be found dodging volleyballs or cozying up to the nearest human for protection.