After an undefeated district championship season, all three El Paso High Volleyball teams have had unique challenges at the start of the 2025 season as head coach, Yesenia Alarcon Ortega vacated the role.
Alarcon Ortega accepted a management position with El Paso’s Children’s Hospital and coached her last match on Aug. 19 against Eastlake High School.
Assistant coach, Sarah Keyson has stepped up, while the team awaits a new hire.
However, coach Alarcon’s absence isn’t the only one the team will have to contend with, as only five varsity players are returning to the team this year.
“We’re going to adapt well; I think that we’re going to rise to the challenge. I truly believe that like, even though yes, Alarcon is a big, big part of our program, I believe so are the girls and we’ll be able to adapt to her leaving,” sophomore Maya Bemis said.
Despite these challenges, the team still hopes to repeat the record from last year and keep their streak of three consecutive district championships with their last loss in district play coming in 2021. So far, the varsity team has a record of 15-12.
“Since it is a younger team, we definitely need to keep working on that chemistry, so we can keep that varsity level,” senior, Samantha Muñoz said.
Last year the team had a record of 28-9, evidence of the chemistry Samantha hopes to recreate.
“It felt amazing to win that, and so I hope we win that again this year, but even more work into it so we can make it farther,” Samantha said.
Despite the team lacking veteran players, they remain confident in the talent of the group to carry them forward.
“We have a really unexperienced group of girls, but I think this year we could push forward with the amount of skill and talent, that we have with these girls,” Samaire Muñoz says.
While the addition of new members onto the varsity team might cause some difficulties, their work ethic will be sure to contribute to the dynamic of the team.
Keyson added that despite Alarcon leaving, the expectations and mindset will remain the same with her in charge.
“Because coach Alarcon was my coach, I feel like I know her, what she expects as an athlete, so then therefore I know what to expect out of them, and so just the continuous discipline, hard work, and just teaching them they can’t settle for anything less than their hard work,” Keyson said.
Some of the players feel the same. Their perspective highlights how the team is already adapting to the new coach.
“She has the same standards, same goals as Coach Alarcon, so it’s really like she never left,” Samaire said.
Her teammates have echoed the same feeling that there is a significant continuity between the coaches.
“We want to continue our district streak. We have three right now, so we’re hoping to continue with that,” sophomore, Randi Mae said.
Coach Alarcon hoped to teach her athletes one last thing and left a message for them to grow from.
“I hope that they reflect on the many accomplishments, memories and challenges they faced,” Coach Alarcon said.
Despite the Coach’s absence, she taught them many life lessons that can be applied daily.
“She taught me how much discipline matters and how accountability really makes a difference in your life, and to always be mentally good,” junior, Gaby Lara said.
