As she is set to start her fifth season as the head coach, Teresa Ortega appears to have returned the Cerritos College women’s volleyball team back to prominence. Joining her on the coaching staff is former Falcon player Ali Carey, who will assume co-head coaching status. Although the Falcons missed the post-season last season, they finished the year 12-6 overall and were 8-4 in the South Coast Conference and placed third. Two seasons ago, the team came within one win from earning a share of the conference championship and advanced to the Southern California Regional Playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round.

                This year’s team will be greatly experienced, as eight players return from last season and are dedicated to reaching the state championships. Last year, the team consisted of all freshmen and with their experience, they anticipate that their balance of youth and experience, along with their dedication, will return them to the elite in the state. Ortega began her head coaching career with the Falcons by being named the South Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2001. Prior to taking over as the head coach, Ortega spent six seasons as the assistant coach under Jeanine Prindle (four years) and Nancy Welliver (two years). Prindle retired from coaching, while Welliver has moved on to be the head coach at Cypress College. Ortega has been involved with the Cerritos College volleyball program since 1989 when she led the Falcons to a Final Four appearance in the state championships. She also led the nation in kills among community college volleyball players that season. She was also selected to the Asics All-America Team as well as to the All-State Tournament Team in 1989 and 1990.

                Ortega has extensive international volleyball experience and brings her very intense and competitive spirit to the program. She received her dental degree from National University of Mexico and recently earned her Master’s degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. Ortega is also a full-time classified employee in the HPER/Athletics Division.

                No stranger to either Cerritos College or volleyball, Ali Oliver prepares for her second season as the team’s co-head coach. An accomplished volleyball player and now coach, Oliver played for the Falcons from 1996-97 and led them to a share of the South Coast Conference title as a sophomore. She was a two-time 1^st Team All-South Coast Conference selection, while earning All-Southern California honors as a sophomore and was the state’s top-ranked hitter her freshman season. Oliver’s 324 kills in 1996 still rank ninth most in school history, while she recorded 234 kills, 242 digs and 35 service aces as a sophomore and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and Team Captain.

                Oliver then received a full scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University and finished third among all NCAA Division I players in service aces as a junior. She then transferred to Sonoma State University and was named their Most Valuable Player and Team Captain as a senior. A graduate of San Gabriel High School, Oliver started her career by being a four-time 1^st Team All-Almont League selection, while earning the league’s Most Valuable Player honors two consecutive seasons. Oliver completed her playing career with the European Exposure Tour during the summer of 2003 and winter of 2004 and is currently an AA-rated beach volleyball player.

                In addition to her duties with the Falcons, Oliver is also the Club Director of the Smack Volleyball Club. Oliver’s coaching career started in 1997-98 when she was the head coach of the Huntington Beach Volleyball Club and has coached all levels of volleyball since then. She served as the coach at Holy Ghost (LA) Junior High (1998), Redwood High (Marin County) Junior Varsity girls and boys (2000-02), Marin Juniors Volleyball Club 16-year olds (2000-01) and 18-year old (2001-02), Creekside Middle School (2001-02), Napa Valley College assistant coach (2002-03), Napa Sonoma Volleyball Club girls and boys 18-year olds (2002-03), Cypress College assistant coach (2003) and Beach Cities Volleyball Club 15-year olds (2004).

                Oliver was married to Chris Oliver on August 5, 2006, who was on the basketball team at Sonoma State and is now a European player and they reside in Manhattan Beach.