As she is set to start her 11^th season as the head coach, Teresa Velazquez-Ortega and her team are coming off a strong third place South Coast Conference finish and berth in the Southern California Regional Playoffs last season. Velazquez-Ortega has a solid core of returning players and has brought in a strong group of freshmen to compliment them. Joining Velazquez-Ortega on the coaching staff is association head coach Gay Castaneda for her fourth year, along with Richard Puou, who will be in his first season. Last year, the Falcons snapped a two-year skid where they missed the playoffs, while they are looking for their first conference championship since the 1997 year.

The team returns five sophomores, while the incoming freshmen provide balance and depth at every position, as the team looks to improve their performance in the post-season. Velazquez-Ortega began her head coaching career with the Falcons by being named the South Coast Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 and has compiled an 91-72 (.558) record in her time with the team.

Prior to taking over as the head coach, Velazquez-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. Velazquez-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. Velazquez-Ortega was also selected to the Asics All-America Team as well as to the All-State Tournament Team in 1989 and 1990.

Velazquez-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 earned her Master’s degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. Velazquez-Ortega is also a full-time classified employee in the HPER/Athletics Division.

Velazquez-Ortega and her husband Elias, who is also a part-time classified employee in the athletic department; have two children – Chris (19) and Isaac (11).