Coach of the Year

Kristi Becker, Loara

Moments after her team fell to undefeated Quartz Hill in the CIF-SS Division III final, Becker said she thought the Rebels were miscast as the bracket's No. 2 seed. The same probably could have been said about her Saxons (17-3), ranked No. 8 by CIF.

“I always thought we should be here,” she said that day.

Becker became Loara's boys volleyball coach two years ago, inheriting a talented group with low expectations and little discipline.

“We didn't play like a team,” said setter Bryan Do, a four-year varsity member. “We did our own thing. Not until she came did we realize there was a lot of slack we had to pick up being on varsity.”

Last year the Saxons, who had never advanced past the first round, made it to the quarterfinals. This year they repeated as Empire League champions, knocked off top-seeded Santa Monica and reached the finals.

“We talked to each other more as teammates and as friends,” Do said. “I believe that carried us, our friendship and our bond with each other. I give everything to that, for coming this far.”

Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com