New varsity coach Trey Tamaki is looking fly for his photo for the Flight Academy website. Photo courtesy of Flight Academy volleyball.

  As the spring of 2026 begins, San Luis Obispo High School welcomes the boys’ volleyball season. Coach Trey Tamaki has joined the team as one of the three head coaches. He is currently a coach for a local volleyball club, Flight Academy, and is looking for more opportunities to spread the game of volleyball to younger generations.

 Expressions reached out to him to see how the start of the season is going and to learn more about his volleyball experiences.

Expressions: What inspired you to start playing volleyball?

Coach Trey Tamak: What inspired me? Combat. As a young boy, I grew up playing multiple combat-related sports. Prior to my sophomore year in high school, I fenced and boxed for roughly six years, so it was only appropriate to add projectile expertise to my warchest. Besides my wife, whom I also met in high school, Volleyball was my greatest discovery of all time. Of course, being 6’4 helps, but a sport with the objective to hit an object as hard as I can at my opponents, and have the faculty’s approval? Say less!

Expressions: What is your favorite thing about teaching volleyball?

Tamaki: My favorite thing about teaching volleyball is simply proximity to the sport. Believe it or not, the legendary Coach Trey’s knees won’t last forever, so his passion for volleyball lives vicariously through his chess pieces, or in other words, his phenomenal roster at SLOHS. If I can’t be IN the game, I’ll get as close as I can, and coaching is a hundred percent the next best option. 

Expressions: How long have you been coaching volleyball?

Tamaki: I’ve been coaching since I graduated from CSULB in 2020, so for approximately five years.

Expressions: What other teams have you coached?

Tamaki: Beach Volleyball Club, the Flight Academy Club Volleyball, and USYVL.

Expressions: Did you play volleyball in college, and if so, where?

Tamaki: Where have I played volleyball? I played volleyball at SBCC and Long Beach State University, both as spontaneous walk-ons. Remember, kids, not everything is about a scholarship, although they sure do help! Additionally, I currently compete in the CBVA and am working to bring men’s CBVA tournaments to Pismo Beach! 

Expressions: What is your best memory from volleyball?

Tamaki:  My best memory from volleyball was during the club season of my senior year. One of my best friends, Tyler Powell, who was a middle, served in the back row to start the play. Instead of playing defense, he ran up to the net and executed one of the nastiest stuff blocks I’ve ever seen, which went completely unseen by the refs. After he went back to the service line, we realised what had happened and were flabbergasted. Once the point was lost, the coach called a timeout, and we laughed through it. I literally laughed a little as I wrote this because the memory is too good!

  As the season continues, Coach Trey’s experiences and passion for volleyball are already making a difference for San Luis Obispo Volleyball teams. With stronger practices and more focused coaching, the Tigers are building a stronger Volleyball Program and hoping for a successful 2026 Spring boys Volleyball Season.