As talk of this year’s girls frosh volleyball team and their steady streak of wins proliferate through the school, curiosity has peaked as people wonder who could possibly be behind the team’s rising success. The mastermind is none other than one of Ayala’s very own alumni and returning coach: Shannon Dahl.
Previously graduated from Ayala, she had grown up playing softball throughout her childhood and into her high school career. During her freshman year, Dahl, along with her friends, had begun frosh volleyball as a second sport, eventually also playing for both the junior varsity and varsity team through high school. With her active involvement in the school community and sports, Dahl’s path had been undoubtedly set to play at the collegiate level. However, she suffered from a severe injury during her senior year, hindering any hopes of competing professionally after graduating.
Despite the complications, Dahl refused to allow her injury to deter her from pursuing her passions. She soon shifted her focuses from playing to coaching volleyball, keeping herself actively involved in the sport while also attending college. After five years of coaching, Dahl decided to take a break, focusing her attention on raising her two children over the years.
“She has a strong mindset,” frosh player Devin Miller (9) said. “She’s powerful where she can tell you if you’re doing something wrong or not, and she’s just a very strong character.”
With both of her children now older, Dahl had recently begun to consider resuming her position as a part of Ayala’s volleyball staff. Ready to once again start coaching, Dahl easily settled in as the frosh coach, assisting both the team and the entire program.
“Immediately with our first conversation, I knew she was somebody I wanted to have on my staff,” Girls Volleyball Head and Varsity Coach Brandy Townsell said. “Right after I hired her, she was always just on top of everything. ‘What do I need to fill out? What paperwork do I need to do? What culture are we trying to build?’ She asked all the right questions and she seemed very eager to start coaching again.”
Though coaches with years of expertise often pursue coaching for higher levels, Dahl’s passions differ. Her experiences have led her to find joy in working more with frosh leveled players.
“I love teaching the fundamentals of a sport, love preparing them for where they want to be [and] preparing them for varsity. I love the challenge and I love the eagerness and excitement that the new athletes bring,” Dahl said.
Outside of Ayala, Dahl also coaches softball and cheer and is studying to get her masters and credentials in teaching. She also greatly enjoys spending time with her family, attending sporting events, and traveling (especially to Hawaii) during any spare time she has. Despite her packed schedule, the constant movement in Dahl’s lifestyle has allowed her to learn and balance a crucial aspect of life: time management.
“Being a wife, a mom, a coach, and a student myself, the biggest thing is time management,” Dahl said. “Going about my week, knowing what I have in the future, planning out my time, [and] using it in a manner that is productive sets me up for success.”
As league season for girls volleyball approaches, Dahl has been working vigorously to prepare her team for the several upcoming weeks of practices and competitions.
“Coach has definitely shown me a few tips and tricks that I’ve been able to use on the court that has helped me and my performance,” frosh co-captain Allison Nakamura (10) said. “I expect to see more of her competitive side as we’re playing in league and she definitely does want to win.”
