June 2025 Athletes of the Month

June’s Whole Athlete Training theme is all about Letting It Rip! It's about trusting your training, taking risks, and playing boldly without the fear of making mistakes.

The athletes we’re celebrating this month show us what it means to go all in. They bring energy, take big swings, and leave it all on the court. Whether it’s chasing down a tough ball, going for the big serve, or leading with fearless effort, they compete with heart and intensity every time.

Let’s meet the athletes who are letting it rip and inspiring everyone around them to do the same.

Daniela Hatziiliades - SMASH

Nominated by Basia Molinario, SMASH 14 Fire Coach

Daniela truly exemplifies, “let it rip” with her explosive power and aggressive play. Dani consistently attacks the ball with power. Dani’s commitment to getting stronger is evident and consistent with her off court training including her weightlifting regime. What’s more she actively seeks to improve by asking thoughtful questions and readily incorporating feedback, making her dedication to dominate performance truly stand out.

Brynn Minter - SC Rockstar

Nominated by Joy Fuerbringer, Mizuno Long Beach Director

Brynn studies the game on and off the court. She is a great student of the game and always comes through in big moments finding ways to score points when our team needs it.

Katie Truong - Tstreet Inland Empire

Nominated by Samantha Dobrzynski, Tstreet IE 12 Kass Assistant Coach

Katie is such a special athlete not only in her ability, but her mindset. I can't think of a single match all season where Katie didn't let it rip. She plays with such confidence in every aspect of her game, she truly does not know how to play small. She is such a joy to watch and is a force of nature for our team. We are so lucky to have Katie on our side of the net. 

I think she exemplified this most against our final season match up against our sister club Tstreet Irvine. Katie went off for 12 kills that match and 5 aces. Katie "letting it rip" was the reason we were finally able to beat them this season.

Kaitlyn Huff - Premier Nebraska

Nominated by Brian Gold, Premier 16 Black Coach

Kaitlyn has been in a bit of a hitting funk since Show Me Qualifier, but has worked very hard over the last two months to rediscover her confident swing. She's stayed after practice, gone to extra position trainings, and asks good questions to her coaches to increase her understanding. She finally saw the results of her work when she let it rip at Pre-Nationals in Kansas City! According to Hudl, she hit nearly .350 on the weekend, almost .200 above her season average! She is playing confidently and fearlessly again, and I'm so proud of her for working through her funk and having fun again.

Mariah Jeskewitz - FC Elite

Nominated by Emma Kane, FC Elite 16 Blue Coach

Mariah started the season as a non-serving 3 rotation outside. And, while she accepted that role at the time, she wasn't satisfied. I remember vividly the practice that she came up to me and asked "what do I need to do to play more?" and we had an honest conversation about her serve receive and defense. 

From that moment forward, she took every opportunity to level up in those areas. Mariah always takes the extra reps at practice, volunteering to go again when we're short on players, or asking to "just do one more." She attends every extra position training offered at the club, and soaks in every nugget of information she can. Mariah chose not to play it small and settle in her 3 rotation position. She let it rip. She took the risk of 1) asking about her weakness (something not even most adults can do) and then 2) taking action on those to achieve her goals.

Fast forward from our January conversation to May, and Mariah stepped into a 6 rotation outside role in a big way. In a two-day tournament where we had limited sub options due to injury, Mariah stepped up. She was the player the team turned to in tough moments. Our setters consistently identified her as the "hot hand" and the one they could trust in moments of need. She found ways to make big plays in big moments, not settling for the safe or easy choice, but leaning into her training and really giving her all to get the point. 

And while it's cool that she built the technical volleyball skills to be able to execute in those moments, what really impressed me about Mariah was her confidence. Yes, her volleyball abilities had grown tremendously since January, but I firmly believe that was rooted in the confidence she chose to have in herself and her training. January-Mariah would have made a hitting error, turned to the coaches and asked "what am I doing wrong?" and then proceeded to play small in her next opportunity - a tip most likely. No strategy to it; no intention with the move. Just a "get it over the net and hope for the best so I don't mess up" sort of move. May-Mariah made her hitting error, never once turned to the bench, and demanded the ball again so she could trust her training and make the adjustment to get the kill. She doesn't play small anymore.

We talk a lot about confidence being a choice we make. That each time we step onto the court, we get to decide how we show up. Are we going to show up and play it small? Do the safe and easy things? Or, are we going to decide to have the confidence to make a mistake and grow from it and continue to strive for more. Mariah has completely leaned into this mentality. She has spent her club season letting it rip by choosing to take the risk of doing something hard, focusing on an area that she wouldn't consider a strength, having the confidence to believe she is capable of more, and then going out there and doing it.