Meet our Girls Beach Volleyball COACHES

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We are excited to have Nancy and her experience back to the Mustang coaching staff.  Nancy has coached numerous AVP and FIVB top teams/players, including 2-time Olympic medalist April Ross, Olympian Nicole Branagh, Angie Akers, Whitney Pavlik, Jenny Kropp, Geena Urango and Angela Bensed. Prior to coaching, Nancy enjoyed a long and accomplished career on the AVP and FIVB Tours where she piled up over 30 top four finishes and several international medals. Nancy and Carrie Dodd were the alternates for the 2004 USA Olympic Team. ​​​​​​​

Before her beach career, Nancy was a four-year starter at Indiana University where she was an All -Big Ten Scholar-Athlete and is still among the career leaders in digs and blocks. Nancy played for Belleville West High School and appeared in the State Finals every year of her varsity career. Nancy is married and lives with her husband, Brett and their son, Henry in Hermosa Beach.

Savvy Simo brings energy, experience, and enthusiasm to the Mustang coaching staff.
A standout at UCLA, Savvy was a key contributor to the Bruins’ back-to-back NCAA National Championships and earned All-American honors for her outstanding play and leadership. Known for her relentless drive and dynamic presence on the court, she helped establish UCLA as one of the premier programs in collegiate beach volleyball.

After graduating, Savvy continued her career on the AVP Tour, where she quickly became known for her competitive spirit and connection to the beach volleyball community. Her ability to translate elite-level experience into approachable, empowering coaching has made her a strong mentor for developing athletes.

Originally from Rancho Santa Fe, Savvy grew up competing at the highest junior levels before joining UCLA. She now resides in the South Bay, where she continues to train, coach, and inspire the next generation of players through her passion for the sport and positive mindset.

Kahlee York continues to be an integral part of the Mustang coaching staff.
A former standout at LSU, Kahlee competed for one of the nation’s top NCAA beach programs, where she helped the Tigers earn multiple top-five national finishes and NCAA Championship appearances.

During her time at LSU, Kahlee was recognized for her grit, consistency, and leadership both on and off the sand. Her experience training and competing at the highest collegiate level brings valuable insight to the next generation of Mustang athletes.

Originally from California, Kahlee grew up competing on the Southern California beach circuit before heading to LSU. She now lives in the South Bay and continues to share her love for the game through coaching, mentoring, and community outreach. In addition to coaching, Kahlee is passionate about mindset and performance training through her platform @finding_flowtogrow, where she helps athletes build confidence, balance, and mental strength both on and off the court.

We are happy to welcome Natalie back to the Mira Costa Beach Program! Natalie played on the Varsity squad under Coach Nancy for her four years at Mira Costa, contributing to an undefeated program throughout Natalie’s career. She went on to play for the UCLA Bruins and was a four-year starter, earning All-American honors her senior year. She helped the Bruins earn podium positions at the NCAA Championships all four years. Natalie always approaches the game with a lighthearted attitude and a positive outlook. She prioritizes playing with joy; A fun match is a successful match. 

Natalie studied sociology in her undergraduate degree, and for her fourth year at UCLA she got a master's in Transformative Coaching and Leadership in the School of Education. In her master’s program, she studied the ins and outs of leadership, developing her own values and coaching philosophy. Natalie wants to help develop players as well-rounded people rather than just as athletes. She believes in the value of hard work while also always having fun on the sand.

Natalie is now playing professionally on the AVP and FIVB circuits and is excited to be back in the place where her love for the game began.