This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/09/2021 12:00 AMKatie Cullina is the new assistant coach of the Valley Regional girls’ volleyball squad, joining her sister Sofia Cullina, who will helm the team as Head Coach. Katie played for the Warriors for three years, and comes back to where it all started this fall to help lead Valley to success.
Katie joining her sister to coach the Warriors has been something that the two Cullinas have discussed, but everything started to fall into place after Katie and her sister moved back to Ivoryton recently. It was as though the stars aligned to make their return happen this year.
“We had talked about it. Once we were both living in the area again, we thought how cool it could be to be coaching at Valley and working our jobs,” says Katie. “I’m just very excited to do this in general because this is a sport I loved playing, but now I also get to this with my sister. I think we make a really great team.”
When Katie was a senior at Valley Regional, she had the opportunity to play volleyball with her sister for one short year. Katie is eager to see what the two of them could do for the Warriors program with a longer tenure together.
“I think I get a second chance to have be a part of a team with my little sister. When you’re a senior in high school and your little sister is a freshman there’s a different dynamic there,” Katie says. “She’s the Head Coach and I’m the assistant. I like it because it gives me a new perspective. She’s the leader and I’m following her lead. I’m excited to see her lead the team. It’s exciting because we’ve sort of flip -flopped a bit compared to when we were on the team together before.”
When Katie was a player with the Warriors from 2011 through 2013 she mainly played the outside hitter position, which was the same position the younger Cullina played for most of her career as well. Katie was so proud to see what her sister accomplished at the high school and collegiate level as an outside hitter.
“I was outside hitter, and I think Sofia got to watch me play that position even before she started playing. She would come to my games. I think that sparked her interest. She took on the position when I wasn’t playing anymore, and she was more powerful and more consistent,” Katie says. “She took it a step farther. She’s just a good, consistent player, and to see her take it to the college level was awesome for me. I loved being able to watch her play a position we both loved playing because if I wasn’t able to play in college, I was glad that she was.”
Katie’s volleyball playing days were over after graduating from Valley. Katie decided to focus on pursuing a career in occupational therapy. Katie ultimately earned her undergraduate degree at Southern Connecticut State University, and then she went on to earn her master’s degree at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Currently, Katie is waiting to get word about her board exams, and so all of her attention is on the volleyball strategies and drills for the Warriors.
“I just completed my masters in July of this year. I graduated in July, and for the last two months, I’ve been studying for my board exam. I’m getting the results back from the test this week. So for right now coaching is my only job,” Katie says. “I’m really going to put all of my focus into this until after this season. I know Valley has an occupational therapist, but I’m happy to look into any of the surrounding school systems for potential positions. I would love to be a school OT and that would allow me to continue coaching as well.”
Katie remembers her senior year with the Warriors fondly, and believes that her and her sister’s coaching philosophies will be similar to those of former coach Kathy Scott. Katie believes that Scott’s coaching had a huge impact on how much she enjoyed her senior year with the Warriors.
“Whenever someone asks me what I remember most about playing or what I’m most proud of, my senior year was really the highlight. I felt that the team was so strong, and we were competitive. We just had the best time,” says Katie. “Kathy Scott shaped who I was as a volleyball player. I think she believed in me, and that’s what I needed in order to improve. In coaching style, I think there are things that I will carry over from her. We learned the game from her. We’re also excited to put our own kind of spin on it and develop as coaches. I think there will be some foundational things that she taught us that will come out.”
Valley Athletic Director Jeff Swan is ecstatic to have bring in two more Valley alums for the girls’ volleyball program. Swan actually coached Katie for a period of time, and is familiar with her impressive work ethic.
“Katie was a phenomenal player when she was here. She’s a go-getter. She wants to the best for the team and she’s willing to do research and get in the gym and just do it,” says Swan. “Katie came on as a sophomore playing for her first year. So she was a year behind, but she ended up being First Team All-Shoreline. She’s committed to the program, committed to volleyball, and committed to her sister. I’m very, very excited.”
Katie can’t wait for the season to start, but it’s possible that her parents Paul Cullina and Tracy Ohr are even more anxious to see their daughters on the sidelines. Regardless, Katie hopes for big things for the Warriors this season.
“Our parents are very excited. They were a big part of our volleyball careers. They are over the moon for this and have already said they want to be at every game,” says Katie. “Sofie and [I] are just so excited with the team we have. The players are just strong, powerful, and really motivated girls. We really think that we can be very successful this season. We’re excited for our first game.”