Barlow welcomes the new head volleyball coach, Lihau Perreira. Perreira was asked questions about her history with volleyball and how she became interested in the sport.
Being able to coach teenagers is a big opportunity for Perreira. She was asked what inspired her to be a volleyball coach and said, “Volleyball has always been a part of my life. My parents were both coaches, and after my collegiate career was over I knew I wanted to find ways to give back to the sport that gave me so much.” She played volleyball from ages 8-22 and played in various clubs throughout her middle and high school years. Perreira started as a setter and right-side hitter in middle school. In high school, she was on the varsity team all four years, playing right side her freshman year, middle her sophomore year, and outside hitter her junior and senior year. Perreira graduated from Sam Barlow High School in 2012. After she graduated, she went to Mt. Hood Community College, where she played as an outside hitter, winning back-to-back Southern Region championship titles. Perreira was named 2013 MVP of the Southern Region and earned honors that same year as an AVCA 2nd Team All-American. After her career at Mt. Hood, she played one more season at Holy Names University, an NCAA D2 University in the PacWest conference, where she was a top 25 hitter and had a career-high of 21 kills in one match.
Motivation in volleyball or any sport is a key point needed to play. Perreira says she keeps motivated by controlling the controllable. She keeps learning and striving to check in with herself when things fall apart. Some coaches have a strict coaching style, but Perreira is more laid back, “I hold each of the girls in this program to a high standard and make those expectations clear from the start. I am big on checking in with each of my players on how they can improve. I encourage my athletes to advocate for themselves and teach them how to recognize where they can make corrections during matches.” As long as Perreira knows what corrections to make and when to step in and help her athletes make them, she’s good. Perreira was asked if she has a game day schedule, and she said, “Game day prep starts the night before for me. As a coach, I make sure I have all of my belongings and then take some time to write up different lineups, starting with what I believe is the strongest lineup to worst-case scenarios and who I would believe would be a good relief for lineups to switch things up to the lineup when needed.” Perreira thinks it’s easier to have her stuff ready for game day, and a game day schedule set up the night before so that she’s more prepared beforehand.
Outside of volleyball, Perreira has other hobbies and fun things she likes to do. Perreira says, “ I golf pretty much year-round, rain or shine. I enjoy a nice casual round with friends, but also enjoy competing in scramble or best ball tournaments. I am also a musician, and sing and play guitar; I perform gigs locally. I enjoy salmon fishing and love camping at the dunes with friends for riding trips.” Throughout volleyball and many other hobbies, Perreira has had many supporters from her parents, siblings, and extended family. She stays motivated with warm-up songs. Perreira likes to listen to all sorts of music, but as she got older, through her junior year of high school and college, she found a liking for heavy metal and rock music.
Perreira has a fantastic time coaching the Barlow volleyball team. Her favorite part is watching her players play at a high competitive level and win the drill, practice, match, and day together.
