Trivium Prep Volleyball Team Makes Waves in the Desert
Trivium Prep May 12, 2025 -
At Trivium Prep, the beach volleyball team is celebrating a monumental season. Under the guidance of Coach Jay Poyner and led by a tight-knit group of players, the Trivium Knights have built a season full of unforgettable moments and advanced to the quarterfinals this year.
Beach volleyball might seem like an odd sport to play in the middle of the Arizona desert. While we have plenty of sand, we are 213 miles from the nearest coastal beach and better known for our scorching temperatures and sprawling desert than beaches. But this determined group of student-athletes have turned this unlikely setting into the backdrop for a great season.
“Beach volleyball is just kind of an all-around game,” explained Coach Poyner. “Indoors, the girls are either hitters, setters, or passers. Out here, you do everything. And you’ve got two girls per team instead of six, so you’re doing a lot more of everything. I say it’s the best training ground for volleyball players that you could have. And the girls this year have just been unbelievable. They’ve done a nice job.”
Coach Poyner played beach volleyball himself for seven years in San Diego. Now as coach, Poyner has two sand courts in his backyard that the team uses for practices. The team includes his daughter and one of the star players, senior Ryan Poyner “Our team and our community is like one of the best. We’re always cheering each other on,” she shared.
For players like Aleena Torres, the beach season has transformed her skills on the court. “Honestly, I love that it can make you feel like an all-around player because I’m mostly an indoor player,” Torres said. “Coming out here really made me feel more versatile on the court. When I went back indoor, it made me feel like I could do a lot more, move a lot faster, and jump a lot higher. It’s really fun because it can make you so much better, especially if you play indoor.”
Senior Winnie Chan credited both the coaching and the team’s camaraderie for her growth as an athlete and as a person. “When I got into beach volleyball, I wasn’t for sure about playing volleyball at first,” Chan said. “I think Coach Poyner definitely made me want to play because he was like, ‘Oh, it’s going to be really fun, and it makes you diverse.’ Being a diverse player on the court and also making all the memories with my teammates on the bus trips, it’s been super fun. My teammates have definitely helped me grow as a person and in the sport. They have been supportive throughout my whole volleyball career. I love them so much because their support means a lot to me.”
Though the Knights’ run ended in the quarterfinals, the season was a triumph for the academy. With younger players like Torres ready to carry the torch, the future looks bright for Trivium Prep beach volleyball. Even in the heart of the desert.
As Coach Poyner and his team demonstrated this year, it’s not just about how far you go, it’s about how you grow along the way.
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