MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
Harlingen South new head volleyball coach Jennifer Taliancich is one week into practice, preparing her Lady Hawks for the season ahead.
While getting everyone on the same page is no easy task when it comes to a coaching change, Taliancich is anything but a stranger to the atmosphere, as the South program has had her attention since she was young.
“Growing up, my mother (Joyce Soto) was the head volleyball coach at Nikki Rowe and I remember coming to the South gym for her playoff games, and just being in awe of the great atmosphere in the gym and the tremendous level of play that South had year after year,” Taliancich said.
Taliancich is still early in her coaching career, having graduated from McAllen Memorial in 2007 and from The University of Texas at Brownsville (now UTRGV), where she played volleyball on scholarship in 2007, 2008 and in 2012.
She coached in Lyford in 2013 and 2014 where she took the Lady Bulldogs to the postseason both seasons.
In 2014 Lyford went undefeated in District 32-3A and reached the area round of the postseason as Taliancich was named the league’s Coach of the Year
While Taliancich might be ahead of schedule in her coaching career, she’s ready to make the best of it.
“Work brought my husband and I to Harlingen, where we now live. Once we decided that we wanted to settle down in Harlingen I knew which school I would one day want to retire from,” she explained. “I didn’t expect for the opportunity to come up so soon, and I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity.”
Taliancich inherits a team that went 8-6 in District 32-6A play (22-15 overall) and missed the postseason.
This year, the Lady Hawks return eight lettermen, five of which were starters last year. That gives Taliancich some experience to work with as she looks to inject some of her own flavor to the program.
“These girls are hard workers and are determined to put in the work it takes to do their very best this season,” she said. “Some of the techniques and terminology I have integrated is different from what the girls are used, but they have been very positive and receptive, and are working hard to make the changes necessary to reach the goals they have set.
“From what I saw last year to now, I think they’re about to upset some good teams and start turning heads.”
EASY TRANSITION
Former Lady Hawks head volleyball coach Brian Molina remains on staff as an assistant coach and has helped guide Taliancich through the process of getting familiar with the program.
With him returning, Taliancich sees it as nothing but a positive for the program.
“I’ve been so fortunate that my transition has been very easy. Coach Molina, along with administration and my coaching staff have been very welcoming, helpful and supportive,” she said.
“I was happy that Coach Molina stayed on as my assistant. With him being a great basketball coach it’s easy for people so assume that he’s ‘just a basketball coach,’ which is definitely not the case with him. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to volleyball and the girls see that and respect him for it; he is a great asset to the program.
“The same can be said about all of the coaches that I am lucky to have on my staff. We all want what is best for these athletes and are doing everything we can to help them be successful.”
Molina, meanwhile, said he’s confident that the program is in good hands.
“I am extremely grateful that I am able to stay on as Coach Taliancich’s assistant. The transition has been a smooth one for the girls and Coach Tali,” Molina said. “I am very impressed with her knowledge of the game and the new, exciting concepts that she is bringing to the program.”
MORE THAN JUST WINNING
Taliancich is looking to win and bring a district title and postseason success, but she has more in mind.
“One of my goals as a coach at Harlingen South is not only to win at the varsity level, but to raise the level of play at all levels here in the Mid-Valley,” she said. “I want to create more opportunities for the athletes to excel in the sport of volleyball and help the community be aware of what is available to them. I think these are the steps that are necessary to be able to compete at the state tournament year after year, and will also bring South back to be one of the top programs it was known for being in the past.
“We took great steps in that direction this summer when we had the Harlingen Heat volleyball summer league for the middle schools this past June. We had a great turn out and hope that it grows in the future.”