Ricci Luyties - Head Coach - Women's Volleyball Coaches (2024)

MEDIA
• Tritoncast Podcast(8/24/22)
• 2020 Fall Practice Recap (12/22/20)
• Mic'd Up Video (11/23/20)
• Volleyball Magazine interview (8/14/20)
• Big West Small Talk Wednesday (8/12/20)
• HERO Sports feature (7/23/16)

Ricci Luyties was named the head coach of the UC San DiegoWomen's Volleyball teamin March of 2010, becoming the sixth coach in program history. He spent 14 seasonsat the helm of the Tritons'from 2010 to 2023.

After leading Southern Mississippi to the program's first Conference USA title in 2009, Luyties replaced Tom Black, who accepted the head coaching position at Loyola Marymount after five successful seasons at UC San Diego.

Over his 14seasons as head coach, Luytiesled UC San Diego to a 220-152 (.591) overall record.

In 2023, the Tritons posted their first season with a .500 record in Big West play and finished tied for fifth at 9-9. Four Tritons earned all-conference honors, highlighted byAva McInnesearning her first All-Big West First Team nodafter finishing second in kills and in points per set. Emily McDaniel led the conference in blocks per setandearned honorable mention along with Jasmine Saran who finished seventh in blocks per set.Lauren Brooker rounded out the group with a Big West All-Freshman Team selection. Saran also picked up a CSC Academic All-District nod and eight Tritons were named to the Big West Fall All-Academic Team.

In the second season of Division I competition in 2022, Luyties led the Tritons to a 14-18 record and 7-13 mark in Big West competition. Outside hitter Ava McInnes earned All-Big West Second Team honors, while leading the conference in total kills and kills per set. Luyties recorded his 200th career victory with the Tritons on Oct. 28, 2022,a 3-0 sweepover CSUN in LionTree Arena.UC San Diego had three scholar-athletes named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, seven named to the Big West Fall All-Academic Team and 15 players onthe Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

The team's 2021 campaign was its first competitive NCAA Division I season as the 2020 slate was canceled due to COVID-19. The Tritons went 10-21 overall and 7-13 in the Big West, tying for eighth place in the final standings.

UC San Diego earned its first-ever Division I victory on Sept. 10, 2021, with a 3-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana State at the University of New Mexico Tournament. The Tritons' inaugural Big West victory happened on Sept. 25, 2021, when they took down CSUNon the road. It was UC San Diego's second-ever Big West match. Following that victory, the Tritons won their next two conference matches - 3-1 vs. UC Riverside at home and 3-1 against UC Davis, also at RIMAC Arena.

Middle blocker Emily McDaniel and outside hitter Ava McInneswere tabbed All-Big West Honorable Mention and the duo was also selected to the Big West All-Freshman Team.

The 2019 season saw the Tritons go 18-9 overall and 12-5 in the CCAA, placing third in the league's South Division. It was the team's most victories in total and in conference play since 2015. UC San Diegoadvanced to the NCAA postseason for the 15th time since becoming a Division II program in 2000. Senior middle blocker Jessica Rieble earned a slew of major awards including AVCA All-America Second Team, AVCA All-West Region First Team, and All-CCAA First Team.

In 2018 the Tritons, who had eight new players on the roster, finished at 11-12 overall and 7-10 in the CCAA, placing fifth in the South Division. Rieble was recognized as a member of the All-CCAA Second Team, while sophom*ore outside hitter Gina Cortesi and junior right-side hitter Cindy Tran earned honorable mention accolades from the conference.

Luyties paced the 2017 Tritons to a 16-10 overall record. They went 10-7 in the CCAA, finishing in a tie for third place in the South Division. As the third seed from the South, UC San Diego participated in the conference tournament, where it lost to Cal State East Bay in a quarterfinal match-up.

UC San Diego started its 2017 campaign with a five-set victory over fourth-ranked Alaska Anchorage. The Tritons went on to put together a pair of five-match win streaks.

Three Tritons earned All-CCAA accolades as senior outside hitter Amanda Colla was selected to the first team, while junior middle blocker Micah Hammond and Rieble were named to the second team.

In 2016, the Tritons went 13-13 overall and 10-7 in the CCAA, good for a third-place finish in the newly-established South Division. UC San Diego qualified for the league tournament, where it lost a quarterfinal match to Stanislaus State, ending the team's season. Senior outside hitter Meagan Wright was named to the All-CCAA First Team.

For the fourth time since arriving in La Jolla, Luyties led UC San Diego to at least 20 wins as the team went 20-12 in 2015. The Tritons were 14-6 in the CCAA, placing third and earning the No. 3 seed in the first-ever league tournament, hosted by UC San Diego. After bowing out of the tourney in the semifinals, the Tritons secured a berth in the NCAA West Regional in Anchorage, Alaska. They defeated 18th-ranked Sonoma State before losing to No. 16 Western Washington in the semis.

During the course of 2015, UC San Diego totaled five victories against national top-25 squads.

Senior outside hitter Danielle Dahle was named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and AVCA All-West Region Honorable Mention, while senior setter Heidi Sierks garnered D2CCA All-West Region Second team recognition. A trio of Tritons were tabbed All-CCAA First Team in Dahle, Sierks and Wright.

Dahle ended her career as UC San Diego's all-time leader in kills and attack attempts. In 2015, she became just the third Triton in program history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.

UC San Diego's 2014 campaign ended with a 14-12 overall mark. The Tritons went 12-10 in CCAA play, tying with San Francisco State for sixth place. UC San Diego was ranked as high as 11th in the nation during the season.

On Nov. 8, Luyties earned his 100th UC San Diego victory as the Tritons defeated Humboldt State in four sets at RIMAC Arena.

Senior opposite hitter Caitlin Brenton earned several postseason awards, including AVCA All-America and All-West Region honorable mention, All-CCAA First Team and Capital One Academic All-America Second Team and All-District 8 First Team accolades. In addition, Dahle was All-CCAA Honorable Mention.

In 2013, UC San Diego finished at 26-6 overall, opening the season with nine consecutive victories to tie the program's best-ever start. The Tritons went 17-5 in the CCAA, placing third and qualifying for the NCAA postseason for the eighth straight year.

The 26 wins were the most since 2009 and the team climbed as high as No. 8 in the AVCA's national poll.

Dahle was named an AVCA First Team All-American, while Brenton, middle Sara McCutchan and Sierks earned honorable mention nods. Brenton, Dahle and Sierks were tabbed All-CCAA First Team and McCutchan picked up second team honors.

With a young squad that included no seniors, Luyties guided the 2012 Tritons to a 20-11 overall record and a fourth place finish in theCCAA with a 15-7 mark.

Dahle was named the 2012 AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year and, along with McCutchan, garnered AVCA All-West Region honorable mention. Both were also Daktronics All-West Region Second Team picks.

In 2011, Luyties' second season at the helm of the program, the Tritons amassed a 22-6 overall record and placed third in the CCAA at 17-5.

Roxanne Brunsting, Katie Condon and Hillary Williamson earned All-CCAA accolades and Williamson also garnered All-West Region recognition. Williamson was just the second player in school history to graduate with over 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs, while Brunsting was the second to accomplish the feat in assists and digs.

UC San Diego was ranked in the top-25 nationally every week during its 2011 campaign, climbing to a season-high of 10th in the AVCA's Sept. 19 listing.

Luyties inherited a talented Triton squad that went 29-3 in 2009 and finished second in the CCAA with a record of 20-2. He kept the momentum going in 2010 as UC San Diego was 19-9 overall and tied for second in the CCAA at 15-7. In the postseason, UC San Diego swept Sonoma State in a West Region quarterfinal before falling to CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino in the semis.

Brunsting was named AVCA and Daktronics All-America Honorable Mention, while three Tritons were tabbed All-West Region and First Team All-CCAA.

UC San Diego was ranked as high as eighth in the nation in 2010.

Luyties came to La Jolla after six seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he led the Golden Eagles to an overall record of 85-96. In 2009, he guided Southern Miss to a 27-5 overall record and a 14-2 Conference USA mark. The Golden Eagles won their first outright league title and Luyties went on to earn C-USA Coach of the Year honors for his performance. The team's 14 conference wins were a program best and marked a seven-win improvement from a 7-9 finish in 2008.

Prior to taking over at Southern Miss, Luyties served as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado for three seasons, directing the right and left sides. He helped the Buffaloes reach the NCAA Tournament twice during his tenure with the program.

Before joining the collegiate ranks, Luyties was the head coach of the La Jolla High School boys and girls varsity programs and also served as the coach of the Coast Volleyball Club Girls 16s team. Additionally, he coached preps for the Wind N' Sea Volleyball Club in 1998-99 and led the San Diego Volleyball Club Boys 17s and Girls 15s and 16s teams from 1995-98.

Luyties had a very impressive playing career, reaching the pinnacles of the sport at both the collegiate and professional levels. He was one of the most decorated setters in NCAA history for UCLA, leading the Bruins to four consecutive NCAA Championships from 1981-84. He guided the program to an overall record of 126-7, including a pair of undefeated seasons, during his career with the Bruins.

The only player to start on four national title teams, Luyties was a two-time All-American and named the NCAA Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1984. He was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1995 and his No. 11 jersey was retired the following year.

In 2016, Luyties was selected to the Pac-12 All-Century Men's Volleyball Team.

Luyties also found success at the international level, winning a pair of gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team from 1981-88. Alongside Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons, he led the United States to gold at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, after going undefeated in seven matches. Hewas also a key member of U.S. squad that won gold at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis.

In addition to his achievements at the national level, Luyties also played professionally on the beach for almost 20years, competing regularly on both the AVP Tour and the FIVB World Tour. His career featured wins in seven AVPevents, four of those coming in 1991, including the U.S. Championship at Hermosa Beachwith teammate Adam Johnson. His first career victory came in 1988 at Manhattan Beach with partnerKiraly.

In May of 2017, Luyties was one of 25 members of the first Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame induction class. In 2015, Luyties was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association's Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Luyties graduated from UCLA in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in economics.