Riverside Poly Bears Volleyball
Thank you for your continued support in our academic and athletic success!
Riverside Poly Bears Volleyball
Thank you for your continued support in our academic and athletic success!
Our Coaches
Coach Manny- Girls & Boys Varsity Head Coach
My name is Manuel Savalza. I grew up in Riverside California and graduated from our very own Poly High School in 2017. Throughout my volleyball journey I played club volleyball for 3 years at surrounding clubs from 15-18 years old. As a poly alumni I played on the very first poly boys volleyball team. In those years I competed on varsity all 3 years, earning 1st team All-Citrus Belt League MVP each year. I decided that I wasn’t quite done with my volleyball career post high school, and went on to play in Boston, Massachusetts for Elms College. In my 4 years at Elms I contributed to 2 league championships, and 2 NCAA appearances ranked in the top 5 for Division III NCAA. I started my Career as a Correctional Officer at the Hampden County Sheriffs Department in the women's facility. I also coached 2 years at Pioneer Volleyball Club in Boston as a 17-1 coach finishing in the top 25 teams in NERVA. Now back in California, I currently work for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, attend graduate school at Northcentral University, and contribute to the coaching staff at Bravo Volleyball Club and the girls team here and Riverside Poly.
Coach Dana Fulwider- Girls Varsity Assistant Coach
I began playing volleyball in 1986! I fell in love with the sport almost instantly. I grew up in the Inland Empire, and played throughout middle school and high school, and began playing club my sophomore year. My senior year, I played for a top ranked club out of Santa Fe Springs, CA and we placed 5th in the Junior Olympics (now what we call Nationals).
I was recruited by many Division 1 schools, but ended up choosing University of Virginia. Although I had a lot of personal success there, I wanted to play for a more successful program, so I faxed (it was 1995) a letter to the top 20 schools asking if they needed a setter. My dream school, Long Beach State, responded, and I ended up playing there for the next 3 years. My senior year at Long Beach, we only lost two matches, our first and our last, versus Stanford in the Final Four. I learned so much about volleyball and being a true elite athlete and gained a core group of strong, amazing women that are still in my life today.
After college, I was not ready to give up volleyball. I signed with an agent who found me a European team to play with. I played in the country of Austria for 4 years as a professional, which was an absolute dream come true!!
I've been coaching on and off since 1993. I have coached at the junior level, the club level, the high school level, and the college level. I took over the girls program at Poly in 2018. We have had so much success and I have been so blessed by all of the amazing athletes that I have coached. As a mom of 5, a grandma of 1 and a full-time teacher, this is the perfect opportunity for me to step into the assistant role and I am honored to serve our community alongside our other amazing coaches.
Coach Sienna- Girls JV Coach
My name is Sienna Veum, and I am excited to serve as the Head Coach of the JV Girls Volleyball program at Poly High School.
I began my volleyball journey at 11 years old, playing for local clubs before joining Pipeline Volleyball Club at age 15, where I competed for three years. After my playing career, I transitioned into coaching and am now entering my second year as a coach with Pipeline Volleyball Club.
I played varsity volleyball at Arlington High School for three years. After high school, I continued both my education and athletic career at Riverside City College, studying Psychology. I am now transferring to California State University, San Bernardino, where I will continue my education in Criminal Justice.
As a coach, I am committed to bringing passion, dedication, competitiveness, and a strong work ethic to our program. My goal is to help every athlete grow as a player, teammate, and person while creating a positive and challenging environment where everyone can succeed.
I am excited for the opportunity to work with this team and can’t wait to see what we accomplish together. Let’s have a great season!
Coach Kelli- Girls Freshman Coach
My name is Kelli Miechowicz, and I am excited to serve as the Freshman Girls Volleyball Coach at Poly High School.
I began my volleyball journey in middle school and quickly developed a passion for the sport. I graduated from Poly High School in 2020, where I played varsity volleyball all four years. Throughout high school, I also competed for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club, where I continued to develop as both a player and teammate. Before beginning my collegiate career, I spent a year coaching at Pipeline Volleyball Club, which sparked my passion for developing young athletes and helping them grow through the game.
My volleyball career continued at California State University San Marcos, where I played middle blocker from 2020 to 2025. During my final season, I had the honor of serving as team captain, an experience that strengthened my leadership skills and deepened my love for the sport. While competing at Cal State San Marcos, I coached for three years at SoCal Volleyball Club, gaining valuable experience working with athletes of various ages and skill levels. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, which provided me with a strong foundation in athletic performance, injury prevention, and athlete development. After graduating and moving back to Riverside, I returned to Pipeline Volleyball Club, where I continue coaching today.As a coach, I am committed to creating a positive, competitive, and supportive environment where athletes can grow in confidence, skill, and character. I believe volleyball is more than just volleyball—it is an opportunity to develop leadership, resilience, accountability, and strong relationships that extend far beyond the court. My goal is to help each player reach their full potential not only as an athlete, but also as a teammate, student, and person. I strive to create a culture where hard work, growth, and genuine care for one another are at the center of everything we do. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to my alma mater and be part of the Poly volleyball family. I look forward to helping our athletes grow, compete and succeed throughout the season !
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