2026 Huntington Beach Girls Volleyball Preview with Craig Pazanti

00:00 — Introduction
The hosts kick off the Sunset League girls volleyball preview series and welcome Huntington Beach High School head coach Craig Pazanti.

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00:40 — Coaching at His Alma Mater
Coach Pazanti reflects on the privilege of coaching at his alma mater and carrying on Huntington Beach’s long-standing volleyball tradition.

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01:54 — Strategic Adaptability
Pazanti discusses his approach to offensive and defensive systems, emphasizing preparation and avoiding unpracticed adjustments during matches.

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02:53 — Early Career & Baylor University
He looks back on his early coaching career, including his move to Baylor University at age 26 to serve as an assistant coach.

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04:45 — Defining His Coaching Style
Pazanti describes his coaching philosophy as aggressive and player-oriented, with an emphasis on building a close-knit family culture and putting the team first.

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07:56 — The Influence of the Cirelli Family
Pazanti shares how the Cirelli family helped shape his family-first approach to coaching, recalling their influential all-day Sunday dinners.

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11:54 — The Assistant Coaching Staff
He highlights the consistency of his coaching staff, noting that nearly all of his assistants are Huntington Beach alumni or former players.

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14:46 — Key Returning Players
Pazanti introduces the key returning varsity players for the 2026 season, including Amaya Lesley and Charlie “Lucky” Mitchell.

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15:59 — Roster Depth & Versatility
He explains how this year’s roster looks different, featuring greater depth, multi-position players, and athletes with beach volleyball experience.

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17:42 — Upcoming Tournament Schedule
Pazanti previews the team’s early-season tournament schedule, including the Tustin Tournament, Durango, and the Dave Mohs Orange County Championships.

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20:09 — Sunset League Outlook
He assesses the competitive Sunset League landscape, identifying Newport Harbor and Los Alamitos as early favorites in the division.

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23:50 — Non-League Opponents
Pazanti discusses the strategy behind scheduling challenging non-league matchups against teams such as Millikan, Yorba Linda, and San Clemente.

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28:15 — Pride in His Son’s Success
Pazanti shares his perspective on watching his son, Jake, compete as the starting setter for Long Beach State University.