Mater’s Lopez, Westminster’s Doan-Kurenuma, Doral’s Arnaiz earn Volleyball coaching honors
While she was certainly happy to hear the news when notified, Julie Doan-Kurenuma took the Miami Herald’s selection of awarding her the 4A-2A Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year with mixed feelings.
It marked the third year in a row, and fifth overall, that Doan-Kurenuma has garnered the award.
But it also marked the third year in row that she has had to accept it with her team having made it all the way to the Class 3A state championship game – only to fall short and have to settle for a runner-up trophy.
“I’m certainly appreciative of the award,” said Doan-Kurenuma who just finished her 17th year as WC’s head coach. “But at the same time, and with no disrespect to being recognized, I would trade all three (Coach of the Year) trophies in for state championship medals for my girls instead because they have worked so hard to try and win a state title.”
After dropping a five-set heartbreaker to Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in 2019, the Warriors made it back to the final in 2020 only to lose to Ocala Trinity Catholic. This past November, they made it to Fort Myers again but this time it was Clearwater Calvary Christian, ranked No. 10 in the nation (MaxPreps), that kept them from making it to the championship podium.
“The average person just doesn’t understand that no matter how much talent you have, winning a state title is extremely difficult because there are plenty of other great teams out there as well,” said Doan-Kurenuma who did reach that state title mountain top, leading the Warriors to state titles in 2013 and 2016. “You need to have a lot of things go right just to make it to the final game and we’re proud that we’ve been able to do that.”
With her entire starting lineup, including Herald 4A-2A Player of the Year Emily Matias, returning next year, the hope for Doan-Kurenuma and her players is that they will finally be able to reach the girls volleyball summit and put championship medals rather than runner-up medals around their neck.
Somebody who did not have to settle for a runner-up medal was Mater Academy coach Elsa Lopez. After leading her program to a first-ever state championship a year ago, Lopez did it again, getting the Lions back to the 6A state title game and then upsetting No. 2 nationally-ranked Ponte Vedra in straight sets to finish 26-7 and successfully defend their title.
For that, Lopez was named the Herald’s 7A-5A Co-Coach of the Year. After winning the award by herself a year ago, Lopez will split it this time as the Herald also recognized Doral Academy coach Julio Arnaiz as the other Co-Coach of the Year award winner.
“Even though we won state last year, it seemed like our girls were playing the role of underdogs all season long this year because maybe some thought the first one was a fluke,” said Lopez, who took over the Lions program in 2013. “Being a defending champion, the girls had to play the role of hunted rather than hunter but stayed humble and determined all season long and for that, I’m extremely proud.”
Arnaiz, who took over the program three years ago after coming over from St. Brendan, led the Firebirds to a 21-9 season and a first-ever berth in the state semifinals. Doral recorded regional victories over Coral Reef, Hialeah Gardens and South Plantation before a trip to Tampa to take on No. 8 nationally-ranked Plant in the 7A semifinal resulted in a straight set loss.
“When you’ve never done it before, you don’t know if you can do it until you do it,” Arnaiz said. “We lost our top player during the season which was a setback our girls had to overcome and all they did was raise their level of play. I preach patience, a belief in your core values and the ability to stick to a process which will eventually net positive results and that’s exactly what we managed to do this past season.”