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USC Women’s Volleyball Adds Blossom Sato to Staff
February 15, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
Head coach Brad Keller completes his staff with the hiring of Blossom Sato
LOS ANGELES – The USC women's volleyball team has hired Blossom Sato as an assistant coach, sixth-year head coach Brad Keller announced on Saturday, Feb. 15.
"We are so excited to welcome Blossom to our staff and to the Trojan Family," said Keller. "She comes from a deep volleyball pedigree and knows the game at a high level. She is a great fit for both our team culture and our program's immediate goals. We can't wait to hit the ground running with her in the gym."
Sato previously served as an assistant coach with UC San Diego's men's volleyball team. She was hired in September 2024 and served on staff through the fall and the beginning of the 2025 season. Middle blocker Jim Garrison and opposite hitter Anthony Cherfan each earned Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Prior to joining the staff at UC San Diego, Sato got her start in coaching as a volunteer assistant with Pepperdine's women's program in 2019. After leaving to coach at Portland State (2020-21), she returned to Pepperdine as a full-time assistant in January 2022. With Sato, the Waves won a West Coast Conference title in 2023. That year, she coached pin-hitter Grace Chillingworth to AVCA All-America honorable mention and helped put three Waves on the AVCA's All-Pacific South Region team.
Sato received her first full-time appointment at Portland State where she served as an assistant coach from January 2020 through December 2021. With Sato on staff, the Vikings earned their first national postseason berth since 2010 and produced their first 20-win season since 2017. Three different PSU players earned All-Big Sky first-team honors including former USC libero Ellie Snook, Makayla Lewis and Parker Webb. Snook was chosen as the Big Sky Libero of the Year for a season time and became just the fifth player in league history to repeat as Libero of the Year.
As a student-athlete, Sato was a setter at Pepperdine (2017-19) where she was recognized as an All-WCC first-team selection in 2018 after helping the Waves to an NCAA second-round appearance. Prior to transferring to Pepperdine, Sato played two seasons at Mississippi State. As a freshman, she amassed 872 assists, which stood at the time at fourth in a single season by a Bulldog freshman.
At the club level, Sato coached both Mizuno Long Beach Girls and Rockstar Boys and played a crucial role in assisting and educating athletes and families about the college recruitment process and timelines. Under her direction, the Rockstar 18s once earned a third-place finish at AAU Junior Nationals.
Sato hails from a revered volleyball family. Her mother Liane was a member of the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team in 1988 and again in 1992 when the squad captured an Olympic bronze medal. Her uncles, Eric and Gary, were also standouts in the sport, playing or coaching alongside legendary Pepperdine men's volleyball coach Marv Dunphy. Eric was a member of the 1988 U.S. Men's National Team that claimed gold as well as the team that earned bronze in 1992. Gary, an assistant coach for the USC men, served as the United States' head coach for the 1985 FIVB World Cup, and led the squad to a gold medal. He also served as an assistant for the U.S. Men's National Team from 1984-88, 1992, and from 2009 to 2012.
Last season, the Women of Troy were awarded the sixth seed and made their 40th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament. USC (22-10) defeated UT Arlington in a three-set sweep in the first round to advance to the second round for the 35th time. There, the Trojans were eliminated by third-seeded and 13th-ranked site host Texas in straight sets. USC reached 20 wins for the second time under Keller to earn its third consecutive berth in the tourney. Setter Mia Tuaniga set a new school record for career assists and was named to the AVCA All-America third team. She and outside hitter Ally Batenhorst were each AVCA All-Region choices and were taken with picks in the PVF Draft.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
"We are so excited to welcome Blossom to our staff and to the Trojan Family," said Keller. "She comes from a deep volleyball pedigree and knows the game at a high level. She is a great fit for both our team culture and our program's immediate goals. We can't wait to hit the ground running with her in the gym."
Sato previously served as an assistant coach with UC San Diego's men's volleyball team. She was hired in September 2024 and served on staff through the fall and the beginning of the 2025 season. Middle blocker Jim Garrison and opposite hitter Anthony Cherfan each earned Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Prior to joining the staff at UC San Diego, Sato got her start in coaching as a volunteer assistant with Pepperdine's women's program in 2019. After leaving to coach at Portland State (2020-21), she returned to Pepperdine as a full-time assistant in January 2022. With Sato, the Waves won a West Coast Conference title in 2023. That year, she coached pin-hitter Grace Chillingworth to AVCA All-America honorable mention and helped put three Waves on the AVCA's All-Pacific South Region team.
Sato received her first full-time appointment at Portland State where she served as an assistant coach from January 2020 through December 2021. With Sato on staff, the Vikings earned their first national postseason berth since 2010 and produced their first 20-win season since 2017. Three different PSU players earned All-Big Sky first-team honors including former USC libero Ellie Snook, Makayla Lewis and Parker Webb. Snook was chosen as the Big Sky Libero of the Year for a season time and became just the fifth player in league history to repeat as Libero of the Year.
As a student-athlete, Sato was a setter at Pepperdine (2017-19) where she was recognized as an All-WCC first-team selection in 2018 after helping the Waves to an NCAA second-round appearance. Prior to transferring to Pepperdine, Sato played two seasons at Mississippi State. As a freshman, she amassed 872 assists, which stood at the time at fourth in a single season by a Bulldog freshman.
At the club level, Sato coached both Mizuno Long Beach Girls and Rockstar Boys and played a crucial role in assisting and educating athletes and families about the college recruitment process and timelines. Under her direction, the Rockstar 18s once earned a third-place finish at AAU Junior Nationals.
Sato hails from a revered volleyball family. Her mother Liane was a member of the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team in 1988 and again in 1992 when the squad captured an Olympic bronze medal. Her uncles, Eric and Gary, were also standouts in the sport, playing or coaching alongside legendary Pepperdine men's volleyball coach Marv Dunphy. Eric was a member of the 1988 U.S. Men's National Team that claimed gold as well as the team that earned bronze in 1992. Gary, an assistant coach for the USC men, served as the United States' head coach for the 1985 FIVB World Cup, and led the squad to a gold medal. He also served as an assistant for the U.S. Men's National Team from 1984-88, 1992, and from 2009 to 2012.
Last season, the Women of Troy were awarded the sixth seed and made their 40th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament. USC (22-10) defeated UT Arlington in a three-set sweep in the first round to advance to the second round for the 35th time. There, the Trojans were eliminated by third-seeded and 13th-ranked site host Texas in straight sets. USC reached 20 wins for the second time under Keller to earn its third consecutive berth in the tourney. Setter Mia Tuaniga set a new school record for career assists and was named to the AVCA All-America third team. She and outside hitter Ally Batenhorst were each AVCA All-Region choices and were taken with picks in the PVF Draft.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
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