You constantly are told to not take anything for granted, but doing so is easier said than done. For Utah Beach Volleyball senior Sage Patchell, she has learned to appreciate every experience that comes her way and just learn to be in the moment.
Patchell was born in Laguna Beach, Calif., where her dad, Shawn, was the head volleyball coach at Laguna Beach High School. Her father played volleyball at BYU where he helped the program navigate its transition from a club team to joining the NCAA. Shawn would go on to play professionally in Spain and after wrapping up his career overseas, he would return to the states to coach. He started in the high school scene before coaching at various colleges and with USA Volleyball. He is currently the head coach at Long Island University where he helped start the men’s volleyball program in 2021.
“Some of my earliest memories growing up are just peppering with my dad,” said Patchell. “I just always wanted to play with and be like him. He’s just really consistent with everything he does and he’s very level-headed which is what makes him a great dad and coach. He’s always honest and I think he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, so I love hearing his advice and I know he loves watching me play.”
Patchell would continue competing as an outside hitter in both her school and club indoor teams. She was a member of the T-Street Volleyball Club, the Tamarack Beach Volleyball Club, and a three-year varsity member at Laguna Beach High School. Patchell always enjoyed indoor volleyball, but a change from the hardwood to the sand helped her find a new version of the game she quickly fell in love with.
“I’ve played volleyball my entire life, but it was really my junior year when I started to really enjoy beach volleyball,” said Patchell. “I started to burn out and become bored with indoor, so my dad suggested that I started playing more beach. I began playing more competitively and I realized I could take a lot of my skills from indoor, but the game was also different enough that it pushed me athletically and even mentally in new ways. It reinvigorated my love of indoor as well.”
Patchell only had one offer to play in college and she would take it to become a member of the Arizona State beach team. After one season in Tempe, she decided to step away from the sand and serve a…
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