Yelena Skazka

Yelena Nash (née Skazka) is no stranger to hard work or long hours. Her dedication and inner drive have contributed to her success as a coach at the professional and collegiate levels, including UCLA, USC, CSUDH, and Stanford, as well as at the varsity high school and local club levels in Southern California. She has more than 20 years of coaching experience.

Yelena is currently the owner of Sunny Ball NDE Volleyball Club. She also has five years of competitive international playing experience with clubs in Russia, Serbia, and Turkey, as well as experience competing in FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) World Tournaments.

She earned her Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports in July 2008. During her time there, she competed on the Azerbaijan Women’s National Team as a spiker in both indoor and beach volleyball and served as captain of the Junior National Volleyball Team.

Yelena was selected as a National Olympic Qualifier in 2003. She led the Azerbaijan Women’s National Team to first place in the Azerbaijan Beach Volleyball Championship in 2005 and again achieved first place at the World Championship in 2008.

In 2015, Yelena assisted the Junior Olympics New Orleans team. In 2016, she helped coach teams that reached the CIF Championship (Division III) and CIF State Final (Division II), while also helping a team earn first place in the Del Rey League.

Yelena is a member of the prestigious Gold Medal Squared organization for volleyball coaches. She also earned a Bachelor of Divinity from the Moscow Soul Academy and a Master of Science in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University in California.

Currently, Yelena serves as the Athletic Director and Varsity Head Volleyball Coach at Notre Dame San Jose High School, where she supports student-athletes and contributes to the school’s Center for Women’s Leadership.

Outside of athletics, Yelena is the proud mother of her six-year-old son, Titus.