Taft College Volleyball Team Inspires Students Through Mentorship Visit to Local High School

TAFT, CA – The Taft College Women's Volleyball Team recently visited Foothill High School, a school serving a historically under-resourced community, to share their experiences, offer mentorship, and encourage young athletes to pursue their academic and athletic goals in college. The event held special meaning for the program, as head coach Mallori Rossi is an alumna of Foothill High School and returned to her home gym to give back.

During the visit, the college athletes met with the high school volleyball team to discuss college readiness, what it takes to compete at the next level, and how to balance academics, athletics, and personal well-being. The session included an open Q&A where high school athletes asked about training habits, overcoming challenges, navigating the college admissions process, and building confidence both on and off the court.

The college players also demonstrated high-level drills and gameplay, giving the high school team a chance to see the speed, strategy, and skill involved in collegiate volleyball. For many of the students— who may have limited access to club volleyball programs or advanced training— the opportunity to learn directly from collegiate athletes was especially meaningful.

"Coming back to Foothill is incredibly special for me," said Head Coach Mallori Rossi, "I grew up in this gym, and I know the talent, drive, and potential these students have. We wanted to show them that college athletics—and higher education as a whole—are within their reach. We are so humbled that Coach Hutson allowed us this opportunity to make a lasting impact on her team."

The visit concluded with a shared team dinner, where players and coaches from both programs continued conversations, built personal connections, and celebrated the power of community support and mentorship.

High school coach Teresa Hutson expressed appreciation for the experience: "The Foothill High Volleyball Program was honored to have Taft College Volleyball Head Coach Mallori Rossi, and her #5 ranked Cougars come to our campus. The team and Coach Mallori shared their volleyball stories and reasons for this year's success. As a Foothill alumni and Hall of Famer, Coach Mallori made it even more special for the Foothill players. We welcome them back in the near future."

The Cougar Volleyball Team hopes to make this an annual tradition and continue building long-term relationships with local schools to support equitable access to opportunities and inspire young athletes across the community.