The 2025 season has come to a close for Cleveland Girls Volleyball, and head coach Alex Gainer is officially PIL Volleyball Coach of the Year. It’s only her second season as head coach but her impact is already being felt. 

The Warriors finished off their season with a record of three wins and five losses against PIL opponents, finishing in fifth place in the Portland Interscholastic League.

Their record and placement in the league allowed them to compete in the state cup. This is a big achievement for Cleveland as the last time the team competed in state was seven years ago in 2018.

Some notable matches this season were a commanding 3-0 win against Benson, a 3-1 win against Roosevelt, and another assertive 3-0 win against Roosevelt.

These matches showcased the girls’ dominance on the court. “I think we worked hard this season, probably the hardest I’ve seen them work, which was amazing and rewarding. They were very successful and learned very quickly… in the way that they played,” Gainer said.

There’s still room for improvement; no team is perfect, and Gainer believes that her team still has areas to grow in skill and character.

Each person on the court is important to Gainer, but she gave a few shoutouts to some integral players. 

“I’m really stoked for Vivian Aslar, our freshman middle. She’s killer, and by senior year she’s just gonna be insane. I think Addie Cooley, our libero – she was a freshman on varsity last year and sophomore this year – and just killed it as well,” Gainer said.

It’s not just the players who deserve praise, but Gainer as well. For her hard work and dedication to her team, she won the PIL coach of the year award.

“It meant a lot. It was really shocking. It felt validating in the sense that I think my peers, and other coaches in the PIL see what I’m doing in the program, so I think that was really rewarding,” said Gainer. 

Gainer said it is her belief in the team that helps guide her in being a good coach.

“Care, lack of sleep,” she said. “I think listening to your players is a really important thing for me. I don’t want them to think that it’s my program and that I run everything because it’s not. It’s their program, you know?” Gainer explained. 

This season was an historic one for the Cleveland volleyball team. Although the season record was a little lackluster, combining the non-league games, they finished with a total record of 12-12. This is the best season in a long time for Cleveland volleyball, and it was all due to Gainer’s leadership on and off the court.

The future looks bright for Cleveland Volleyball, and with the help and support of Gainer, they look to win even more next season.