From Stars on the Court to Leaders on the Sidelines: Three Former Volleyball Greats Inspiring the Next Generation at the 2025 NORCECA Girls’ U17 Championship

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 8, 2025. – They once faced each other on some of volleyball’s biggest stages — the 2002 World Championship in Germany, the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and countless continental tournaments. Now, years later, Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Prisilla Rivera, and Nuris Arias have traded their uniforms for coaching gear, continuing their shared journey in a different role: guiding and inspiring the next generation of athletes at the 2025 NORCECA Girls’ U17 Continental Championship.

Tayyiba Haneef-Park: “They’ve restored my love for volleyball”

As the head coach of the United States, former Olympic star Tayyiba Haneef-Park is channeling her elite-level experience into mentoring young players who are just beginning their journey.

“There’s a lot of incredible coaches in volleyball, a lot of men in this game, and there are starting to be a lot more women,” said Haneef-Park. “It makes such a difference when women can see women in a position of power. They can aspire to that because they know what it’s like.”

For Haneef-Park, who represented the U.S. at three Olympic Games, giving back is a way to honor those who supported her career.

“I love seeing former players like Prisilla and Nuris, and even myself, giving back to the sport,” she added. “These girls ask me about my experiences,  they kind of know, but they don’t really — and it’s so much fun. They’ve restored my love for volleyball because they’re so excited about every little play, every day.”

Balancing her coaching duties between the youth and senior U.S. national teams, as well as being a mother of two, Haneef-Park finds deep joy in working with young athletes free from the pressures of professional life. They make her feel at home with her own kids.

“They don’t have the stress of college or Olympic national team yet,  they just get to be free and play,” she said. “That love for the game is what makes players truly successful in the end.”

Prisilla Rivera: “It’s not a job, it’s part of my life”

On the opposite bench, Prisilla Rivera, assistant coach of the Dominican Republic, brings the same passion and determination that defined her decorated playing career.

“Volleyball is such a passion for me that I don’t consider it a job, it’s part of my life,” said Rivera. “I knew from early on that when the moment came to retire, I had to stay involved somehow. I wanted to give back what volleyball gave me.”

Rivera began her coaching journey while still an active player, taking her first course in 2016. Now, she’s focused on shaping future athletes not just technically, but personally.

“Being a coach isn’t just about teaching a girl to hit a ball,  it’s about forming an athlete,” she explained. “We had great mentors, and we had brilliant careers, so it’s only right that we give back. I want to be able to say, ‘I helped form that player, and she became even better than me.’”

Reuniting with Haneef-Park at this event has brought a special sense of continuity.

“Seeing someone like Tayibba, who was one of the best players for the United States, now forming young athletes, motivates me to do the same,” Rivera said. “We’re women making a difference in a sport that has long been led by men. It’s not competition, it’s pride.”

She points out that the presence of several female coaches in this tournament,  from Mexico, and Cuba, marks a significant step forward.

“The gap is closing, and that’s both a source of pride and an opportunity,” she concluded. “The connection we have with the players is invaluable because we’ve been in their place.”

Nuris Arias: “We know how to reach them”

Also part of the Dominican delegation, Nuris Arias, now serving as team manager, found her passion for teaching after retirement. A long-time national team standout, she began working with youth players in 2014.

“I never imagined myself as a coach,” Arias admitted. “But when I started watching young girls play, I saw their potential,  and when I noticed technical mistakes, I thought, ‘I can help them.’ That’s how it started.”

Her satisfaction now comes from witnessing growth.

“It’s beautiful to see them arrive without any knowledge and, through consistent training, evolve day by day. Their motivation grows with every step,” she said.

Reuniting with Haneef-Park in Costa Rica brought back warm memories and a sense of friendly continuity.

“When we saw each other, we laughed and said, ‘The competition continues between us, in a healthy way, for the benefit of volleyball,’” Arias shared. “We have so much to give and share from our experience to motivate the new generations.”

Arias also believes that being women gives them a special bond with their athletes.

“We know how to connect with them, we understand the changes they’re going through. We identify with them. It’s a deep and important topic to keep exploring.”

A Legacy Beyond the Court

From the arenas of world championships to the sidelines of a youth continental event, Haneef-Park, Rivera, and Arias embody the full circle of volleyball, from being inspired, to inspiring others. Their stories are intertwined by friendship, rivalry, and an enduring commitment to a sport that continues to unite them.

What began as a shared dream on the court has evolved into a shared mission: empowering young women to play, grow, and one day, give back, just as they have.