In just a short time on The Farm, beach volleyball legendary player and coach Angela Rock has helped the Stanford program attain new heights. Rock completed her first season as an assistant coach in 2021 and was elevated to Associate Head Coach on July 6, 2021.
Rock was instrumental in helping the Cardinal program to their first NCAA Championship appearance of all-time in 2021.
The Cardinal set a new program record with 23 wins, finishing 23-13 overall and earning the No. 6 seed in Gulf Shores at NCAA Championships. From March 6 to April 3, Stanford won 13 straight matches to set a new school record.
Stanford had 11 wins over ranked opponents during the 2021 season, including a program-record five, Top-10 victories.
No. 1 pair Xolani Hodel and Sunny Villapando earned AVCA First Team All-America in 2021, the program's first-ever First Team All-Americans.
Villapando (67) and fellow senior Amelia Smith (60) finished their careers ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in career wins in program history.
Smith, Hodel and Villapando each earned 22 individual wins in 2021, tied for third-most in program history for a single season.
Smith and partner Emmy Sharp finished 19-5 on the season as a duo, setting a new program record for most wins by a pair in a season. The pair won 13 straight matches at one point to set the school record.
Rock came to The Farm with extensive coaching and playing experience. After a successful collegiate career in which she helped lead San Diego State to two NCAA Final Four appearances, Rock joined the U.S. national beach volleyball team as an outside hitter. She participated in the Goodwill Games and World Championships, the 1987 Pan American Games, and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Rock is one of the most successful players in beach volleyball history, having won 27 beach events from 1987 to 2000 while playing on both the Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) and Federation de International Volleyball (FIVB) tours. She was named the WPVA Tour's Best Hitter in 1991 after winning 12 titles.
After nearly 30 years of playing, Rock retired in 2000 and set her sights on coaching. She has served as both a head coach and assistant coach at the Division I, Division II and Community College levels, with experience at The University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cuyamaca College, UC Santa Barbara, Southwestern Community College, Saint Mary's College, San Diego State and Florida State. She has also worked on the development side of the game coaching juniors at Rancho Santa Fe Surf and Coast Volleyball Clubs, while also training elite beach players and Olympic hopefuls.
Rock was inducted into the San Diego State Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2010.
She received her bachelor of science in psychology from San Diego State, her master of science in educational/instructional technology from National University, and her master of science in physical education from Azusa Pacific University. Rock is also the author of Angela Rock's Advanced Beach Volleyball Tactics.
Rock was instrumental in helping the Cardinal program to their first NCAA Championship appearance of all-time in 2021.
The Cardinal set a new program record with 23 wins, finishing 23-13 overall and earning the No. 6 seed in Gulf Shores at NCAA Championships. From March 6 to April 3, Stanford won 13 straight matches to set a new school record.
Stanford had 11 wins over ranked opponents during the 2021 season, including a program-record five, Top-10 victories.
No. 1 pair Xolani Hodel and Sunny Villapando earned AVCA First Team All-America in 2021, the program's first-ever First Team All-Americans.
Villapando (67) and fellow senior Amelia Smith (60) finished their careers ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in career wins in program history.
Smith, Hodel and Villapando each earned 22 individual wins in 2021, tied for third-most in program history for a single season.
Smith and partner Emmy Sharp finished 19-5 on the season as a duo, setting a new program record for most wins by a pair in a season. The pair won 13 straight matches at one point to set the school record.
Rock came to The Farm with extensive coaching and playing experience. After a successful collegiate career in which she helped lead San Diego State to two NCAA Final Four appearances, Rock joined the U.S. national beach volleyball team as an outside hitter. She participated in the Goodwill Games and World Championships, the 1987 Pan American Games, and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Rock is one of the most successful players in beach volleyball history, having won 27 beach events from 1987 to 2000 while playing on both the Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) and Federation de International Volleyball (FIVB) tours. She was named the WPVA Tour's Best Hitter in 1991 after winning 12 titles.
After nearly 30 years of playing, Rock retired in 2000 and set her sights on coaching. She has served as both a head coach and assistant coach at the Division I, Division II and Community College levels, with experience at The University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cuyamaca College, UC Santa Barbara, Southwestern Community College, Saint Mary's College, San Diego State and Florida State. She has also worked on the development side of the game coaching juniors at Rancho Santa Fe Surf and Coast Volleyball Clubs, while also training elite beach players and Olympic hopefuls.
Rock was inducted into the San Diego State Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2010.
She received her bachelor of science in psychology from San Diego State, her master of science in educational/instructional technology from National University, and her master of science in physical education from Azusa Pacific University. Rock is also the author of Angela Rock's Advanced Beach Volleyball Tactics.