Sato as an Olympian

Overseeing the girls’ volleyball team as it passes, sets and spikes its way to glory, coach Liane Sato relives her very own glory days — those of the 1988 and 1992 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea and Barcelona, Spain. Coming from a family of Olympians, Sato was always destined for international achievement.Sato had been attending San Diego State University (SDSU) when her Olympic career started. The USA National Team trained in San Diego and invited her to try out, according to Sato. Though she was ecstatic to have been invited, she completed her goal to first graduate college and then tryout for the team.Once she had made the team, Sato learned the difficulties and high level training every Olympic team and player faces.“When I first started training with the USA Team, I learned that teams needed to qualify to play in the Olympics,” Sato said. “It’s a grueling process to make the team. Everyday you are competing against the best athletes to earn a spot on the team that will represent your country at the most prestigious tournament in the world.”However once there, Sato found the experience more than worthwhile. The most fulfilling part of participating in the Olympics was having her family alongside her in the USA National Team program. The tremendous support from her parents and the inter-family competition pushed her and her brothers to be better and achieve a higher level of volleyball.Both of her brothers, Eric and Gary Sato, were also part of the USA Volleyball program. In the 1988 Olympics, Eric was a part of the men’s team that won a gold medal while Gary was an assistant coach for that same team and in 1992, Eric won a bronze medal with the men’s national team.“The Olympics was different from past athletic experiences because I was able to share this incredible journey with my youngest brother, Eric, and my oldest brother, Gary, who were also part of the USA program,” Sato said. “I am inspired by [my family’s] ability to constantly learn new things about [volleyball], teams, strategies and people.”Now, Sato applies her world-class volleyball knowledge to her coaching here at Samo.“You better make an impact when you get your chance to play,” Sato said. “Take advantage of your time [on the court] whether it’s one rotation or 10 rotations.”Even though she’s an expert when it comes to all things volleyball, Sato says she still continues to learn more about the sport as the game grows. For example, the somewhat recent addition of a position called the Libero (a main back row passer and defensive specialist) and his or her unlimited substitutions per game is a huge change, according to Sato. She mainly played setter, so the help of a Libero’s passes allowed for more sets, drastically changing the game.According  to Mary Guirguis (’14), her athletic career and experience inspires confidence, especially considering Guirguis also plays setter.“Her Olympic position makes me have more respect for her as a coach. I am able to trust everything she says with confidence, knowing that she is only trying to make us a better team,” Guirguis said. “I feel like since she has had so much previous experience, when we practice, each drill is done for a purpose.”Her return to Samo (her alma mater) as coach was based on pure chance. Sato was visiting Samo when she ran into the head volleyball coach at the time, Eileen Hiss. Hiss convinced Sato to coach the junior varsity team.“I had wanted to teach Physical Education at Samo and coaching seemed like a natural fit,” Sato said. “All the pieces came together.”Since coming in seventh in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea and winning a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Sato has found her niche as a coach at Samo. However, her story is not entirely unique. One only needs to look at Sato’s old coach, Patti Bright.“[Bright] was a 1964 Olympian and she had a daughter on the team, just like I do,” Sato said. “It’s incredible and unbelievable that we are repeating history today.”Even after traveling to Barcelona and Seoul and playing at the top level in the world, Sato still classifies her experience one of luck and fortune.“My biggest takeaway from the Olympics was that it is usually a once in a lifetime experience for individuals,” Sato said. “This is the most celebrated sporting event in the world and I was fortunate to live it twice — I feel so honored to have reached the highest level possible in volleyball and represent the United States of America.”