Pahrump Valley High School’s volleyball program has welcomed a new leader this season—one whose roots run deep in the sport and whose passion for building strong athletes extends far beyond the court. Coach Amber Lugo brings with her decades of experience, a career full of accomplishments, and a clear vision for how to develop not only successful volleyball players but empowered young women.
Coach Lugo’s love for volleyball started early and grew into a lifelong pursuit of excellence. A proud graduate of Pflugerville High School in Texas, she was a standout three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track. She made history at her school as the first student to receive a full athletic scholarship in volleyball, earning her place at Texas A&M Kingsville as a middle blocker. Her time at Kingsville was transformative, not just athletically but personally. “Getting to play in college gives you a home away from home,” she said. “It was about a five-hour drive from my family, but it instantly became family. Volleyball gave me direction, kept me out of trouble, and gave me a goal. That’s why I’m so committed to giving back to it—it gave so much to me.”
Coach Lugo’s collegiate career was filled with success and meaningful growth, and it fueled her drive to continue with the sport in new ways after graduation. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, with a minor in Biology, and later a Master’s in Educational Administration. Her professional career began in 1996 and spans nearly three decades of teaching and coaching. She first taught and coached at Somerset Middle School, leading teams in volleyball, basketball, and track. She also worked as an assistant varsity volleyball coach at both Beyer and Downey High Schools. Eventually, she took over the volleyball program at Turlock High School, where she served as head coach for 13 years, building a powerhouse program that consistently made playoff appearances and earned numerous accolades, including a section championship and a sixth-place finish in the state’s Open Division.
Coach Lugo’s success at the high school level was matched in her club coaching. For nine years, she coached at Rage Volleyball Club, often assigned to “twos” teams—those just a step below the elite squads. Even then, she defied expectations, qualifying her 16’s team for the USA Volleyball National Championships in 2022. This year, her club team at T-Street returned to nationals and competed in the gold division for the first two days, a testament to the level of training and competitive focus she brings.
“Surrounding myself with great coaches and always being a student of the game is the key,” Lugo said. “You have to keep learning to stay effective.”
Her coaching philosophy is simple but powerful: tough love. “I know I can be intimidating because of my size,” she admitted with a smile, “but the girls eventually see that my heart is soft. I try to be someone they can look up to, someone who leads by example. Most of my former players still keep in touch with me today—that’s the best gift.”
This season, Coach Lugo is bringing that same approach to Pahrump Valley High School, and early signs point to a strong foundation already in place. “All the pieces are there,” she said, referring to the talent and depth of the current roster. “I’m super excited. We’ve got a lot of returning players on varsity because only two seniors graduated last year. I don’t want to promise anything I can’t deliver, but I absolutely expect us to improve on last year.”
Coach Lugo already has a game plan to address areas of potential growth. One focus is on the team’s serve-receive system, which she believes can be a game changer. After receiving advanced training from one of the top coaches in the country, Lugo has revamped how she approaches serve-receive and has seen dramatic improvements in passing stats. “With real understanding of their roles and a clear system, we’ll be better out-of-system than most teams,” she said.
Her systematic approach doesn’t stop at varsity. Coach Lugo emphasizes program-wide consistency as a way to ensure long-term success. “Everybody will be doing the same systems—same serve-receive, same defenses, same terminology. That way, when younger players move up, they don’t have to start from scratch.” She plans daily practice plans that are consistent across all levels, from freshmen through varsity, with necessary skill-level adjustments.
Joining her on the coaching staff are returning coaches, Arlette Newvine as assistant varsity coach, Angelica (“Angie”) Thomassian leading the JV team, and Kaylee Hargis coaching the freshman (B) team. Coach Lugo noted her appreciation for Pahrump’s structure, where the JV and B teams may occasionally play at the same time, but their games are scheduled separately from varsity—giving her the opportunity to be involved with all three levels. “I’ll be on the bench for all levels when I can, doing stats and supporting. I want us to be united. That’s how a program grows.”
Equally important to Coach Lugo is building strong relationships with the middle school programs, a strategy she was never allowed to pursue in California due to regulations. But in Pahrump, she’s embracing the opportunity to connect early. “We have a junior high camp on August 1st and 2nd, right here. We already have 45 girls signed up, and their coaches want to come help. That’s huge. I’ve never been able to do that before. I think it’s going to be a game changer.”
It’s clear that Coach Lugo’s arrival marks not only a shift in skill development but in the culture of PVHS volleyball as a whole. Her belief in structure, unity, and accountability is matched by her warmth and care for each player’s growth beyond the game.
Coach Lugo and her family made the move to Pahrump about a year ago, and for her, it already feels like home. “I commuted to Las Vegas last year, and every day when I left Pahrump, I would say, ‘Why do I have to leave?’ I fell in love with this place about five years ago. I grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico—a desert town—so this just feels really good. It feels like home.”
She will also be teaching at PVHS, which she views as the perfect arrangement. “Last year was my first time teaching without coaching, and I was miserable. You just don’t get the same connection with the kids. Now, I’ll be here, teaching and coaching, and that’s the most ideal situation for me.”
As the 2025 season approaches, CoachLugo is eager to hit the ground running. Tryouts begin August 2, and she expects fierce competition and a high level of commitment from day one. With a coaching pedigree that speaks for itself and a heart clearly dedicated to her athletes, Lugo is poised to elevate Pahrump Valley High School’s volleyball program to new heights.
“I’m just so excited to be here,” she said. “These girls are some of the sweetest I’ve ever met, and I can already tell they’re ready to work. We’re going to do great things—together.”
