Our staff features exceptional people: teachers, educators, mentors, positive thinkers, and experienced volleyball minds. Our coaches share a deep passion for volleyball and view athletics as a vehicle by which many of life's lessons can be learned. We encourage you to read about our people, both here at LAVA Shack and also our LAVA staff as a whole.
CATARINA MARBACH
DIRECTOR - LAVA SHACK
Catarina "Katt" Marbach - Director, Lava Shack
(email) catarina.emerson2@gmail.com
(email) catarina.emerson2@gmail.com
FULL NAME: Catarina Marbach
MY HOMETOWN: Burbank, CA
BEFORE LAVA: Was in school majoring in Forensic Anthropology and playing college volleyball.
COACHING BACKGROUND:
Started coaching in 2012 at LAVA. Coached multiple age groups ranging from Lites-18s. Also coached junior varsity at Burbank High School. Assisted Varsity for two seasons. Coached girls at Marlborough HS and coached at De Toledo.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
4 year Varsity Setter at John Burroughs HS in Burbank. 2012 State Champions Pierce College.
FUN FACT: Was born next to Dracula's Castle in Romania.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Traveling
JOSH MARBACH
LAVA SHACK COACH
FULL NAME: Joshua Marbach
MY HOMETOWN: Burbank, CA
BEFORE LAVA: John Burroughs HS, Pierce college, California Baptist University.
COACHING BACKGROUND: Coached boys and girls at John Burroughs for 7 seasons, went to CIF finals and won state. Coaches girls at Marlborough. Coached boys at Harvard Westlake. Coached boys at Windward and went to CIF finals. Head coach for boys indoor and beach at Viewpoint for the last three seasons.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: played at SMBC for 3 years. Played at Pierce for 2 years, made 2nd team all conference, transferred to California Baptist university and won a NAIA national championship.
FUN FACT: loves to camp and backpack
GUILTY PLEASURE: dark chocolate
JAMES TARUC
LAVA SHACK COACH
FULL NAME: James Taruc
MY HOMETOWN: Quezon City, Manila Philippines 🇵🇭
BEFORE LAVA: Was coaching for SMBC.
COACHING BACKGROUND:
Started coaching in 2010-2012 at Westridge as well as club for SMBC 2010-2020. Coached at Crespi 2011-2015. Coached 2016-2017 at St. Francis. Currently coaching at Central City Value High School where I helped lead the GIRLS to 2014 DIV. 5 City Sec. Finalist, 2015 DIV. 5 City Sec. Champions, 2016 DIV. 3 City Sec. Finalist, 2017 DIV. 3 City Sec. Champions, 2018 DIV. 2 City Sec. Finalists and BOYS 2019 DIV. 4 City Sec. Finalists.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Setter for 4 years in high school. 1998 DIV. 3A City Sec. Champions, 1999 City Sec. Finalists, 2000 State Champions Pierce College.
FUN FACT:
First person to play the Libero position for the MENS VOLLEYBALL team at PIERCE.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Love SWEETS.
KELLY LUZ
BIO COMING SOON
KATIE CLARK
FULL NAME: Katie Clark
MY HOMETOWN: San Rafael, CA (in NorCal)
BEFORE LAVA: I attended UCLA where I majored in Psychobiology and then received my Masters in Education. I am currently a middle and high school science teacher.
COACHING BACKGROUND: This is my first year coaching a club team. I got my start coaching both indoor and beach back in high school/college at summer camps and clinics hosted by a club in my area, working with girls ages 6-13. I started the CIF program at GALA in 2021 and we have won two LACS Division Championships (DIV in 2021, DIII in 2022). In 2022, I coached both the JV and Varsity teams at GALA.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: I started playing volleyball in elementary school and fell in love. I played varsity for 3 years at San Rafael High School as an outside hitter and a middle hitter. I also played outside hitter for two years on the 18 Premier team at Absolute Volleyball Club.
FUN FACT: I used to be a competitive Irish Dancer.
GUILTY PLEASURE: I love rewatching the show New Girl. I think I’ve watched it all the way through 5 times!
BRANDON DE LA FUENTE
BIO COMING SOON
RAYMOND PARRA
FULL NAME: Raymond Parra
MY HOMETOWN: San Fernando, CA
BEFORE LAVA: playing college volleyball
Coaching background: LAVA 14’s, LAVA 12’s
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: played for 4 years for indoor and 3 years of beach at bishop Alemany high school, made Division 1 high school playoffs all four years, tied for 5th place at JO’s 17’s year with SMBC South. 2018 UCSB Dos Pueblos tournament champions, 2018 Chatsworth tournament champions, and finished as Division 1 quarter-finalist senior year as team captain in 2018. Played club at legacy volleyball club before playing for SMBC south, coached by Pepperdine alumni Matt Tarantino. Played 2 years at Moorpark college as an outside/libero. Transferred to the University of Jamestown on scholarship to play for 2008 Olympic gold medalist Riley Salmon where I learned and played a lot of high level/Team USA volleyball.
ALICIA GRAVES
BIO COMING SOON