Sarah Simmons, 2025-26 Barton Volleyball Assistant Coach

Bio

Sarah Simmons is in her third season as assistant coach for the Barton Volleyball program.

Last season Simmons was a part of the Cougars’ repeat KJCCC title by sweeping 12 of its conference opponents to go 15-1 in league play.

Barton opened the year 13-0 and closed out the year winning ten straight into the national semifinals.

Hosting the Region 6/Plains District Tournament, the 7th ranked Cougars swept all three matches to punch its 24th NJCAA National Tournament appearance. Sweeping past its first two opponents in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Cougars were derailed in the semifinals for an eventual 4th place national finish and a 33-4 overall record.

Six Cougars earned post-season recognition highlighted by Phoebe Reyes’ repeating as the All-KJCCC/Region 6 Most Valuable Player followed by becoming just the program’s fifth two-time NJCAA All-America recipient in concluding her career moving up a spot to the 1st team of selections.

Joining Reyes on the 1st Team were repeat earners Kassidy Nixon and Anna Wierzbicki in being joined by freshman Aubrey Olander. Landing on the 2nd Team and earning post-season accolades for the second consecutive year was Elena Stankovic with freshman Mina Kaneko also joining the top twenty player list.

In her first season, Simmons helped Coach Besecker take a talented group of freshmen with a limited number of returning starters to the top of the KJCCC at 13-3 and a final No. 19 national ranking. The team's bid to add a Region/District fell short in the semifinals to conclude the season at 25-6.

Barton swept the All-KJCCC/Region VI post-season top accolades including Besecker being named the Coach of the Year and Phoebe Reyes leading six of the squad’s honorees in being named both the Freshman of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. Joining Reyes on the First Team were Kassidy Nixon and Anna Wierzbicki with Clara Lindstrom, the lone sophomore on the list, landing on the Second Team while Elena Stankovic and Mya Thompson garnered Honorable Mention distinction.

Simmons and her husband Rafael, who is now in his fourth season leading the men's soccer and second with the women's soccer programs, have two sets of twins, Mikael and Mylah along with a two-year younger duo of Annika and Avery.