Laila Morales is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Centennial High School for AZPreps365.com.

PEORIA – Years in the making, the Centennial volleyball coaching duo went from childhood friends to leading a top girls team in their conference. 

Head coach Leah Orth was brought up in Peoria, attending Peoria High School, and assistant coach Pierce Stewart attended Centennial High School. Growing up as friends and Peoria locals, they felt right at home when they joined this program. 

“We balance each other out, and I know I can count on him to get things done,” said Orth. 

Before they stepped up, the Centennial girls went through three coaches in three years. While the team captains said their past coaches were not the worst, they noted that the leadership of Orth and Stewart enhanced their performance on and off the court. 

“We want to leave our print on the kids so when they go to that next phase, they're ready to deal with life,” Stewart said. 

Additionally, Stewart leads the boys' varsity program, making him a familiar face to some players when he joined the girls coaching staff. He also made history for the boys program, becoming the second-ever coach, succeeding his former coach. 

Both Orth and Stewart remember how important it was to have a close team dynamic from their own experience with high school sports.

“Something I do remember is we would pair with a lower-level player and make them a surprise goodie bag, then leave it for them at the front office for a little surprise,” Orth said. 

For Stewart, his former coach made an impact by the way she led the program. He said she worried about them as much, if not more, as humans than as athletes. Noting how it was important that his coach invested in the team beyond the sport. 

“I definitely had no coach more impactful than her; I am probably in a sea of hundreds with that sentiment,” said Stewart. 

The Centennial coaches have taken these lessons and applied them to this program. Hoping this family-like bond and this special group of girls will take them all the way, Orth and Stewart are heading into their second postseason run. 

“They're like the best people ever, and they build relationships with us every day,” said senior outside hitter Alex Thompson. “I think they do a great job of showing how important it is for a coach to value you as a person and not just your skills.”

The team admires how these coaches strike a balance between structure and fun, creating lasting memories that are truly enjoyable. 

“She’s one of my favorite coaches that I've ever had because she knows how to connect with us on a personal level,” said senior libero Kate Federico. “But then she also knows how to be a coach during games and practices.”

Federico reflected on one of her favorite memories with Orth, when she got competitive during a game of spoons at the NAU volleyball camp they attended. 

Regardless of the postseason's outcome, this coaching duo is appreciative of the team's values and the time they have had, and will continue to have, for seasons to come. 

“It's deeper than volleyball, I don't think that dynamic is always part of coaching,” said Stewart. “It's cool that's been the case these last couple of years, and it makes it worthwhile.”