Highland High School will start the 2014 volleyball season after the unexpected resignation of Head Coach Hiapo, who defeated Gilbert last year to become state champions.

Highland Athletic Director Rod Houston stated “We expect that the team will continue with the success and be able to improve”. Coach Hiapo stated that she left Highland because Chandler-Gilbert Community College is her full time job as the girls head volleyball coach.  She stated that “My goals for Highland were accomplished.  My goals, unfortunately, for Chandler-Gilbert Community College were not accomplished.”

Hiapo was faced with a difficult decision on staying with Highland or to give Chandler-Gilbert her full attention. Hiapo described her decision by saying, “I had to choose between something that I have to do over something that I like to do.”  In addition, she stated she always advised her players that if they are unable to dedicate 100% of their time then they have to leave.

She stated that she wanted to “Set a good example for her boys. And I couldn’t devote 100% of my time this year, so I had to leave”. Hiapo was determined to not fully leave Highland until she knew that a suitable new coach would take her position.

The defending state champions new head coach is Darrin Ashment, who was former Highland assistant coach for the last two years. Ashment will now take full control of the Highland boys’ volleyball team in hopes of winning another state championship.

Coach Hiapo would like to stress to her former players that “My heart is still crying, I love the Highland program and it was a tough choice to leave.”.