About Head Coach Sarah Paulk

Coach Paulk will begin her ninth season at Friendswood High School in the fall of 2024. She has taken her teams to the state playoffs every year as a head coach. The last seven seasons they have made it to at least the regional round of playoffs.  In 2020 Paulk led the mustangs to the regional tournament for the third year in a row and in 2019 Paulk's team was crowned Regional Champions and took a trip back to the state tournament. For the fourth year in a row they were crowned district champions also. She was named GHVCA coach of the year and a TGCA All star coach. In 2018 Paulk led the mustangs to the Regional finals and she was named Galveston County coach of the year for her efforts. In 2017 Paulk led the mustangs to an undefeated district championship as well as the regional quarter final round of playoffs. She was also named the 24-6A Coach of the year. In her first season with the Mustangs she led them to a 6A playoff berth for the first time in school history. Prior to coming to FHS she was at Manvel HS where she spent three seasons. She led the Mavericks to the 6A state playoffs in all three seasons and also placed 10 members on the first team all district squad. In her last year at Manvel her team advanced to the Area round of playoffs. Prior to Manvel she spent 7 seasons at Pearland High School where she helped lead PHS to the playoffs in all 7 seasons. Coach Paulk is a graduate of the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) where she played volleyball. She is a two time all conference player and the 2004 ACC tournament Most Valuable Player. Before Maryland she played volleyball, basketball, and softball at Pearland High School. She resides in Friendswood with her husband and 13 year old daughter and 9 year old son. 

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About Varsity Assistant Coach Bailee Rodriguez 

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Bailee Rodriguez is beginning her fourth year of teaching and coaching at Friendswood High School. Rodriguez graduated from Dickinson High School and was a four year letterman in volleyball. She received all-district and county awards while playing at Dickinson High School. She was named in the VYPE Magazine top 50 players in Houston. She played at Absolute Volleyball Academy for ten years. She competed at the Junior Olympics in Open division for two years while at Absolute Volleyball Academy. She attended Mississippi College where she played as a setter for two years and earned NCAA All Region Team in 2015. She returned home to complete her Bachelor’s of Psychology at the University of Houston. She resides in Dickinson, Texas with her husband, Fabian Rodriguez, and newborn daughter.

About JV Coach Natalie Beken 

​Natalie Beken is beginning her third year of teaching in FISD and second year of teaching and coaching at Friendswood High School. Coach Beken grew up in Friendswood and is a Friendswood High School graduate. During her time playing for the Lady Mustangs she was a two year letterman, and captain her senior year. Coach Beken was named 6A New-Comer of the Year 2016, Friendswood Defensive Player of the Year 2016, 6A First Team All-District 2016 and 2017, VYPE Middle Blocker of the Year 2017, and Friendswood Heart Award 2017. Coach Beken also played club for Houston Stellar Volleyball. During her time there she was awarded the Stellar Standout Award in 2016, and the Houston Stellar “Stellar” Award in 2018. She attended St. Edward’s University where she played as a middle blocker  before transferring to Texas A&M University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education. In addition to coaching volleyball, Coach Beken teaches ninth grade English. She resides in Friendswood, Texas with her husband, Brody Beken.   ​

About Freshman Coach Katya Silveira​

Katya Silveira has been passionate about volleyball from a young age, inspired by her father, who was an avid volleyball player. She began playing indoor volleyball at the age of nine and transitioned to beach volleyball when she was twelve. Silveira honed her skills at Clear Lake High School, graduating in 2017, where she played as an outside hitter for both her club and high school volleyball teams. Continuing her volleyball journey, Silveira played beach volleyball at Houston Christian University, previously known as Houston Baptist University (HBU). Her dedication to the sport extended beyond her playing years, as she coached 12s teams at Absolute Volleyball Academy (AVA) for three seasons and also coached beach volleyball at AVA for two seasons. Currently, Silveira is the lead coach of the travel team at Third Coast Beach Volleyball. She remains an active competitor, participating in Women’s Open beach volleyball tournaments across Texas and the United States. Alongside her volleyball career, Silveira is entering her fourth year of teaching fifth grade at Windsong Elementary, and this past year was named FISD teacher of the year!​