Returning for her ninth season at the helm of the Athenas Volleyball program, head coach Dianna Graves is looking forward to continuing the team's improvement as CMS returns to the hunt for the SCIAC championship.

Part of Claremont McKenna College's class of 1998, Dianna is hardly a stranger to SCIAC volleyball. She earned a multitude of accolades while competing for CMS: Team captain 1997; Team Most Valuable Player 1995, 1996; All-SCIAC 2nd Team 1995, 1st Team 1996, 1997; All-West Region 1997. Playing the outside hitter position, she proved herself a force to be reckoned with as an integral part of the CMS offense. In addition, as team captain she provided needed leadership for the younger players who were still learning the ropes for the Athenas.

Enthusiastic, hard working, and knowledgeable were terms used to describe Dianna before her inaugural season. These adjectives still apply as Dianna brings her former style of play onto the court in her capacity as head coach.

In addition to the four letters earned while playing at CMS, Dianna has extensive experience playing at the club level. Also, she has spent the last few years officiating club and high school volleyball matches and coaching at the club level.

Dianna got her first taste of collegiate coaching as an assistant for Jodie Burton, the Athenas basketball coach. This was a natural progression for her as she also lettered for three years for the CMS hoops squad. She also excelled in that sport earning All-SCIAC honors in addition to the team MVP award. Her leadership abilities shined there as well serving as the squad's solo captain her senior season, only the second time in over 20 years that the basketball team had only one captain.

Not satisfied leaving her spring semester vacated, Dianna was also a member of John Goldhammer's track and field team for four years. Not surprisingly, she attained All-SCIAC honors in that sport too (throwing the javelin). Her 11 varsity letters equals the record for the most ever earned by an Athenas athlete.

Dianna majored in Biology graduating from CMC in 1998. She earned honors for her senior thesis dealing with the silk of black widow spiders. Dianna also was awarded the prestigious Berger Prize by CMC recognizing her as the outstanding female in her graduating class. In addition, the CMS athletics department bestowed upon her its highest honor, the Dickinson Award. This selection is made each year to a student-athlete who has performed ably not only on the athletic field but also has made a significant contribution on campus to student life. She did as responsibly as anyone by serving as head resident assistant her senior year. Dianna capped that senior year by also being named CMC's Athlete of the Year. She became only the second person in CMS history to capture both Athlete of the Year and Dickinson honors.

Dianna is married to CMS Head Athletic Trainer Steve Graves and they live in Claremont with their children, Matthew and Erin, three dogs, one cat and Joey the bird.

Kurt continues his commitment to the Athenas this year as assistant coach. Born and raised in the heart of the inland empire, Kurt attended Claremont High School where he was part of the charter program at CHS. Kurt helped form a group of talent at CHS, and started a men's program with the Wolfpack in 1993. Kurt played as a varsity middle blocker in 1993 and 1994 while helping the pack go into CIF both seasons. Kurt went on to play for Pepperdine University from 1995-1998 under Marv Dunphy where he had successful seasons as both a training setter with Chip McCaw and JJ Riley, and a serving specialist during the 1997 season. Kurt graduated from Pepperdine in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in Biology.

To further his coaching experience, he came back to Claremont High in 1995, 1996, and 1997 as a volunteer setting coach with Don Braunecker. He helped train setters such as Caleb Anderson and work with other players on a volunteer basis. Kurt became JV Coach and Varsity assistant in 2001 for the Claremont Men's program at CHS where he helped win 2 JV tournaments, and lead CHS varsity into the CIF playoffs. After the 2001 season, he coached the Foothill Volleyball Club Men's program to a 18-1 record. In the summer of 2001, Kurt coached a team with below .500 average to over .500 and a substantial improvement at JO's leading the 18-1 program to flight brackets. In 2002 summer JO's, Kurt coached an 18-1 program into the Bronze bracket in KY, where his team captured first place in the bronze bracket (12th overall).

Nate attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, Ca. There, Nate led Buchanan to two CIF championships. Nate was also a two time all-league player and the 1997 TRAC player of the year. As if this wasn't enough, Nate was also made Volleyball's Magazine's Fab 50 list.

Nate attended Grossmont College where he helped lead the "Griffins" to two consecutive final four appearances and was named to the OEC all-conference team in 2000. Nate ended his college career at ULV

In 2002, Nate was a two-time player of the week and also named to the All-Tournament team at the division 3 final-four where ULV lost in the championship match.

Nate currently coaches at Alta Loma High School and also works for the "Survivor" television show. But don't ask Nate who wins, because he can't tell you.