The Rise of Sunbird Volleyball

Sure, there is no "I" in "team." But there certainly is in "winner," "victory" and "champion." The architect of this two-year turnaround from 2023's 13-16 mark is head coach Kelsee Montagna, herself the recipient of PacWest Conference and AVCA West Region Coach of the Year honors.

High-power coaches can put out high-maintenance vibes, like a Ferrari revving at a stoplight. Montagna projects relaxed confidence chatting in Charlotte's Coffee Corner about her journey since taking over in February 2024. Her wide smile is friendly and frequent as she talks about her 'Birds.

"When I got here, I think they were pretty vulnerable," Montagna recalls. "They wanted to be coached, loved and part of a program. The talent was there."

Montagna knows talent. The Madera native captained, coached and won honors at Cabrillo College and the University of Providence in Great Falls, MT, where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration and M.A. in Organizational Leadership and Management. She also has an M.A. in Exercise Science and Coaching from Concordia University Irvine.

Closer to home, Montagna has directed the Valley Volleyball Club and assisted for indoor and beach volleyball at Fresno City College. She and husband Christian Brown Johnson—friends since preschool—built a house on 10 acres near Madera. When not running Johnson Farming Enterprises, he runs in ultra-endurance events. In 2025 he won the World Marathon Challenge and a Guinness World Record for completing seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days. The effort also raised $10,000 for Parkinson's research.

Coaches Create Culture

That first season at FPU was all about creating the right culture. Crucial to that was recruiting talented assistant coaches.

One way to build a new legend was enlisting an existing one. Kelley Winter (MA '08, TC '02, BA '01) is a Sunbird Athletics Hall of Famer (volleyball/track) and successful former FPU volleyball coach (81-37 record in four seasons). "She was the wisdom," says Montagna.

Catie Speas (BA '23), also the administrative assistant in sports medicine, is great at "all the small things to make them feel wanted and cared for," Montagna says.

Kendall Featherstone coached at Clovis East High School, still coaches at Valley Volleyball Academy and works as a residence director at FPU. "We just brought this force together," Montagna says.

Senior Cambria Waites experienced team life before Montagna arrived. "I believe coach Kelsee has rebuilt this program from the ground up," says the senior criminology major from Lodi. "The biggest things that have changed are the team culture and sense of community."

Bonds have been built in team activities, free-time hangouts and serving at agencies from Poverello House to Boys & Girls Clubs. "Our team is special because of every single girl," Waites says.

Connections between student-athletes and coaches are just as strong. "We know we can go to coach Kelsee in any situation," she says.

Family with Purpose

"We're a family, for sure," Montagna agrees. "They want to be pushed; they want to play at a high level."

As for the CCAA, Montagna talks like the Sunbirds are already there. The conference may have what sportswriters call a "storied history" with schools like Cal State Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Pomona. "It doesn't change who we are," she says.

"We're well-respected in the nation now," Montagna says. "We're in a place where if people want to stay in the Valley they think of us first."