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Renee Saunders is the head volleyball coach at Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where she has led the SkyHawks to eleven straight state championship appearances, winning nine consecutive Class B State Championships and national recognition as a top-ranked high school program. A former dual-sport athlete at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Saunders contributed to the Huskers’ 1995 national volleyball title and played on the women’s basketball team. Her athletic achievements earned her induction into the Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. At Skutt Catholic, Saunders holds a career coaching record of 465-106 and was honored as the 2020 AVCA National High School Coach of the Year, mentoring multiple Under Armour All-Americans along the way.
Born and raised in South Omaha, Saunders was a standout multi-sport athlete at Marian High School and is the only Nebraskan to earn both Athlete and Coach of the Year honors from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. She currently serves as the AVCA’s High School/Interscholastic Board Representative, helping shape the national conversation on high school volleyball through leadership initiatives like multi-sport advocacy, coaching education, and grassroots expansion. Known for her passion, accountability, and commitment to building strong relationships with her players, Saunders fosters a team culture rooted in love, leadership, and personal growth—developing not only elite athletes but confident young women prepared to succeed beyond the court.