2026 Interest Form and Summer Info

Hello, thank you for visiting the Rio Americano Girl's Volleyball Page, home of the RIO RAIDERS! 

This form will be used to evaluate potential athletes coming in over the summer and/or attending tryouts. This blog is where any and all information will be posted, we will not be sending out any information via email.

The schedule for summer and the upcoming season is being worked on currently as information is updated, we appreciate your patience. 

If you are planning on returning to play this upcoming season OR you will be an incoming freshman (c/o 2030) please complete the 2026 Rio Americano Girls Volleyball Interest Form 

PARENTS - SportsNet is Open for 2026-2027, please ensure your athletes is cleared before the start of conditioning/practice. Athletes/parents/guardians, please complete the physical form and Click Here to register your athlete

Also below is a link for Sokolov and Sokolov for quick and easy physical – they intake hundreds of SJUSD athletes every year.

Sokolov and Sokolov

2026 INFORMATION: CIFSJS and SJUSD - UPDATED 6/23/26

Dead Period: July 1 - July 14: NO High School Volleyball training allowed

Limited Period: July 15 - July 31: Post dead period training 
Varsity Selection Period: July 15 - August 2 

OPEN GYMS RESUME: 
July 15, 16: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Open Gym (all levels)
July 20-23: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Open Gym (all levels)
July 27-30: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Open Gym (all levels)
Varsity team finalized Sunday August 2 (at the latest)
August 3-6: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Open Gym (all levels)
August 10-12: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Open Gym (all levels)

First day of school: August 13 
Frosh and JV tryouts: August 13 and 14: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Varsity practice 5:30-7:00 these days - Varsity players will help with tryouts)

Varsity MaxPreps Schedule

ARCHIVED DATES

Week of June 29: Monday (ONLY) - open gym - all athletes are welcome 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Led by Coach Kimo, Coach Erin, and Coach Gary

Week of June 22: Monday/Wednesday open gym - all athletes are welcome 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
** Additional days may be added to this week 
- Led by Coach John, Coach Kimo, and Coach Gary

Week of June 15: Monday/Wednesday open gym - all athletes are welcome 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Led by Coach Kimo, Coach Erin, and Coach Gary

Last Day of SJUSD June 9th

2026 Tryout Information

2026 Tryout Information

Please make sure to complete your athletic packet and physical before attending summer training and tryouts. 

Rio Volleyball is a competitive program. Athletes who play club sometimes will not make their high school program/teams. Club programs have many teams, levels, and opportunities. High school has 3 levels and they are grade locked for the most part which limits the amount of athletes we can have in the program. Club is NOT a requirement, sometimes athletes who have potential (but no prior experience) will make a team.

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Frosh/Soph
- The expected roster will be 10-14+ athletes (coach decision). 
- Tryouts will take place the first 2 days of school 4:00PM - 6:00PM.
- Freshmen and Sophomore athletes are eligible to play on the team.
- The team will be mostly Freshmen and up to 3 sophomores.
- The Frosh/Soph team will play in 1 to 2 tournaments and the season ends on the last league competition date. There are no playoffs or championships for Frosh/Soph.
- Playing time is up to the coach, however we try to give all athletes opportunities in practice to prove their abilities and earn playing time. 

** Incoming Freshmen and returning Sophomore athletes are encouraged to participate in a club/beach program to stay active and continue to develop their skills while out of season. Athletes who do not continue to build on their abilities may not be selected to the JV team the following season. All Frosh/Soph athletes and parents will sign contracts that acknowledge a series of program wide rules and expectations. 
__________________________________________________________________________________

Junior Varsity
- The expected roster will be 12+ athletes (coach decision).

- Tryouts will take place the first 2 days of school 4:00PM - 6:00PM. 
- Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior athletes are all eligible to play on the JV team.
- The team will be mostly Sophomores, a few freshmen and no more than 3 juniors. 
- The JV team will play in 1 to 3 tournaments and the season ends on the last league competition date. There are no playoffs or championships for JV.

- Playing time is up to the coach, however we try to give all athletes opportunities in practice to prove their abilities and earn playing time. 

** Junior Varsity athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in a club/beach program to stay active and continue to develop their skills while out of season. Athletes who do not continue to build on their abilities may not be selected to the JV or Varsity team the following season. All JV athletes and parents will sign contracts that acknowledge a series of program wide rules and expectations. 
__________________________________________________________________________________

Varsity
- The roster will be 12+ athletes, up to 20 total (coach decision).

- ALL ATHLETES who earn a spot on the Varsity roster; regardless of class, prior program or outside experience; will not be guaranteed playing time. Playing time is earned in practice and is determined by the coaching staff. Athletes are only guaranteed training opportunities in PRACTICE.
- Underclassmen who make Varsity will receive the same training opportunities as all other Varsity athletes. Juniors who do not make Varsity will be asked to come to JV tryouts.

- The Varsity team will play in 3 to 5 tournaments and the season ends after playoffs (if the team qualifies through league).
- The varsity team is a competitive team and equal playing time is not to be expected as the goal is to qualify and compete in the playoffs. 

** Varsity athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in a competitive club/beach program to stay active and continue to develop their skills while out of season. Athletes who do not continue to build on their abilities may not be asked to join the Varsity team the following season. Varsity athletes are also expected to attend summer conditioning, weights, or any other team activities. All Varsity athletes and parents will sign contracts that acknowledge a series of program wide rules and expectations. 

See you in 2026!

GO RAIDERS

LOCAL CLUBS

Check out these clubs for camps and clinics this summer!

Sacramento Based Clubs/Camps

Aspire Volleyball Club - Folsom
Gold Cal Juniors Volleyball Club
OMNI Volleyball Club
SPVC Volleyball

Rocklin/Roseville Based Clubs/Camps

Northern California Volleyball Club
Synergy Force Volleyball Club

Elk Grove/Stockton Based Clubs/Camps

Delta Valley Volleyball Club
Rage Volleyball Club

About Coach Grix

Coach Grix is a Physical Education teacher at Mira Loma High School. He has coached high school volleyball at Rio Americano since 2001 and has served as the Head Varsity Coach since 2006. He is the current Optimist Girls Volleyball Coordinator which recognizes Sacramento-area high school Seniors for their volleyball accomplishments in an annual showcase match. He co-founded the 'Sacramento Girls High School Volleyball' community page on Facebook to promote local high school programs and recognize their athletes. Coach Grix is also one of the founding members of the OMNI Volleyball Club. He has been coaching girls club for 22 years for several of the top clubs in Northern California. In his time coaching, 18 of his teams (13U, 15U - 17U) have qualified for the Girl’s Junior National Championships including 2 teams in 2012. 

COACHING EXPERIENCE

High School:

     Rio Americano Varsity Head Coach
          - Current Varsity Record: 479-228 (2006-2025) 
          - 3-time CAL Coach of the Year
          - League Champions: 2012, 2020, 2022
          - 4-time Optimist Senior Showcase Coach: C/O 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014
          - 2017 Optimist Hall of Fame Inductee

Club:
18 teams Qualified for USAV Girls Junior National Championships (GJNC)

17U (3 teams)
     National: 2012
     American: 2008, 2020

16U (7 teams)
     Open: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2018 
     National: 2007, 2011 
     American: 2019

15U (7 teams)
     National: 2006, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
     American: 2012, 2017

13U (1 team)
     USA: 2025

OMNI Volleyball Club (5 Seasons)
    2024 - 2025 OMNI 13's Head Coach
        - Qualified for 13 USA GJNC: 2nd Place Red Rock Rave National Qualifier

    2023 - 2024 OMNI 12's Head Coach
    2022 - 2023 OMNI 12's Head Coach
    2021 - 2022 OMNI 15's and 16's Head Coach
        - 2nd Place WCVBA League Tournament 16U
        - Qualified for AAU Nationals (WCVBA bid)  
        - AAU Nationals 15's and 16's
    2020 - 2021 OMNI 15's Head Coach
        - 3rd Place WCVBA League Tournament 15U 

Rage Sacramento Volleyball Club (2 Seasons)
     2019 - 2020 Rage Sacramento 17-1 Head Coach 
          - Qualified for 17 American GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2018 - 2019 Rage Sacramento 16-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified for 16 American GJNC (NCVA region bid)

Northern California Volleyball Club (9 Seasons)
     2017 - 2018 NCVC 16-1 Assistant Coach
          - Double Qualified GJNC: 3rd place 16 Open (Reno Qualifier), 16 National (NCVA region bid)
          - 1st place NCVA League Championships
          - 1st place NCVA Power League 
     2016 - 2017 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 American GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2015 - 2016 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 National GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2014 - 2015 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 National GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2014 - 2015 NCVC 18-1 Assistant Coach GJNC
     2014 - 2015 NCVC 17-1 Assistant Coach GJNC
          - GJNC 1st Place 17 National (Gold Medal)       
     2013 - 2014 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 National GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2012 - 2013 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 National GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2011 - 2012 NCVC 15-1 Head Coach
          - Qualified 15 American GJNC (NCVA region bid)
          - GJNC 5th place 15 American
     2011 - 2012 NCVC 17-2 Assistant Coach
          - Qualified 17 National GJNC: 1st place 17 Club - National (Far Western Qualifier)
     2010 - 2011 NCVC 16-1 Assistant Coach
          - Qualified 16 National GJNC (NCVA region bid)
          - GJNC 2nd Place 16 National (Silver Medal)
     2009 - 2010 NCVC 16-1 Assistant Coach
          - Double Qualified GJNC: 2nd place 16 Open (Far Western Qualifier), 16 National (NCVA region bid)
     2008 - 2009 NCVC 16-2 Head Coach, 14-2 Assistant Coach

Force Volleyball Club (2 Seasons)
     2007 - 2008 Force VBC 17-1 Head Coach 
          - Qualified 17 American GJNC (NCVA region bid)
     2006 - 2007 Force VBC 16-1 Head Coach
          - Double qualified GJNC: 1st place 16 Club - National (Reno Qualifier)
          - 16 National (NCVA region bid)
          - 1st place NCVA Power League Points

Delta Volleyball Club (3 Seasons)
     2005 - 2006 Delta Valley 15-1 Assistant Coach
          - Double Qualified GJNC: 1st place 15 Club - National (SoCal Club Qualifier)
          - 15 American (NCVA region bid)
     2004 - 2005 Delta Valley 16-1 Assistant Coach
          - Qualified 16 Open GJNC (Far Western Qualifier)
     2003 - 2004 Delta Valley 16-1 Assistant Coach
          - Qualified 16 Open GJNC (Far Western Qualifier)
          - GJNC 5th place 16 Open

EDUCATION
     Masters Ed. Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership - University of Missouri 
     Single Subject Credential - Brandman University 
     B.S. Kinesiology - Sacramento State University 

CERTIFICATION
     Gold Medal Squared Certified 
     SafeSport Certified, USA Volleyball
     Impact Certified 
     CPR/First Aid Certified Current
     Mandated Reporter

Contact Coach Grix

coachjohngrix@gmail.com

SUBJECT LINE: Rio Americano Girls Volleyball