Head Coach Marcio Sicoli announced the hiring of Anna Hennings as volunteer assistant coach to the Pepperdine beach volleyball sidelines prior to the 2021 campaign.
Hennings brings a unique perspective to the program, having worked as a coach, trainer and mental performance expert throughout her career. Most recently, she worked as a private mental performance coach, guiding indoor and beach volleyball players in the development of evidence-based mental performance skills through one-on-one sessions, in an effort to help them achieve performance success and enhance personal wellbeing. She worked with athletes primarily in areas of playing consistently under pressure, defeating performance anxiety and managing student-athlete demands among other mindset skills.
She also worked as an assistant coach for SandLegs Beach Volleyball Club. While there, she developed practice plans geared towards strengthening the players’ physical and mental skillsets, facilitated group discussions and worked with individuals to personalize each player’s mental performance plans and goals.
Hennings also served as the Lead Resilience Trainer and Mental Performance Expert with Magellan Federal as a civilian contractor for the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas. She coached warrior-athletes on the sitting volleyball team and focused on teaching resilience and mental performance enhancement techniques to service members, families and civilians.
From 2007-16, Hennings has also served as a writer, editor and executive communications professional, working as the director of training and coaching operations for an executive communications firm in San Francisco.
Hennings graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Clothing from University of California, Davis. She then went on to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Prior to her professional career, she played indoor volleyball with City Beach Volleyball Club, St. Francis High School and was an intramural volleyball champion at UC Davis.
