Stephanie Chapek and Arika Stottler have been hired as co-head coaches for the Eden Prairie High School girls’ volleyball team, replacing Chad Becker, who resigned this spring after 28 seasons with the Eagles.
According to the Eden Prairie High School Activities Office, both Chapek and Stottler bring extensive experience and qualifications to their new roles. Each coach has worked with Eagles’ athletes at various stages of their middle and high school careers. The Activities Office stated that the shared head coaching position is expected to enhance collaboration and team leadership.
“I feel like we have the best-case scenario heading into this season,” EPHS Athletic Director Joe Perkl said in a Thursday media release announcing the hirings. “We not only have one highly qualified and passionate head coach, but two! Most importantly, the success of Eden Prairie volleyball matters deeply to them, and they are invested in seeing the growth we all desire with this program.”
Chapek played volleyball at the University of Minnesota, earning All-American and All-Big Ten honors as a middle blocker.
After college, she played professionally for a season in Europe and then transitioned to beach volleyball. She competed on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour for three years and won two North, Central America, and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) tournaments.
Chapek has been the program director and head coach for EPHS boys’ volleyball for five seasons and serves as the club director for the Eden Prairie Volleyball Association (EPVA) and EP Beach.
“I’m excited to join the EPHS girls’ volleyball program this fall as a co-head coach with Coach Stottler,” Chapek said in the media release.
Chapek, who lives in Eden Prairie and continues to play indoor and beach volleyball in the community, added, “I look forward to welcoming new athletes to our program and continuing to work with our amazing returners! Go Eagles!”
Stottler played volleyball through high school. She began her coaching career in high school, coaching Junior Olympic (JO) volleyball. While attending St. Cloud State University, she also coached as a student. After graduating, she continued coaching at the Division II level for the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and coached club volleyball for Premier Volleyball Club in Bismarck.
After moving to the area, Stottler coached the seventh-grade team for the Eden Prairie Volleyball Association in 2021. Her most recent coaching position was with Club Velocity in the Rogers area, where she coached a team that went 17-1. She has coached various age groups across different programs, ranging from 13s to Division II college.
Stottler is starting her third year working at EPHS as the activities finance coordinator.
“I am excited to share my passion and knowledge for the game with the new and returning athletes,” Stottler stated in the media release. “This year will be fun, competitive, and a great opportunity for growth for all players and coaches in the program. Let’s Go Eagles!”
EPHS announces volleyball camp, tryouts
EPHS will host a summer volleyball camp, formally known as Elite II Camp, from July 22-24 at the school’s main gym. The camp will be led by Chapek and Stottler. It is open to EPHS 9th-12th graders and 7th-8th graders interested in trying out for the high school team or with club or high school level experience.
The camp runs from 1:45-4:45 p.m., followed by conditioning from 4:45-5:15 p.m. An open gym session, available to boys and girls in grades 7-12, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m.
The camp costs $75, and participants can register online. For more information, contact Stephanie Chapek at edenprairievb@gmail.com.
Captains’ practices are scheduled for July 29 and 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Middle School’s East Gym and on Aug. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Riley Lake Park sand volleyball courts. No registration is necessary for these sessions. High school program tryouts will begin on Aug. 12, and registration for the season is now open. A detailed calendar of events will be released soon.
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