Kristen Pontes-Christian

Kristen was raised in Hughson and graduated from Turlock High School in 2001. She played for THS for 4 years as a Setter, Defensive Specialist and Outside/Right Side Hitter. She was part of the Triple Crown CCC Championship in 1997. Kristen received the MVP award as a sophomore and senior. She also received 1st team All-League honors her senior year.

She played for multiple clubs in the Central Valley such as Modesto Sharks, Manteca VB Club, and Valley Juniors, as well as Modesto Junior College. Kristen was the MJC Setter and received the 2nd team All-League award, along with the MVP award. While playing at MJC, Kristen coached at Velocity Volleyball Club in 2001 and 2002. She graduated from SDSU in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a teaching emphasis. Kristen moved back to the area and began coaching the freshman team at Turlock High School, while student teaching.

In 2006, Kristen began teaching 11th grade English and coaching the JV Volleyball team at Pitman High School. Now, she is in her 18th year of teaching English and in her 17th year as the head Varsity coach. The Pitman Pride Volleyball program received a triple crown CCC championship in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 (Undefeated in 2012 & 2014), which is a first for any sports program at Pitman High School. In 2016, the Varsity team won the CCC Championship for the 6th year in a row, the D1 Sac-Joaquin Section Championship for a 3rd year in a row, along with winning the NorCal Championship and making it to the State Championship match finishing as the D1 State Runner-Up in 2014.  In 2018, the Volleyball team won the 1st ever CCAL championship for Pitman, along with back to back titles in 2021 following a COVID break.  In 2022, the Varsity team won the 3rd consecutive CCAL Championship, made it to the section semifinal and competed in the D1 State tournament losing both to the state champions.  Kristen's final Pitman season was in 2023 and they finished undefeated CCAL champions and made it to the D1 section and D2 state quarterfinal matches.  Most recently, Kristen's 2014 Pitman Varsity team was inducted into the Pitman Athletic Hall of Fame (2nd class of inductees) in 2024.

Kristen received the CCC Coach of the Year award from 2010-2017. She also received the Modesto Bee Coach of the Year award 2014-2016, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Model Coach award in 2016, the CalHiSports State Coach of the Year in 2016, and the CA Coaches Association NorCal Coach of the Year award in 2017. Kristen received CCAL Coach of the Year award in 2022, 2023 & 2024 and started the 1st ever Pitman Boys' Volleyball team in 2023 finishing 2nd and making it to the Division 1 Playoffs.  She helped start Turlock Crush in 2010 and has been a founding member on the board ever since. Kristen has been helping with all of our teams while working as the Club Director since 2012.

Kristen is most proud of both her daughter Kora (9 years old) and son Kysen (6.5 years old) who bring so much enjoyment and blessed chaos to both her and her husband Dustin’s lives.