About Our Coaches
Matthew Osburn’s volleyball coaching career began in 2001. Since then, he has spent over two decades shaping young athletes into elite players, cultivating talent, and creating a legacy of success.
What truly sets Matthew apart is the ability to identify potential in players who others might overlook. Whether coaching young athletes or seasoned professionals, he has an uncanny talent for discovering “diamonds in the rough” and nurturing them to reach their fullest potential. Beyond the club scene, Matthew made his mark coaching as well as playing in San Diego, where he played a pivotal role in taking Grossmont College to the SoCal Regional Playoffs back-to-back years, demonstrating his versatility and passion for the game across different levels of competition. Matthew Coached and coaches many Beach Volleyball Teams and individuals to success including but not limited to Professional Championships.
A Legacy of Competitiveness and Development: Coaches who played alongside Matthew during his own playing days remember him as “cocky, athletic, and a fiery competitor.” As a coach, he channels that intensity into a unique coaching philosophy that blends patience with an unwavering belief in his players’ potential. Matthew thrives in developing underdog athletes, finding creative ways to outsmart teams with superior talent. Strategy is Clear: Outthink, outplay, and you will not need to outmuscle.
The Heart of a Coach: Matthew Osburn’s coaching philosophy is simple: Believe in your players, and they will believe in themselves. His approach is not just about teaching the fundamentals of volleyball, but about empowering athletes to push past their limits, discover their strengths, and transform challenges into opportunities for growth. Whether it’s a high school player aspiring to play in college or a professional looking to refine their game, Matt’s unwavering dedication to his players’ success makes him more than just a coach – he’s a mentor, a motivator, many may say he is a playing and coaching legend.
Flavia F. Pereira
Nutrition & Fitness Coach
Flavia is a passionate CISSN nutrition coach, full-time Exercise & Sport Science faculty member, and beach volleyball strength & nutrition coach. She has been teaching and coaching for the past 18 years. She graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Kinesiology – Exercise Science and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Health & Human Performance. Flavia is part of the Rapid Health Optimization team as a nutritionist and a research team for the International Society of Sports Nutrition, participating in different projects related to ergogenic supplements.
Flavia has been involved in athletics as a volleyball athlete, coach, and fitness enthusiast. She attended the University of Arkansas and Georgia Southern University on a volleyball scholarship for her B.S. and received her M.S. as a graduate assistant at FAU. Outside of work, Flavia is a mom to Leo (9 years old), and Maya (a 6-year-old golden retriever), and some of her hobbies are playing beach volleyball, working out, traveling, walking Maya, and being a soccer mom.
Certifications/Related Experience:
- · CISSN – International Society of Sports Nutrition
- · Precision Nutrition – Level 2 Master Health Coach
- · Precision Nutrition – Level 1 – Nutrition Coach
- · CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Certification
- · CrossFit Level 2 Trainer Certification
- · NASM CPT – Personal Training
- · Functional Range Conditioning (FRC)
- · USAW – Weightlifting
- Ayurvedic Health Counselor – Holistic Nutrition
Research Publications:
- Pereira, F., & Antonio, J. (2023). Nutritional Practices Among Professional Indoor and Beach Volleyball Players: A Brief Narrative Review. Research Directs in Strength and Performance, 3(1).
- Pereira, F. F., Antonio, J., Evans, C., & Curtis, J. M. (2024). Beyond the Buzz: Do Energy Drinks Offer More Than Caffeine for Mental and Physical Tasks?. International Journal of Exercise Science, 17(2), 1208-1218.
- Antonio J, Pereira F, Curtis J, Rojas J, Evans C. The Top 5 Can’t-Miss Sport Supplements. Nutrients. 2024 Sep 26;16(19):3247. doi: 10.3390/nu16193247. PMID: 39408214; PMCID: PMC11479151
- Antonio, J., Antonio, B., Arent, S. M., Candow, D. G., Escalante, G., Evans, C., Forbes, S., Fukuda, D., Gibbons, M., Harty, P., Jagim, A. R., Kalman, D. S., Kerksick, C. M., Kurtz, J. A., Lillis, J., Lowery, L., Mastrofini, G. F., Mills, S., Nelson, M., … Wells, A. (2025). Common Questions and Misconceptions About Energy Drinks: What Does the Scientific Evidence Really Show? Nutrients, 17(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010067
- Antonio, J., Evans, C., Ferrando, A. A., Stout, J. R., Antonio, B., Cintineo, H. P., Pereira,F. & Kreider, R. B. (2024). Common questions and misconceptions about protein supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 21(1), 2341903.Antonio, J., & Curtis, J. M. (2023). No “jitters” but no energy from a commercially available energy drink. Journal for Sports Neuroscience, 1(2), 14.
- Antonio, J., Evans, C., Pereira, F., Thakkar, H., Miriyala, V., Rocanelli, R., … & Curtis, J. (2024). The Effect of Tongkat Ali Supplementation on Body Composition in Exercise-Trained Males and Females. Applied Sciences, 14(11), 4372.
- Antonio, J., & Curtis, J. M, Pereira F (2023). No “jitters” but no energy from a commercially available energy drink. Journal for Sports Neuroscience, 1(2), 14.
- “Evans, C., Curtis, J., Pereira, F., Rojas, J., Berrocales, M., Kinnunen, K., … & Antonio, J. (2024). The Effects of a Novel Taurine-L-Malic Acid Complex on Indices of Recovery after an Exercise Protocol Inducing Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. Research Directs in Therapeutic Sciences, 3(1).
- Evans, C., Curtis, J., Pereira, F., Rojas, J., Berrocales, M., Kinnunen, K., … & Antonio, J. (2024). The Effects of a Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement on Recovery from Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 7(1).
- Antonio, J., Evans, C., Pereira, F., Curtis J. Sports Supplement and Traning Strategies for a National Class Female Master Cyclist: a Case Study(2024)
- Pereira, F. (2010). Preventing Volleyball Injuries. American Volleyball Coaches Association AVCA
Current Research
Dissertation “ THE EFFECTS OF CREATINE MONOHYDRATE ON BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS’ VERTICAL JUMP, CHANGE OF DIRECTION SPEED, REACTION TIME, AND BODY COMPOSITION.
Creatine as an Adjunct to Healthy Aging ( Pereira, Evans, Antonio, Candow)
GingerLean (Nova University)
Calm & Clever (2025)
TruBrain ( Nova University)
TESTIMONIALS
Matt was my coach when I was playing at my highest level. He does a great job with choosing the right drills to pin point exactly what you want to work on and always gives great feedback. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable coach that provides a very focused and cognitive practice he’s your guy! He also provides an X factor from the sidelines when heckling the other team.
Professional level athlete Ethan Elkins
Lessons
Beginner Beach Volleyball Lessons adaptable for any size group
Focus: Basic Skills – Passing, Serving, and Positioning
Objective: Introduce fundamental volleyball skills and basic court awareness.
- Warm-up (dynamic stretching, light cardio and skill development)
- Passing (teach proper passing form and techniques)
- Serving (introduce different types of serves and walk through proper technique)
- Game Situation / Positioning (teach basic court awareness, positioning and court movement)
- Cool Down & Review (stretching, skill review, answer questions and provide feedback)
Intermediate Beach Volleyball Lesson
Focus: Setting, Attacking, and Defensive Movement
Objective: Improve ball control, introduce setting and attacking techniques, and enhance defensive positioning.
- Warm-up (dynamic stretching, agility drills and skill development)
- Setting (introduce proper setting technique with emphasis on hand position and soft, controlled sets
- Attacking (teach attacking skills, approach, timing and the importance of the arm swing)
- Defense (teach proper digging and passing on defense with emphasis on reactions and control)
- Game Situation / Strategy (improve team communication, and offensive/defensive strategies)
- Cool Down & Review (emphasize flexibility, quick review, address needs and strengths)
Advanced Lessons
Focus: Advanced Skills – Blocking, Serving Techniques, and High-Level Team Tactics
Objective: Refine advanced techniques, work on high-level strategies, and enhance court awareness.
- Warm-up (dynamic stretching and plyometrics, footwork drills and skill development)
- Blocking (teach proper blocking technique with focus on timing and hand placement)
- Advanced Serving (teach serving skills to challenge opponents and target weaknesses)
- Attacking (perfect attacking skills, like hitting, shot selection and controlled attacks to open spots)
- Game Situation / High Level Tactics (develop team chemistry, work on serve receive and transition from defense to offense)
- Cool Down & Review (full body stretching, specific feedback on improvements, address strategies for next session)
Lesson Rates
| One-on-One | $65/hr |
| 2 People | $55/hour per athlete |
| 3 and up | $50/hour per athlete |
Monthly, and three-Month Memberships available and include Nutrition fitness consultation contact us for further details. theislandvbc.com
