The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

Melody Mandelbaum joined the Fresno Pacific Volleyball coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season. A decorated player who ranked among the nation’s best both in high school and college, Mandelbaum brings more than a decade of coaching experience to the Sunbird sideline.

A four-year varsity starter at Clovis West High School, Mandelbaum served as team captain and MVP during her junior and senior seasons. A setter who led the state in assists, she was a two-time high school All-American, received All-State honors, and was named CIF Central Section player of the year while leading Clovis West to back-to-back Division I Central Section titles.

Mandelbaum continued her career at NCAA Division I Tulane University from 2010-13, where she became one of the most accomplished setters in program history. A four-year starter and team captain, she finished with 3,684 career assists and 116 starts.  During her senior season, Mandelbaum helped lead Tulane to a 28-4 record while ranking ninth in the nation with 11.7 assists per set. She became the first Tulane player to earn Conference USA Setter of the Year honors and the first setter in program history to be named First Team All-Conference USA. She also earned AVCA First Team All-Southwest Region and AVCA Division I All-America Honorable Mention recognition before being named Tulane Female Athlete of the Year in 2013.

She began her coaching career in 2014 with Central Cal Volleyball Club and has since coached at Buchanan High School and Valley Volleyball Academy. At Buchanan, she was part of a staff that helped guide the program to a Valley Championship and a top-eight finish in California in 2018. Her coaching approach emphasizes fundamentals, volleyball IQ, communication, confidence and accountability while preparing athletes to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

Mandelbaum graduated from Tulane University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a Master of Social Work.