Jeff Holloway is back home. Now he'd like to make the Ventura High boys' volleyball team at home among the region's elite.

The Buena High graduate formerly was a teacher at Rancho Alamitos High in Garden Grove, where he coached the girls' varsity basketball team and was an assistant on the football coaching staff.

He returned to Ventura this school year as a history teacher at Ventura High, and took on the challenge of running the boys' volleyball team.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," said the 33-year-old Holloway. "I've coached basketball and football, but have wanted to coach volleyball. It was always one of my favorite sports to play."

Holloway takes over a program that reached the CIF-Southern Section Division II championship game in 2005, but is working on its third head coach in as many years.

First, he wants to offer stability.

"I hope so," he says with a laugh. "I want to be here as long as they will have me."

Holloway wasn't named the volleyball coach until February, which meant that he and his players would adapt on the run.

"We've really been trying to catch up and work on the fundamentals," he said. "It's been a little tough because we play in a very strong league, but I think we're coming along very well."

The Cougars stand 9-10, including 0-4 in the rugged Channel League. But progress includes a four-game win over perennial power Santa Ynez.

"We've got a good group of players," said Holloway. "They work hard and have made us competitive against just about everybody we play."

Senior Glen Ryan and junior Taylor Comden lead the hitters. The Cougars also received a boost recently when the CIF-SS granted eligibility to Matija Vukovic, an exchange student from Europe and a member of the Montenegro National Team.

"He's an excellent player," said Holloway. "He's really going to help us the rest of the way."

Holloway and his wife Amy are intent on reestablishing local roots after so many years in Orange County. He hopes to join coach Brad Steward's football coaching staff next fall, and focus on the underclass teams.

Doubling up: Moorpark opposite Sean Daley has accepted a partial scholarship to the University of Pacific, making it a double play for the Daley family.

His sister, Chelsea, was a senior standout for the Moorpark girls' team last fall, and has a scholarship to Azusa Pacific University.

Help on the way? Oxnard coach Pat Casey hopes so, and that means the return of All-Pacific View League outside hitter Jake Haines to the roster.

Haines, sidelined all season, has regained his academic eligibility and is expected to return to practice Monday.

"We're one hitter short," said Casey. "With his return, it really makes us a much more dangerous team."