Rhode Island College women’s volleyball head coach Jenn Cabral’s path to the Anchorwomen

Tim Yean

Sports Editor

The Rhode Island College women’s volleyball team has only improved with fourth-year head coach Jenn Cabral. Under Cabral, the win totals for RIC have increased each year. At the time of writing, they are already four wins away from matching the win total from her inaugural season in 2022. I was able to interview coach Cabral to talk about her volleyball career. 

Everyone starts somewhere and for Cabral, it was during middle school at Joseph Case Junior High, instantly falling in love with volleyball during a training clinic held by the Joseph Case high school volleyball team.

“At the beginning of my freshman year at Joseph Case High School, I tried out for the volleyball team, made it, and played all four years of volleyball there. In between high school seasons I participated in club volleyball. I knew early on in my high school career that I wanted to play volleyball in college,” Cabral said.

Continuing her volleyball career at Worcester State University, she built up a storied career with the Lancers. She ranks eleventh in team history for kills and third for digs, also tying the school record for kills in a match, a 28-kill performance on senior night against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She took on an interest in coaching during her senior season with the Lancers. “Once my senior year season concluded at Worcester State, I could not fathom not having a volleyball season to look forward to or being a part of a team.”

Image from Jenn Cabral

WSU coach Bernie Chase was a guiding model for her when it came to coaching. “Coach Bernie was consistent, always showed up and remained calm. I learned a lot from being a part of the program and playing alongside some amazing people.”

Cabral’s first entry with the Anchorwomen came in 2018, being hired as an assistant coach for women’s volleyball. She would spend three years at the position observing, growing and learning as a volleyball coach helping lead the program. After a year as an associate head coach, she assumed full head coaching duties for RIC in 2022. Three seasons later and now in the midst of her fourth season she says much has changed for the program.

“The program has changed immensely since I started at RIC. Volleyball is constantly evolving, and therefore our values, habits, and techniques need to as well. We are lifelong learners of the game and strive to make every season better than the last. We are firm believers in the saying ‘comfort is the enemy of growth’ at RIC volleyball.”

Positivity is abundant at the team’s warmups. Cabral emphasizes a “positive, focused, and confident mindset in order to be successful.” That positive mentality can be the difference between an energized comeback victory or a humbling three-set loss. “Maintaining a positive mindset can make all the difference in overcoming adversity.” The positivity is also a part of her “many expectations” as a coach, alongside her players’ expectations of herself. 

Image from Jenn Cabral

“To narrow it down, I expect my players to be competitive, embody a growth mindset, and most importantly, be good teammates. My players expect me to be consistent, supportive and to hold them to high standards while challenging them to be the best versions of themselves.”

It is not just Cabral leading and setting a standard for the program. Former player, now assistant coach for the Anchorwomen Amelia Murphy has helped to strengthen the program. Murphy played all five of her seasons with Cabral a part of the coaching staff, rejoining the team in 2023 as an assistant coach after a brief stint at East Providence high school with the boys’ volleyball team. She has since been a critical part of the team for Cabral.

“Her enthusiasm, knowledge, and perspective are invaluable! Having worked together as coach and player, Amelia took on the assistant coaching role with a solid understanding of my philosophies and expectations, which allowed for her to seamlessly fit the role,” Cabral praised.

In RIC’s offseason, Cabral is a club volleyball coach. It’s through club volleyball that she learned and gained experience as a head coach. She enjoys seeing the rapid development of younger players getting into volleyball after learning key fundamentals.

“We certainly emphasize these at the college level, there’s something fulfilling about introducing them to a player for the first time and watching their immediate improvement.”

Photo by Jenn Cabral

Cabral continues playing volleyball in adult leagues in tournaments. Off the court, she enjoys gardening, going for walks, golfing and eating sweets, as well as attending sporting events for her nephews.

Jenn Cabral’s path is long yet bountiful in success, and surely more is on the way for the head coach. For more interviews and articles on sports at RIC check out anchorweb.org, and follow our Instagram @rictheanchor.