Coach Southall has been leading the Vandegrift Volleyball program since the fall of 2017. Since taking over the program, the vipers have had five district titles in 2017 (first in program history), 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2024. Coach Southall took the 2024 team to the 6ADII State Semifinals, making it the deepest playoff run in program history. Under her leadership the volleyball team made their first State appearance winning a bronze medal. In addition to her 2024 THSCA Region 8 Coach of the Year Award, Coach Southall has earned the District Coach of the Year five times in her time at Vandegrift (2018,2020,2021,2023,2024) and also received the AVCA "30 under 30" award in the spring of 2018. She has an overall record of 242-108 at Vandegrift and has never missed a post season.
After graduating from Texas State with a BS in Mathematics and minor in coaching athletics she was hired as varsity assistant and freshmen coach at Hays High School. There she helped coach several successful teams. In 2012, Hays Varsity finished their season as Regional Quarter-Finalist, and Area Finalist for Texas 4A in 2013. Coach Southall coached club at Austin Juniors Volleyball for many years. During multiple seasons at AJV, she has coached many different teams ranging from 12s to 18s with a variety of strong USAV finishes, in addition to attending Nationals in 2015 with the 13 Mizuno. Following another successful season at Hays, Coach Southall joined the VHS Volleyball program as varsity assistant and JV flex coach in 2016. 2016 marked the first year that Vandegrift competed in the 6A classification; Coach Southall helped the varsity record major district wins over Lake Travis and finish the year as Area Finalist.
Coach Southall started playing volleyball in Katy, Texas, where she eventually lettered at 5A(now 6A) Cinco Ranch High School, winning the most valuable defensive player award her junior and senior years as well as All District. She was a major contributor to top district finishes two years in a row and regional-quarter finalist team in 2005.
Coach Southall married her husband Matt in 2015 and they have since welcomed a son in 2020, a daughter in 2022 and another son in 2024.
Position: Head Coach
Coach Pehrson began working at Vandegrift in 2017. He has coached Volleyball, Girls Basketball and Track in his time at Vandegrift. He has also coached Football and Boys Basketball in his 32 years as a teacher and coach in Texas. He has also run the summer strength and conditioning programs for the middle school athletes and high school girls at Vandegrift for the past four years.
Coach Pehrson began his coaching career in the Rio Grande Valley in 1991. He worked at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD for twelve years and Mission High School for six years before leaving the Valley for Joshua High School near Fort Worth. He switched from Football to Volleyball in 2014 and has coached Volleyball for a total of seven years.
Coach Pehrson grew up in Minnesota where he graduated from St. Peter High School in 1987 where he played Football, Basketball and threw shot put and discus for the Track team. He attended Gustavus Adolphus College in his hometown where he majored in Mathematics, played Football and threw shot put and javelin for the Track team. He is most proud of holding the Javelin record for 29 years at Gustavus.
Coach Pehrson has been married to his wife, Julia, for almost 26 years. They have three children Adilyn (21), Kaya (19), and Loic (15). Adilyn and Kaya graduated from Vandegrift after very successful careers in multiple sports.
Position: JV Head Coach/Varsity Assistant