June 28, 2026

Written by John Corona

RIVERSIDE:  2014 MLK graduate Melanie Hughes will be entering her third season this Fall as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois . Melanie, a member of that magical 2012 Wolves team that made a run all the way to the State Championship game, is quietly going about the business of rebuilding the NCAA Division III Foresters fortunes.  (Link)

Under her guidance, the team has displayed a balanced attack on the court and success in the classroom. Eleven different players led the team in kills, aces, digs or blocks at least once during the 2025 season including eight who did so five times. Three of her athletes were named to the Academic All-District team and 10 of her 15 athletes were named Academic All-Midwest Conference. The team, as a whole, received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (ACVA) Academic Team Award for 2025. Also in 2025, she was named to the AVCA 30 under 30 program which recognizes up and coming coaches in the sport.  (Full story link here)

Hughes came to Lake Forest in 2024 after being the top assistant coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College in Claremont, California. While there, she helped the Athenas to an overall 87-9 record-three conference championships and two trips to the NCAA D-III Semi-finals. In 2022, she was named the Division III National Assistant Coach of the Year. In addition to her role at CMS, Melanie served as an assistant and then the head coach for the Forza 1 North Volleyball Club. She has also hosted Nike US Volleyball camps and clinics.

Melanie is a graduate of Western New Mexico University where she was a major contributor over her four seasons.  Her career statistics include more than 1,500 assists and 100 aces.  Prior to WNMU, of course, she was a member of the King Volleyball program and helped lead the Wolves to 100 wins in 4 seasons; 4 CIF playoff berths; a league championship, a CIF Championship, a Southern California Regional Championship and a State Runner-up honor. In her senior year, the team reached the CIF quarterfinals as well.

In October of this year, Melanie and the rest of her team mates from that 2012 team will be honored at the King Hall of Fame ceremony as a Team of Distinction.