Three Zukowskis coach Capital volleyball

As Capital’s head volleyball coach, Natalie Zukowski has the final word on plays, substitutions and practice schedules.

And because her assistant coach is her older sister, Rachael Baird, that final-word role is a reversal from their days as kids.

“She used to be the bossy one,” Zukowski said with a laugh.

Another Zukowski sister joined the volleyball coaching staff this year. Katie, a former first-team all-league pick at Capital, now coaches the junior varsity. Now reunited, the three sisters have turned their attention to winning matches. And so far, they’re off to a good start, with Capital taking a 5-0 record into tonight’s match against Foss.

They might be the only sister trio coaching staff in the country.

“Really, it’s not hard for me not to be bossy,” Rachael said. “I really like coaching with my sisters. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The Zukowski sisters all played volleyball at Capital. Natalie, a 1995 Capital graduate, was a first-team all-league player her junior year and played on a team that lost in the state finals to Selah. Then she tore her ACL her senior year and missed the season.

While completing her undergraduate degree work at the University of Washington, Natalie attended Pierce College one quarter to play volleyball. She coached at Raiders two years before becoming Capital’s head coach in 2002.

Until three years ago, when Rachael joined her staff, Natalie coached the varsity by herself.

“I coach because I want to make a difference in the girls’ lives,” Natalie said. “I want to not only teach volleyball skills but life skills. And I love the game of volleyball.”

All three Zukowskis are passionate about their sport. In a recent win against crosstown rival Olympia, Katie tried to get the crowd excited and cheering.

“She’s very dynamic,” Natalie said.

Each sister brings a certain skill. Natalie, as the head coach and a former all-league outside hitter, brings the technique expertise. Rachael brings the rah-rah, pat-on-the-back reinforcement. Katie, a former all-league setter, brings her knowledge of that aspect of the game.

“Everyone brings a strength,” Rachael said.

During job interviews for Rachael and Katie, the school’s concern was family emotional baggage. For instance, would suppressed animosity flair in a stressful moment? But besides being sisters, they’re also close friends. Outside of practice and games, they often spend weekends together, watching the Seahawks on Sunday afternoons.

“We’ve always got along,” Natalie said. “We’ve had our tiffs. But we always work it out. As we got older, we got closer.”

At first, Rachael was reluctant to coach. She played volleyball until her junior year at Capital then focused on fastpitch, playing on the school’s first state championship team in the sport. She worried that she lacked the expertise to coach volleyball. But when Rachael moved back to the area with her husband and daughter two years ago, Natalie invited her to coach.

“At first I said, ‘Naw, I don’t think so,’ ” Rachael said.

Natalie persisted.

“I’m glad she pushed me,” Rachael said. “I wasn’t sure how it would work out.”

In Natalie’s six years as head coach, the Cougars have won five league titles.

Being both coach and sister also has its rewards.

“It’s nice to get input and a different perspective,” Natalie said. “But to be honest, sometimes I’ll shoot down what she says because she’s my sister and I know she’ll love me anyway.”

During practices, Natalie often emphasizes family with her players, telling them to put family first.

“The love of the family will always be there,” she tells her players.

In fact, the sisters’ parents, Doug and Kathy Zukowski, still go to Capital’s matches to support their daughters and to cheer for the team.

“It’s very special,” Natalie said. “I love coaching with my sisters.”