Temple University Athletics
Women's Volleyball
Akiko Hatakeyama
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- akiko.h@temple.edu
- Phone:
- 215-204-6289
Akiko Hatakeyama, a 1999 graduate of Temple and the volleyball program, returned to serve as the assistant coach for the Owls after the 2011 season. Hatakeyama helped lead Temple to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997 after also going undefeated in Atlantic 10 play that season.
Hatakeyama has been promoted twice in her time at Temple, most recently in December of 2016 when she was named the Associate Head Coach for the program.Â
The 2017 squad made history as the first Temple team to qualify to post-season play in 15 years. The Owls finished 20-10, advancing to the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Temple finished second in The American, going 15-5 in conference play.
Individually, the Owls placed four on the All-Conference team, including Temple's first ever unanimous first-team American player, Izzy Rapacz. Senior Kyra Coundourides, junior Iva Deak, and redshirt freshman Dana Westfield also appeared on the American Athletic Conference teams. Temple racked up a program-record 11 American Weekly Honor Roll selections, while junior Mia Heirakuji was named Defensive Player of the Week, and Rapacz earned both Offensive and Defensive POTW nods during the season.
In 2016, Hatakeyama helped lead the team to their third-straight 20-win season. The Owls finished 22-8 overall with a 15-5 record in American Athletic Conference play. For the third-straight season, Temple defeated every opponent in The American, at least once during the year, including road wins over SMU and Cincinnati. The Owls also captured the 2016 Philadelphia Big 5 title.Â
Hatakeyama helped to head up a 2015 squad that recorded a 24-8 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls finished alone in second in the conference, having defeated each conference opponent at least once during the season, while also recording seven-straight wins to close the season.Â
Individually, Hatakeyama helped guide a strong setting core that included senior Sandra Sydlik, who finished her career as one of just six players in program history to reach the 3,000-assist mark. Sydlik ended her career in cherry and white with two first-team All-Conference selections.
In 2014, Hatakeyama helped the Owls to a 24-8 season, tying for second in the American Athletic Conference with a 15-5 record. The 2014 Owls had the most wins in 12 years and boasted a number of outstanding individual accomplishments. At the heart of the team’s success, Hatakeyama was instrumental in the development of Sydlik, the 2014 American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year. Sydlik also nabbed first-team All-Conference honors and received an All-Region selection as well.
Since graduating from Temple more than 10 years ago, Hatakeyama had been playing professionally, primarily overseas, while also spending time coaching club teams and at summer camps. Her playing career has taken her to an impressive list of countries including Romania, Germany, Azerbaijan, Croatia, France, Spain, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Portugal, and Greece.
From 2000-2002 Hatakeyama competed in the United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV), and led her Grand Force Rapids team to a third-place finish in 2002.
Hatakeyama has earned certification as a FIVB Level 1 International Coach, and since her Temple career she has coached at the summer camps of former Temple coach Bob Bertucci. She also coached a club team in Switzerland from 2004-05, and a club in Holland from 2003-04. In 1999, Hatakeyama interned with the USA Volleyball National Team where she assisted in practices for the Women’s National team, World University Game Team, A2 team, Women’s Junior National Team, and Women’s Youth National Team.
After beginning her collegiate years at Kaetsu Women’s Junior College in Tokyo, Hatakeyama spent one season playing at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996 before transferring to Temple for her final two seasons.
Among other honors, Hatakeyama was named AVCA All-District during her career as an Owl, and she served as a student assistant coach for the 1998-99 season and Atlantic 10 champion Owls before graduating from Temple with a degree in sports and recreation management.
Hatakeyama has been promoted twice in her time at Temple, most recently in December of 2016 when she was named the Associate Head Coach for the program.Â
The 2017 squad made history as the first Temple team to qualify to post-season play in 15 years. The Owls finished 20-10, advancing to the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Temple finished second in The American, going 15-5 in conference play.
Individually, the Owls placed four on the All-Conference team, including Temple's first ever unanimous first-team American player, Izzy Rapacz. Senior Kyra Coundourides, junior Iva Deak, and redshirt freshman Dana Westfield also appeared on the American Athletic Conference teams. Temple racked up a program-record 11 American Weekly Honor Roll selections, while junior Mia Heirakuji was named Defensive Player of the Week, and Rapacz earned both Offensive and Defensive POTW nods during the season.
In 2016, Hatakeyama helped lead the team to their third-straight 20-win season. The Owls finished 22-8 overall with a 15-5 record in American Athletic Conference play. For the third-straight season, Temple defeated every opponent in The American, at least once during the year, including road wins over SMU and Cincinnati. The Owls also captured the 2016 Philadelphia Big 5 title.Â
Hatakeyama helped to head up a 2015 squad that recorded a 24-8 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls finished alone in second in the conference, having defeated each conference opponent at least once during the season, while also recording seven-straight wins to close the season.Â
Individually, Hatakeyama helped guide a strong setting core that included senior Sandra Sydlik, who finished her career as one of just six players in program history to reach the 3,000-assist mark. Sydlik ended her career in cherry and white with two first-team All-Conference selections.
In 2014, Hatakeyama helped the Owls to a 24-8 season, tying for second in the American Athletic Conference with a 15-5 record. The 2014 Owls had the most wins in 12 years and boasted a number of outstanding individual accomplishments. At the heart of the team’s success, Hatakeyama was instrumental in the development of Sydlik, the 2014 American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year. Sydlik also nabbed first-team All-Conference honors and received an All-Region selection as well.
Since graduating from Temple more than 10 years ago, Hatakeyama had been playing professionally, primarily overseas, while also spending time coaching club teams and at summer camps. Her playing career has taken her to an impressive list of countries including Romania, Germany, Azerbaijan, Croatia, France, Spain, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Portugal, and Greece.
From 2000-2002 Hatakeyama competed in the United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV), and led her Grand Force Rapids team to a third-place finish in 2002.
Hatakeyama has earned certification as a FIVB Level 1 International Coach, and since her Temple career she has coached at the summer camps of former Temple coach Bob Bertucci. She also coached a club team in Switzerland from 2004-05, and a club in Holland from 2003-04. In 1999, Hatakeyama interned with the USA Volleyball National Team where she assisted in practices for the Women’s National team, World University Game Team, A2 team, Women’s Junior National Team, and Women’s Youth National Team.
After beginning her collegiate years at Kaetsu Women’s Junior College in Tokyo, Hatakeyama spent one season playing at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996 before transferring to Temple for her final two seasons.
Among other honors, Hatakeyama was named AVCA All-District during her career as an Owl, and she served as a student assistant coach for the 1998-99 season and Atlantic 10 champion Owls before graduating from Temple with a degree in sports and recreation management.
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Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
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Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
