Cynthia Dimapan

Club Director & National Team Head Coach

Interscholastic Coaching Experience

Dimapan is the head varsity volleyball coach at Cardinal Newman School. Building her program, the Cardinals have earned:  the 2023 4A SCISA State Championship Title, the 2022 4A SCISA State Championship Title, the 2021 3A SCISA State Championship Runner-Up Title, the 2020 3A SCISA State Championship Title (video, video), and the 2019 3A SCISA State Championship Runner-Up Title.  Dimapan has also accrued eight straight undefeated region championships: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016. Her high school players have signed/committed to: University of South Carolina, Temple University, University of Delaware, United States Military Academy West Point, Wentworth, Virginia State University, Converse College, Johnson and Wales University, and Norfolk State University.

Dimapan was named SCISA Region I Coach of the Year and SCISA North/South All-Star Coach in 2023, 2021, 2020, and 2019. Prior to coaching at Cardinal Newman, Dimapan coached in Guam, Texas, and other South Carolina schools (EL Wright, Spring Valley, Lexington, AC Flora).  She has accrued over 30 school, district, and/or region titles. One of her favorite coaching memories is a Cinderella story of taking a 1-7 down and out 7th-grade team in Texas, and turning them around in just one season. They won the El Paso Independent School District Championship, and later attended the Middle School City Championships where the team placed 2nd out of the top 36 teams that qualified for the event.   

Director Experience

Dimapan coached for SC Juniors in its very first year, 2002, when the club had just two teams practicing in a small church gym. With its many successes, SC Juniors eventually attracted multiple teams that practiced in various locations in Columbia and Lexington. In 2004, SC Juniors moved into Northeast Columbia.  After becoming director in 2006, Dimapan initiated a merger with USC Gamecock Coaches and Midlands Volleyball Directors, Ben and Nancy Somera.  Thus, in 2010, SC Midlands was formed. The club is now  one of the largest clubs in Columbia and in the state.

Club Coaching Experience

Dimapan’s club teams are often top contenders in their age divisions. Teams under her coaching and/or directorship have earned bids to the USA Junior National Championships including: Chicago (2023), Indianapolis (2022), Las Vegas (2021), Dallas (2020), Minneapolis (2017), Indianapolis (2016), Minneapolis (2015), New Orleans (2014), Atlanta (2011), and Reno (2010). Dimapan has lead her teams to state/region championships, numerous national bids, a Sunshine National Qualifier Championship, a Northeast Qualifier Championship (Baltimore), a division championship at nationals, gold finishes at the Big South National Qualifier, and two top five finishes at AAU Nationals. 

Dimapan has coached multiple collegiate players including: Gabby Waden, an SEC standout at Mississippi State, Keyairra Stevenson, a former Kennesaw State University standout, second in kills for her team; Cristina Nazario,a former standout setter from Western Carolina; a former Conference Player of the Year Meredith Jones from Queens University; as well as a setter and Professional Player from North Carolina State University Maggie Speaks.]

Playing Experience

With her dad being the men's volleyball coach at her high school, and multiple brothers and cousins playing, Dimapan grew up in a volleyball family.  She played for John F. Kennedy High School in Guam and played for ISA Volleyball Club.  She traveled to tournaments and camps in Japan, Hawaii, California, as well as various Pacific Islands. Garnering a full academic scholarship to the University of Guam, Dimapan was a member of the Guam National Team that competed in the South Pacific Games in 1999. Dimapan also played on winning teams in various indoor power leagues in Columbia and had some top finishes in outdoor grass tournaments in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.