Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament Serves Up Lessons For ACC Massage Students

No one said massage therapy is easy, but occasionally it is a day at the beach.

ACC Massage Therapy Program Director Kara Mirarchi proved that to her students when some of them visited her in the medical tent at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.

ACC Massage Therapy Program Director Kara Mirarchi poses for a photo with pro beach volleyball player Nicole Branagh.

From Aug. 18-23, the city of Long Beach hosted volleyball players from all over the world, including Germany, France, China and Brazil, who were in town to compete for their share of the $800,000 purse. ACC massage therapy students got to meet and talk to the athletes, watch matches, take some photos and — most importantly — learn.

“My substitute teacher brought the students down during the class period and got to meet Dr. Marta Collata (from Long Beach Spine and Rehabilitation Chiropractic Health Center) and Marta talked to them a little bit about what it’s like to be in the medical tent and what credentials you need to work there,” Mirarchi said. “Working with professional athletes from all over the world, in a gorgeous setting and working side-by-side with amazing people, learning things, was dynamite.”

Mirarchi — a medical massage therapist with US Soccer for seven years — said she spent 80 minutes on pro player Nicole Branagh alone, working out all of her kinks and knots.

“We just combed through her body,” Mirarchi said. “She had like four or five different little trouble areas and we got to treat them all. I just love that kind of work, not being on the clock and just being able to give to the athletes.”

When she returned to class the next day, Mirarchi said students were excited about the possibilities of working with elite athletes and seeing their program director in action.

“Barefoot on the beach wasn't their idea of a possible work environment,” Mirarchi said.

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