After the big volleyball game on the night of Saturday, November 3, 2018, Coach Mallori Gibson-Rossi got pranked. Her team had just earned a victory over Chico State, so the excitement was now winding down, or so she thought.
Heading out to her car, Coach Mallori noticed something strange in the parking lot outside of the Fitzpatrick Arena. “As my husband and my son walked me out to my car, I noticed a group of people standing near my car and heard them start laughing. As I looked further to the right, I saw my car plastered with post-it notes and saran wrap.” 
Coach Mallori has been so used to being the one behind the prank, rather than being the one getting pranked. “I was completely blindsided by this prank. I was not expecting it at all,” she said.
Initially, Coach Mallori was under the impression that it was The Signal and Warrior Rewind who were behind the prank. It later came to light that Steele was the one who coordinated the prank.
Upon finding out who was behind this prank, Coach Mallori realized that Haley Steele (Senior, Communication Studies) had been in contact with some of her former athletes and teammates and discovered her prankster side. “I guess that’s payback for all the pranks I pulled on my teammates and players. I love enjoying the little things in life, like pranks.”
While Steele was the brains behind the operation, she could not have pulled it off without the help of some of her friends.
Her first recruit was Warrior Rewind producer, Megan Lavilla (Senior, Communication Studies). “Haley Steele contacted me asking if I could help her with something. I said sure…what? And she said she was going to pull a prank on Mallori and being that she’s my best friend and Coach Mallori is pretty dope I decided to get in on it,” Lavilla said. 
Lavilla also wanted to make something clear to Coach Mallori. She said, “It was all Haley’s idea Mallori I swear!”
In addition to Lavilla, Steele recruited Signal reporter, Shardae Mcphearson (Junior, Communication Studies) and her roommate, Kayla Cabral (Junior, Kinesiology Major). These two women enjoyed pulling the prank as they found it to be funny and creative. 
The final member of the team was Signal editor, Emily Hake (Senior, Communication Studies). While most of the team was looking forward to witnessing Coach Mallori’s reaction, Hake had a different opinion. “I don’t know the coach at all so I was just hoping she’d think it was funny.”
While the prank was intended for Coach Mallori, one of her athletes, Chelsey Berry (Sophomore, Communication Studies), was caught off guard as well. “My boyfriend actually told me that he saw people doing stuff to Mal’s car and I was concerned and I asked if should I call her and ask her if she’s seen it.” However, before Berry could take action, she found out that Steele was behind it. “I thought wow you got me, I wonder what her reaction will be.” 
Coach Mallori commended the ladies on their creativity and implementation of the prank, however she had something else she wanted to say specifically to Steele. “You can bet this means war! Your license plate number is easy to remember, Haley!”
This video was filmed by Coach Mallori’s dad, Mike Gibson.