Lake Merchen became a member of the West Valley volleyball program coaching staff in the spring of 2020. Merchen joined the Vikings after leading Aptos High School to the 2019 CIF NorCal and state championship and a distinguished collegiate playing career at UC Santa Cruz.

Merchen is also the Director of the Sand Volleyball Program for the Mountain View Volleyball Club (2017-present) and was an assistant coach at UC Santa Cruz in 2018-2019.

At Buchanan High School in Clovis, Merchen was a member of three Central Section boys volleyball championship teams. He played men's volleyball at UC Santa Cruz from 2014-2018 and graduated as the Slugs' all-time leader in career aces, digs and kills. He was a two-time AVCA First-Team All-American (2016 & 2017) and the UCSC Male Athlete of the Year in 2016 and 2018.

A voracious reader, Merchen says he has, "probably read every book ever written that has zombies in it." His brother Kyle plays D1 volleyball at Call State Northridge.