WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Former Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball standout Briana Walsh has returned to the team as its new assistant coach.
Walsh, a former libero and outside attacker on the team during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, began her new duties June 2. Her hiring is pending approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its June 20 meeting. She replaces Crystal Stigler, who returned earlier this spring to her home state of Texas.
“I couldn’t be happier to be back in West Plains working with such a talented coaching staff and hard working group of girls,” Walsh said. “One of the things that drew me to this school when I played here was the overwhelming support from this community. It is nice to be back and see that nothing has changed!”
Walsh began her collegiate career as a libero for the Grizzlies before moving to the outside attacker position. She helped guide the team to two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 16 championships, as well as seventh and second place finishes, respectively at the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournament in 2008 and 2009. She also earned All-Region 16 honors in both of her seasons with the team.
“The memories I made with my teammates those two years are something that I will always cherish,” she said. “There was something special about those teams. We were mentally and physically tough, always supporting each other on and off the court. It is all about buying into what the program stands for, and we did that. I look forward to showing this group of girls how far those qualities can take them.”
Walsh came to the Grizzlies as a player from Clever High School in Clever, Mo., where she was a three-sport athlete. She finished her collegiate career at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., where she earned All-HAAC honors her junior and senior seasons and All-American accolades her senior year. She used her fifth year of eligibility playing basketball for the Crusaders, becoming only the second athlete in the last 10 years to play on two different athletic teams at the university and the first one in a decade to serve as a starter on both squads.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Sport Management degree from Evangel and is currently working on her master’s degree in secondary education. She is expected to graduate with that degree from Evangel in spring 2015.
“I’m very excited to have Bri back as part of the Grizzly Volleyball family,” Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said. “She has a passion for the game of volleyball and a love for teaching. She understands what our program represents on and off the court and the goals we want to achieve, and she knows what it takes to get there. She made an impact on our program as a player, and I have no doubt she will do the same in her position as assistant coach. Her level of enthusiasm and the attitude she brings with her every day will make an impression on our players.”
Walsh said that playing for the Grizzlies taught her how to be disciplined and the importance of paying attention to detail. “The qualities I learned here as a player have carried over into every aspect of my life. I am looking forward to coaching and learning from Head Coach Paula Wiedemann. She knows exactly what it takes to win, and I know first hand that there is a reason for everything we do. It is an honor to be in this position.”
For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit the team’s website at http://wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/vb/.