Ashley Preston Inducted to Morgan State Hall of Fame

Volleyball head coach, Ashley Preston was officially inducted into the Morgan State Hall of Fame along with the class of 2023. The ceremony honoring the newest members of the Hall of Fame took place on Friday.
 
Preston, who is in her third season at the helm of the University of New Orleans was a standout libero with the Bears. She earned First Team All-MEAC honors in three seasons and is still the program's record holder for total digs with 2,066. Preston set the school's single season total digs mark as a sophomore, accruing 640 digs. The previous single season mark was 525.
 
Preston was a three-time recipient of the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Award. Following her junior season Preston also earned the Elijah Rowe Award, which goes to the female athlete with the highest grade point average at Morgan State.
 
The Las Vegas native was honored in the summer of 2008 as Morgan State's representative for the MEAC Woman of the Year Award.
 
Preston is in her 12^th season as a head coach with stops at Spelman College, Coppin State and Cal State Fullerton before coming to New Orleans. Her coaching highlights include guiding Coppin State to a then school record for wins in a season, earning Co-Head Coach of the Year honors in her last season at Fullerton and guiding the Privateers to the fifth biggest win turnaround in Division I during the 2022 season.
 
Preston also had a decorated high school career where she was part of two state championship teams and earned All-Conference honors at Durango High School. Preston won the Silver Scholar Award and was a member of the National Honor Society.
 
 
QUOTES
MAURI CARVER- ASSISTANT COACH, NEW ORLEANS
"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor. When I first talked to Coach P, I knew she was the coach I wanted to end my playing career with. She has a special ability to teach and lead young women while being the biggest hype woman. As a grad transfer I had endured many coaching styles in my career, but none are comparable to the lasting impact she's had on me. Now as a young woman dipping her toes into the coaching world, Coach P has poured into me even more. She creates an environment where you feel safe to make mistakes because you know she'll be right there to pivot that into a learning moment. She encourages you to dream big and reminds her staff daily that we are capable and deserving of reaching our wildest dreams. I am so honored to know her and so excited to cheer for her as loud as she has cheered for me and all her players."
 
PHIL PINKSTON- ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT ATHLETE SERVICES, NEW ORLEANS
"To say Coach P is deserving of this honor is an understatement. In her time as a coach she has been a model leader and has impacted the lives of many while leaving a lasting impression. It's been a pleasure to see her commitment to creating a dope culture and a positive experience for young women up close. Now it's time for her to receive her flowers."
 
NICKY CANNON- HEAD COACH, UC RIVERSIDE
"Ashley is living in her purpose as a representation of what women and especially minority women are capable in the world of Division I athletics. For me, she has not only lit the path, but pushed me through the roadblocks to also live in my purpose of continuing to empower women through and in sport."
 
KEVIN PAIGE- ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS, MORGAN STATE
"For Ashley Preston to be able to add Morgan State Hall of Fame to her list of accomplishments is only right and a well deserved honor. I'm so proud of her and all the hard work she put in on and off the court during her time at Morgan State, as well as all the hard work and dedication she continues to display on the coaching level. It's been a pleasure watching her grow and seeing her success as a student-athlete, as a colleague and as a coach over the years. I'm truly blessed to call her a friend. It will be great to see her as she returns to Morgan State University to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."
 
TIM DUNCAN – VICE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS & RECREATION
"From the first time I spoke to Ashley, I knew she was the coach for our program. We had a volleyball transition after the Covid-delayed Spring 2021 season. Early summer was an unnatural time to hire volleyball coaches in our industry and we were struggling to find the right fit for what our program needed. Kim Gallow, Senior Associate Athletic Director, was the volleyball sport supervisor at the time and kept mentioning the coach who was helping her find us candidates. In every update she kept mentioning Ashley, until one day I said, let's just hire Ashley! She has brought a strong sense of community and great leadership to our program and I am so thrilled she trusted us with her career. Congratulations Ashley on this well-deserved honor!"