NEW ORLEANS – Head Coach
Ashley Preston has been named the University of New Orleans Director of Volleyball Operations, a title which includes overseeing both the indoor and beach volleyball programs.
Coach Preston, who is entering her fourth season as the indoor head coach, is coming off a year that saw the Privateers win five of their last seven matches in the regular season. She also guided New Orleans to their first Southland tournament victory against UIW last November.
In her new role, Coach Preston will oversee all day-to-day aspects of the indoor and beach programs, oversee financial management of the program, and assist in recruiting aspects.
Coach Preston also currently serves as the Southland Conference Volleyball Chairperson.
"Ashley has proved to be a great asset to the New Orleans Athletic Department in her time here," said Associate AD for Student-Athlete Services, Phillip Pinkston. "Her experience has allowed her to be a steady, knowledgeable voice as she continues to develop the program and be mentor and role model for coaches as well as her student-athletes- many of whom have competed in both indoor and beach volleyball?. Ashley is an excellent recruiter, and this new role will allow her to grow her impact in many ways. We're looking forward to the new heights the program is primed to reach with Coach Preston leading the way."
A recent inductee into the Morgan State Athletics Hall of Fame (Fall 2023), Preston engineered the fifth biggest win turnaround by a Division I volleyball program in 2022 when she improved the team's win total by 14. That season, the Privateers also had their best home start in school history when they won their first nine home matches of the season.
Under Preston's tutelage, Sheilah Purcell broke the program's career digs per set mark and finished her career at 4.67 digs per set. In '22, the Privateers also had the 13
th most digs per set in the nation as a team with 17.04.
Last year, Preston coached
Karen Cordero Barr who won All-Louisiana Second Team honors and finished in the top five in the conference in kills and aces. Freshman,
Lani Alleman finished in the top ten in the Southland in digs per set.
Courtney Roundtree also finished in the top ten in the conference in hitting percentage last season.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play, and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
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