LIVINGSTON, Ala. – It will be a busy start to the fall for the West Alabama volleyball team. After recently returning to the court and wrapping-up the first week of fall camp, the Tigers will begin the season in Kentucky on Aug. 26 competing in the Kentucky State Tournament.
An all-new coaching staff is set to guide UWA this year with head coach John Schmidt bringing with him over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to Livingston. Schmidt arrives from Kansas where he served as the assistant volleyball coach at Seward County Community College. Prior to that stop, Schmidt helped put together an impressive turnaround at Brescia University in Kentucky taking a team that had 18 losses the year before and winning the conference title the next year with 27 victories.
The top-three offensive statistical leaders are back from the 2021 year to lead the Tigers this coming season. Nathalia Medeiros paced the team with 202 kills and 214 points. Madison Fisher added 162 kills and 188 points, while Amelia Johnigan collected 111 kills and 156 points, including tying for a team-high 24 service aces. Johnigan was also second on the team with 31 blocks.
Desiree Blount and Maddie Van Dyke spent time leading the team at setter in 2021 and are back for this season. Blount dished out a team-high 394 assists, while Van Dyke added 260.
MacKenzie Wells leads the back row again after pacing the team with 354 digs. Fisher added 155, Quiara Dunson with 141, and Blount with 137.
Following three straight non-conference tournaments to open the season in three different states, UWA will have their first home match on Sep. 13 against Union, which will also be the Gulf South Conference opener, starting at 6 p.m.
