LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball program has announced the addition of Jocelyn Mahayag to the coaching staff as an assistant coach, announced by head coach John Schmidt. 

"We are very blessed to have Jocelyn join the staff here at UWA. She brings a wealth of passion and enthusiasm for the game and compliments the staff with strengths in areas that need more attention. As a program, we instill principles for all areas of the game and on defense we call it 'attitude'," said  Schmidt.

Most recently, Mahayag served as head varsity volleyball coach at the Emery/Weiner School in Houston, Texas. Away from the court, she also served as a middle school physical education teacher and assisted the athletic department in creating social media content. 

Prior to her time in the Lone Star State, she spent the 2022 season as an assistant volleyball coach at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. At the NCAA Division III institution, the program went 24-10 en route to the MAC Freedom Tournament Championship and a second round appearance at the NCAA Championships. 

Working primarily with the defenders, she coached Bailey Axelrad to Defensive Player of the Year honors. 

Her collegiate career included three stops at Truett McConnell University (Ga.), Georgia State University and the University of Mobile (Ala.). Playing in 128 matches (400 sets), she averaged nearly five digs a set with 1,981 in her career. 

In her first season of college competition at NAIA Truett McConnell, she was a First Team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference with a nation-best 6.48 digs in 101 sets. She was also voted as the AAC Freshman of the Year. 

After a season with Division I Georgia State, where she played in 54 sets, she returned to the NAIA ranks at Mobile for two seasons and was a two-time Southern States Athletic Conference First Team selection and an All-Region member by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. 

In 2017, she was named to the SSAC All-Tournament Team as she was a part of the tournament championship and qualified for the NAIA Tournament. 

"With her background as a libero in college and playing overseas, she definitely brings the tools and knowledge to instill the 'attitude' on defense complimenting the offense we are implementing. Her personality and character fit in perfectly with the program. We lean on our beliefs to create a strong foundation of family and we are excited to welcome her to the family," said Schmidt.

Mahayag graduated from Mobile in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in communications.