Lexington, Ky.----Wingate University senior captain Molly Lambillotte has been named as a recipient of the prestigious AVCA Coaches for Coaches Scholarship and will attend the AVCA National Convention and NCAA Women's National Championships in Columbus, Ohio in December. Lambillotte is one of 18 recipients selected from over 80 applicants. The Coaches for Coaches scholarship program is designed to provide experiences and programs to support collegiate players who aspire to enter the coaching profession upon graduation. 

"I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to attend the AVCA coaching convention," Lambillotte says. "What I am looking forward to the most is being able to connect with and learn from some of the best coaches so that I can further my coaching knowledge. Since being at Wingate I have dreamt of being a collegiate volleyball coach and receiving this scholarship is one step closer towards that dream."

Lambillotte is the fourth Bulldog to earn this prestigious honor, joining Rebecca Bloemer, Alison Cooke and Kori Adams. Cooke and Adams are still coaching volleyball.

"It is an awesome opportunity for Molly to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship," head coach Shelton Collier says. "She is highly motivated and dedicated with regards to her desire to pursue a career as a coach, and her having a chance to attend educational sessions, meet other collegiate coaches, and begin the process of networking within the coaching profession will be great for her in so many ways. When I recommended Molly for the scholarship, I said with great confidence that she has the potential to be a really high-level coach in the future, and I am so pleased she was selected."
 
Collier has arranged to support three other members of the current Wingate team who will attend the convention this year as well. Juniors Maggie Young and Maggie Mullen, who have both expressed an interest in coaching after graduation, were awarded AVCA scholarships and selected to participate in a new first year demonstrators' program for collegiate players. Both Mullen and Young will be coaching this spring in the Carolina Union Volleyball Club. They will assist top coaches with on-court skill and educational sessions, while having an opportunity to attend other seminars and banquet activities at the convention. Mullen and Young were selected to this group of 16 scholarship recipients from over 50 applicants.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association will bring 17 female collegiate student-athletes to the 2021 Convention in Columbus, Ohio, to serve as demonstrators for its on-court educational sessions. This new scholarship opportunity is an example of how the AVCA is responding to the changing NIL landscape to improve on-court presentations at the Convention. In the past, it would not have been possible to pay any expenses for a group of student-athletes to attend the Convention. But, thanks to NIL, the new scholarships will cover event registration and hotel costs to allow the diverse group of 16 players to attend their first AVCA Convention. Each of the 17 demonstrators will participate in 6 on-court sessions throughout the event.

One of the key factors in the selection of the demonstrators was their interest in pursuing a coaching career. In addition to their responsibilities during on-court educational sessions, the group will be able to attend other seminars—many of which focus on professional and personal development for coaches—and learn more about the profession by networking with the hundreds of coaches attending the convention.


The 17 demonstrators are a diverse bunch. They play for 15 different schools in 13 different states, and they represent a good mix of positions and classes, ranging from four sophomores to three graduate students. The demonstrators also come from across the levels of collegiate competition, as there are six Division I players, five Division II players, four Division III players & two, two-year college players.

Graduate student Sophie Schaff will also be attending the convention and will have a role as an administrative intern and will assist with the planning and implementation of the AVCA Talent Showcase as well as other administrative duties.

"For Maggie, Maggie and Sophie, I am so pleased that they will be able to be a part of this incredible experience," Collier says. "They will be able to attend lectures and court sessions presented by some of the top coaches in the country and have a unique opportunity to network and gain valuable experiences from a wide range of coaching professionals."
Former Wingate Players in coaching
Ali Cooke | Assistant Coach – Bowling Green
Shelly Stumpff | Assistant Coach – South Dakota
Phoebe Havenaar | Assistant Coach - UNC
Abby Saehler | Assistant Coach – Grand Canyon
Hannah Givens | Head Coach – Lynchburg
Treslyn Ortiz | Assistant Coach - Lynchburg
Kori Adams | Head Coach - Myers Park high school
Maggie Malone | Head Coach - Providence high school
Corey McGowan | Assistant Coach - Carlow College
Shauna Dixon Teuton | Owner/Director - Ignite Volleyball Club 

"When I reflect on all these former Wingate players who are involved with coaching, it really gives me a great sense of pride that they are now active and influencing other young women as coaches," Collier says. "As for Molly, I believe she has strong potential to be a really good coach at a high level, and with Maggie, Maggie and Sophie, they will certainly have unique opportunities and interactions in Columbus that will help them as they explore career paths in athletics. We are all appreciative that the AVCA has provided these kinds of opportunities for young players, and I know all four of the players going this year are really excited about maximizing their experience."

2021 Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship Recepients
Madeline Beal, University of Mississippi
Brenna Berkimer, Whitworth University
Sierra Burris, Bay High School/Emerald Coast Volleyball Club/Gulf Coast State College
Allison Byler, Morehead State University
Mae Driscoll, Arlington Catholic High School/Mass Impact Volleyball Club
Justin Dueck, Creighton University
Charli Fouts, Texas State Volleyball/United Volleyball Association
Caitlin Genovy, University of Houston
Zach Hendrickson, University of South Carolina
Molly Lambillotte, Wingate University
Rachel Lassey, Dartmouth High School
Kate Lindholm, Bloomsburg University
Dustin Norton, James Madison University
Wesley Sjoerdsma, Coastal Carolina University
Brett Thompson, Mississippi State University
Kristin Watson, Bowling Green State University
Willie Whealen, Saint Louis University
Tilbe Yaglioglu, Eastern Mennonite University
 
List of Demonstrators at AVCA Convention
Kiersten Anderson, University of Tampa, Grad Student, Right Side
Rachel Bartlett, Covenant College, Sophomore, Setter
Sophie Dahn, Ashland University, Senior, Libero
Iva Halacheva, Cowley College, Sophomore, Outside Hitter
Natalie Klotz, Willamette University, Senior, Outside Hitter
Alexa Laurendine, Mississippi College, Junior, Setter
Breylee Linder, University of North Alabama, Junior, Setter
Hannah McGlockton, Georgia Southern University, Senior, Outside Hitter
Rigan McInerney, Laramie County Community College, Sophomore, Outside Hitter
Cara McKenzie, Gonzaga University, Grad Student, Middle Blocker
Sydney Meeker, Cornell College, Senior, Libero
Maggie Mullen, Wingate University, Junior, Libero
Savannah Rennie, Marquette University, Grad Student, Middle Blocker
Amina Shackelford, Butler University, Sophomore, Middle Blocker
Krystal Tranel, Loras College, Senior, Libero
Mya Wilson, Georgia Southern University, Junior, Middle Blocker
Maggie Young, Wingate University, Junior, Middle Blocker


Wingate University
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 24 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.