NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head volleyball coach Melissa Myers announced the hiring of Niece Curry as an assistant volleyball coach on Monday. Curry brings a wealth of experience, having coached at multiple levels and competed as a high-level Division I student-athlete.
Curry comes to Illinois State after serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bucknell. She had previously served as a coach at the club and high school levels following a successful playing career at South Carolina, where she was an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection.
"I look forward to Niece joining our program. She is professional, passionate, and someone who understands what it takes to compete at a high level," Myers said. "I know our team will enjoy getting to know her as much as our staff has throughout this process."
Curry's responsibilities at Bucknell included recruiting, scouting and video analysis. She coordinated team travel, community service, camps and clinics, while assisting with team promotions and media relations. Curry developed an analysis system for evaluating team and player performance, and worked closely with the team's middle blockers, developing a successful blocking scheme specifically tailored to the team. Bucknell ranked second in the Patriot League in blocking in 2013, with two players ranking among the league's top five in blocks.
Curry is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Alliance of Women Coaches (AWC), and is a graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA).
"I am excited to be a part of the Redbird community. I would like to thank (Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Women's Administrator) Leanna Bordner and Coach Myers for this opportunity," Curry said. "It is clear that the ISU athletic administration supports and encourages success on and off the court. With preseason just a few weeks away, I am eager to get started."
Curry was a standout middle blocker at South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks to three NCAA Tournament appearances during her career. She earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2002 and served as a team captain in 2003. Curry set a South Carolina single-season record with a .404 hitting percentage in 2002, while ranking sixth among all Division I players that year.
An accomplished prep volleyball player as well, Curry helped her high school team to a pair of state titles, while twice earning all-state honors. She was included in the "2000 Fab 50 High School Players" in Volleyball Magazine.
A native of Portage, Michigan, Curry earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from South Carolina in 2004. She earned a master's degree in human resources management in 2009.
Curry and the ISU volleyball team kick off the 2014 season at the University of Oregon Tournament on Aug. 29 in Eugene, Oregon.
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