The Elon volleyball workforce welcomed again a well-recognized face this season as Haylie Clark returned to campus. After graduating in 2022, Clark, who made her mark as a standout participant at Elon from 2018 to 2022, has returned as an assistant coach.
Excited to deliver her expertise full circle, Clark remarked that she’s thrilled to be a part of the workforce as soon as extra, this day without work the court docket. As a student-athlete, she excelled beneath head coach Mary Tendler, incomes honors just like the 2021 CAA Setter of the 12 months and a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Affiliation Second Group.
Her spectacular stats included 349 kills, 879 digs, 142 blocks, and 113 aces, along with her 2,838 assists rating her fifth in Elon’s historical past. She even led the workforce to the CAA Match Championship sport in 2021. Earlier than returning to Elon, Clark honed her teaching abilities at Bucknell College, specializing in offensive methods.
Now, she’s again to bolster Elon’s volleyball legacy along with her contemporary perspective and training experience.
Clark’s Triumphant Return to Elon
The return of Haylie Clark to Elon as an assistant coach is a major win for the volleyball workforce. Her profession as an Elon participant was marked by quite a few achievements, together with main the workforce to the CAA Match Championship sport in 2021 and incomes a fifth-place report for assists in Elon’s historical past.
After graduating, Clark spent a 12 months gaining useful teaching expertise at Bucknell College, which Tendler believes was invaluable for her progress. She described Clark as having a great thoughts for the sport, making her an asset to the teaching employees.
Returning to Elon was a pure determination for Clark, pushed by her love for the neighborhood and the supportive setting that helps student-athletes excel each on and off the court docket. Having performed with a number of present workforce members, Clark discovered the transition to teaching easy, given her established relationships with the gamers. Her capacity to narrate to the present gamers and perceive what it’s prefer to be of their sneakers is seen as a useful asset in her teaching.
Coach Tendler appreciates the distinctive perspective Clark brings, emphasizing her aggressive spirit and loyalty to this system. As they work to construct this system, each Tendler and Clark are optimistic about the way forward for Elon volleyball. Tendler believes Clark’s background as a participant at Elon makes her the right recruiter for brand spanking new expertise, as her ardour for the college is palpable.
As they strategize for the upcoming season, very like a sportsbook analyzing groups for the perfect odds, they purpose to harness these parts to foster profitable outcomes and sustainable progress within the volleyball program. Clark’s return symbolizes not only a homecoming however a contemporary chapter in Elon Volleyball’s journey towards excellence.