By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

SEATTLE, Wash. – Last month, Juniata College women's volleyball senior Rachelle Wiegand (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches 4 Coaches (C4C) scholarship. The scholarship allows new or aspiring coaches to attend their first AVCA convention. This week, Wiegand joined over 2,000 volleyball coaches in Seattle, Wash., to attend seminars and panels discussing a broad range of issues and advancements in coaching today.

"You can fill your entire day here going to seminars and listening to other coaches," said Wiegand. "Here you have the opportunity to go to the court and watch these great coaches do demonstrations. I had the chance to listen to the UCLA staff and hear from their full time sports psychologist. They're creating a new culture of humble yet determined players and it's really interesting to hear about how they are doing that. It's really interesting to compare what I learned and what I experienced at Juniata to what other elite programs are doing and there's a lot of cross over. That's both comforting and enlightening for me going forward into this career."

The Manheim, Pa. native will graduate this spring from Juniata completing a Program of Emphasis (P.O.E.) in communication sports administration. Wiegand looks to be a collegiate volleyball coach after graduation.

"I've learned that in coaching it's extremely important to find a good mentor," said Wiegand. "Being here is allowing me to meet people that I might not have ever been able to shake hands with. I've met coaches from all over the country, some of the biggest names in our sport, and people have been really helpful. I never would have been here with out [assistant coach] Steph Strauss pushing me towards the Coaches 4 Coaches scholarship. I can't thank her enough for pointing me in the right direction."

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