Women's volleyball has been preparing for an exciting season, after welcoming a new coaching staff led by head coach Eryn Leja-Martin. Leja-Martin graduated from Concordia in 2012 with a Master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration and returns to Concordia after leading Vanguard and Saint Katherine to a collective 212 wins as head coach.

"Coaching is what I was meant to do," said Leja-Martin, who is joined alongside her sister, Alex Leja, as assistant coach. This season will mark the duo's ninth year coaching together. During those years, they have become an unbreakable team that continues to strengthen and complement each other's abilities as coaches. "I think what's really special is I was also her college coach. She knows me better than anybody and has the experience of playing for me, what I would expect from a player, how to perform, and what it means to play in my program," said Leja-Martin.

Leja-Martin said, "I'm really proud of the staff we've been able to bring in...we have four other really strong women that are part of this, Alex included, that I can already tell are the perfect personalities for this group and for me to help guide this group.”

Senior captains and stellar athletes Kennedy Farley and Kawehi Chang will help drive the Golden Eagles toward success this season. "Coach Eryn and her coaching staff have made the transition very easy," said Farley. "They are such a great fit for the culture we have already built as a team, but they also add so much value and bring their own ideas that make us better.”

This team has been focusing on creating an unbreakable foundation that will strengthen them throughout the season. "To me right now, volleyball is important, but it's kind of secondary to the heartbeat of this team and who we are," said Leja-Martin. "What we are building on right now when there are no games, no stats, no win-loss record, is what will create longevity to get through the next three months.”

Leja-Martin said, "Who can we always revert to and say, ‘This is our team, this is our culture, this is our standard, and this is our heartbeat,' and that's never going to change throughout the course of the year. Volleyball is a product of that.”

Farley echoed these values, saying, "In our first weeks of the season, we have talked a lot about who we want to be as a team and what we want to be known for. Everyone contributes to our culture and it's really great for keeping everyone accountable.”

As the Golden Eagles welcome a new coaching staff, the returning athletes welcome a large freshman class of eight to their roster. As the only seniors on the team who have been part of the Concordia women's volleyball program for four years, Farley and Chang strive to lead this team with excellence.

Chang said, "I am focused on leading this team with a positive mindset that will also push my teammates to compete to the best of our abilities. This starts with building our team culture off the court, which will translate into our gameplay.” 

The Golden Eagles are fine-tuning their skills today, Fri., Aug. 30, and tomorrow, Sat., Aug. 31, as they face CSULA and San Marcos for preseason scrimmages. Before diving into conference play, this team will look toward hosting the annual, three-day Golden Eagle Classic tournament in the CU Arena starting Thu., Sept. 5. 

Women's volleyball will be a team to look out for this fall. "We have big goals this season, and we are determined to work hard and do the small things that will make us successful," said Farley.

To review the women's volleyball schedule and save the dates, visit cuigoldeneagles.com and follow @cuiwvolleyball on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes information on our Golden Eagles.

Tags: women's athletics

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