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Post by FU73 on Mar 20, 2023 10:29:28 GMT -5
A veteran with more than 30 years of coaching experience, Nancy Somera has been named the head coach of Fairfield Volleyball, as announced on Friday by Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. Somera has head coaching experience at Oregon State and South Carolina, and most recently built the program at Johnson & Wales to a perennial contender at the NCAA Division III level. "After a comprehensive national search, we are excited to announce Nancy as the next leader of Fairfield Volleyball," said Schlickmann. "Nancy has an extensive and accomplished background as a student-athlete, coach and administrator at multiple levels of collegiate volleyball. She is widely respected in the sport as a teacher of the game and has a proven track record of building and sustaining successful programs. Nancy's holistic approach to coaching aligns with our University and department values to recruit and develop young women who achieve not only on the court, but in the classroom, in the community and in their professional and personal lives after volleyball. I am confident that Coach Somera will continue to build upon the great tradition and success synonymous with Fairfield Volleyball."Somera's most recent head coaching tenure was at Johnson & Wales, where she oversaw the most successful stretch in Wildcats history from 2014-21. After a 17-16 record in her first campaign in Providence, her 2015 squad went 23-8 overall and 10-1 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference to begin a streak of six consecutive GNAC Championships and NCAA postseason appearances. The Wildcats went undefeated in conference play in five straight years, reaching the NCAA Division III Elite Eight in 2017 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2018 and 2019. In eight seasons at Johnson & Wales, Somera compiled a record of 190-43 (.815) overall and 76-6 (.927) in GNAC play. She was named the 2017 AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year and a three-time GNAC and AVCA New England Region Coach of the Year. She also coached the first five All-Americans in program history. Somera had additional responsibilities as an Assistant Director of Athletics and the Senior Woman Administrator at Johnson & Wales. "It's an exciting time to be joining Fairfield Athletics. The brand-new Mahoney Arena is an impressive venue for our student-athletes to train and compete in, and from a fan's perspective, its amenities provide a fun and entertaining experience for students and Stags supporters," said Somera. "I appreciate Paul Schlickmann's and Alison Sexton's belief in me as the next leader of the program. My competitive values line up with those that have been envisioned for the department under the administration's leadership, and it is evident that the staff is committed to providing the best possible student-athlete experience it can. I believe Fairfield's growing academic reputation nationally, along with its emphasis in the holistic development of its students, will attract top talent to the program. I look forward to growing the program's strong tradition of success."fairfieldstags.com/news/2023/3/20/womens-volleyball-nancy-somera-named-head-coach-of-fairfield-volleyball.aspx
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Post by stags74 on Mar 20, 2023 15:29:30 GMT -5
Yawn, Not impressed with this hire replacing Todd Kress. Would have been impressed with an assistant from a B10, B12 or Pac10 team. Essentially a D3 coach perhaps in the twi- light of her coaching career? She has big shoes to fill as VB is the most successful varsity sport at FF. If she can keep the returning team intact ( no transfers) then she will have a good chance to be successful at least next season because Coach Kress kept the team well stocked with good players. After that season the question will be can she recruit and restock annually as Kress did. She has a wonderful venue in the Mahoney arena to show potential recruits. Good luck to coach Somera!!
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Post by ctghostman on Mar 20, 2023 17:05:42 GMT -5
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Post by brokenboat on Mar 20, 2023 18:03:43 GMT -5
Wish her nothing but success but on paper looks to be a disappointing hire. Has not been around a D-1 program since 2013 - that’s a long time ago!
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Post by stags74 on Mar 21, 2023 15:40:12 GMT -5
I asked an administrator recently when the new VB coach would be named. The reply was the process is moving slowly but the wait would be worth it. Not sure I agree. Coach Somera needs to be able to recruit and restock annually like coach Kress to keep what is FF most successful program rolling along.
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Post by stagthomas on Mar 21, 2023 20:23:51 GMT -5
Not a current hot commodity type hire. Cheap (our MO). But why? We spend $50+ million on a new arena and then don't spend up for talent? Just mind boggling.
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Post by Stagophile on Mar 21, 2023 22:01:33 GMT -5
Not a current hot commodity type hire. Cheap (our MO). But why? We spend $50+ million on a new arena and then don't spend up for talent? Just mind boggling. We, meaning the alumni donors, spent the money. The schools and relevant administrators spent very little. The CAA and A10 looked past the facade of our brand new basketball and lacrosse facilities and saw an administration that was not really serious about athletics. The alumni donors need to step up and demand accountability. Nemec's silence has been very disappointing. I expected more from him.
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Post by FU73 on Apr 3, 2023 10:39:38 GMT -5
Brendan McGourn has joined the Fairfield University Volleyball staff as an Assistant Coach, as announced on Monday by Head Coach Nancy Somera. McGourn spent eight years as an assistant at Yale University and also coaches at Northeast Volleyball Club in Norwalk. On the court, McGourn will direct the Fairfield setters and manage the Stags' blocking scheme. McGourn won back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships as a student-athlete at Springfield College in 2011 and 2012. After graduating from Springfield in May of 2013, he joined the coaching staff and helped lead the Pride to a third consecutive national title that fall. "Brendan is an experienced, knowledgeable coach who will be able to take the reins in several areas of the program with little training or guidance from me," said Somera. "His skill set complements mine well, and I'm excited to work with him to shape the program into one that blends our strengths and brings out the best in our student-athletes."The Stags will enter the Fall of 2023 season as winners of four straight MAAC Regular Season Championships. The campaign will be their first inside the on-campus Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
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Post by paulie74 on Apr 3, 2023 11:00:22 GMT -5
First look at VB at the LEO. Looking Good!😎
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Post by FU73 on Apr 3, 2023 12:01:25 GMT -5
At least the volleyball won't be bouncing off the scoreboard in AH anymore.
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Post by stags74 on Apr 3, 2023 17:16:54 GMT -5
McGouran perhaps help recruit Somera’s daughter to Yale. Her daughter is an all Ivy League libero. I hope both of these coaches can recruit and continue the pipeline of good VB players coming to FF.
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Post by stag76 on May 21, 2023 6:24:25 GMT -5
A commitment from a libero entering her senior HS year in the Dallas Texas area. delaneymoon.com/A suggestion: The next upgrade to this board, we give baseball and volleyball their own sections. They’ve been outstanding programs the past few years and seem to generate a lot of interest from those who post on this board.
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Post by stags74 on May 21, 2023 9:55:35 GMT -5
Recruiting a 5’-3” libero is good. She could be a replacement for Kyla Berg the stags very good rising senior libero. However the stags desperately need size upfront as the stags lost four front line players from last years team. Cooper, Daniels , Johnson graduated and Gardiner transferred. If Coach Somera is going to be successful as was Coach Kress she needs to be able to do three things that Coach Kress was outstanding at: Recruit, Recruit, Recruit.
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Post by stags74 on May 21, 2023 15:37:04 GMT -5
This recruit committed when Todd Kress was the HC at FF.
Daniella Suarez ’23 Commits to Play Volleyball at Fairfield
Daniella Suarez ’23 Commits to Play Volleyball at Fairfield Nov 14 2022 Daniella Suarez ’23 has officially committed to Fairfield University to play volleyball. An official commit happens when a college-bound student-athlete agrees to play sports for a college and has signed a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is binding on the student-athlete and the school.
Daniella began playing volleyball at 11 years old. At 12 she began playing for Coach Geiser. She has played on the varsity volleyball team all four years at Holy Cross and was named WCAC Second Team in 2021 and 2022. She has also played on MSVA Vortex and Metro Volleyball Club of DC, ranked 16th in the country. Daniella is also the president of the Holy Cross Student Council Executive Board.
Daniella says, "I am so excited to be committed to be a part of such an amazing and supportive program. Thank you to everyone in the Holy Cross community! You have all built me into a strong player and person. Thank you to my friends and family for showing their constant support for me! Thank you, God, for blessing me to continue the sport I love! I don't know where I would be without you! Stags Up!" O
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Post by stag76 on Jul 5, 2023 9:15:00 GMT -5
Volleyball announces their first two home games at Mahoney.
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