SOMERS, Wis. – UW-Parkside athletics, along with Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin, are pleased to announce the hiring of Leigh Barea as the new head volleyball coach.

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"We could not be more excited about the future of the Parkside Volleyball program under the direction of Coach Barea," Gavin said. "Her success in the sport as a coach and student-athlete, enthusiasm for Division II volleyball, and her focus on creating a positive and competitive environment for our student-athletes resonated throughout the time she spent with the search committee and our student-athletes and staff."

"First, I want to thank Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin, Associate AD Wendy Wilson, and the search committee for the opportunity to lead the University of Wisconsin-Parkside volleyball team," Barea said.  "Also, I would like to thank Terry Gamble (Jacksonville State head coach) for preparing me and encouraging to pursue this opportunity. I feel it is a huge honor and a blessing to be named the head coach at Parkside."

Barea, a Battle Creek, Mich., native, served as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State from July 2015 to January 2018 where she was the Gamecocks' recruiting coordinator and was the lead contact for the academics of the program. While at JSU,  Barea helped the program back to a winning tradition, as the Gamecocks made back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Tournaments in 2016-17 and saw the team go 23-13 last season. She coach a pair of 1,000-kill club members in Allyson Zuhlke and Charis Ludkte

"From the moment the position came open and as I did more research about the University, community and Athletic Department, I had a great feeling about wanting to be a member of the Ranger family," Barea added. "When I met with the committee and Andrew and they shared their plans and visions, it felt right. I am excited about this opportunity and looking forward to meeting the student-athletes and continuing to build a Championship program."

Barea was a standout at Lewis University during her playing career from 2011 to 2014. She was a four-year starting setter and three-year team captain for the Flyers. She was a three-time All-Conference honoree, two-time Academic All-Conference selection and helped Lewis to four straight NCAA appearances and three-straight regular season championships. She ranks first all-time at Lewis in assists and seventh in digs.

"Given our location in a volleyball hotbed and our impending move into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, we were not surprised to attract an exceptional pool of candidates," Gavin said. "I know that our volleyball student-athletes and our campus and local community will enjoy getting to know Leigh as much as we did throughout the process."

Barea earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy from Lewis in May of 2015 and went on to earn her Master of Science in Sport Management from Jacksonville State in December of 2017 with a perfect 4.0 GPA.