KENOSHA, Wis. – Leigh Barea, head coach of the Parkside volleyball team, was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 list, as announced by the AVCA on Tuesday. The Thirty Under 30 award honors 30 up-and-coming coaches from all levels of the game.
 
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"I am very humbled and honored to be one of the recipients in this year's class of coaches," Barea said. "I have seen a lot of people I look up to in this profession receive this award and I am very excited to be on the list this year. We are so lucky to have the AVCA who is constantly inspiring and growing the game of volleyball at all levels."
 
"I would not be receiving this award without and hard work of my student-athletes," Barea added. "I also cannot thank the administration for their constant support and trust in me to lead Parkside Volleyball."
 
Barea, who was named the head coach of the Rangers in January of 2018, led Parkside to back-to-back appearances in the GLIAC Tournament in her first two seasons. She raised the team's win total from eight to 11 from 2018 to 2019. Barea saw senior Ann Leo break the all-time record in career digs at Parkside and was named the GLIAC Libero of the Year.
 
"Leigh has been an incredible leader for our volleyball program from the day she accepted the offer to become our head coach," Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin said. "She quickly brought stability to our student-athletes, and the foundation and culture built is exciting as we look to the future of Parkside Volleyball. Leigh remains a rising star in coaching, and we are really excited that star resides 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. 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.
 
Take a look at Barea's latest recruiting class here: https://parksiderangers.com/news/2019/11/27/volleyball-announces-six-signees-to-2020-recruiting-class.aspx