James Finley, head coach of the Seattle University volleyball team, has announced that KC Bennett has joined his coaching staff as an assistant coach and Mary Lou Ames has also joined the Redhawk program as the director of volleyball operations.
Bennett comes to Seattle U after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Oregon State during the 2014 season, helping the Beavers to a 21-13 record and their first-ever advancement into the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. It was Oregon State’s third appearance all-time in the national postseason tournament, and the Beavers finished the year ranked #20 in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
“I chose Seattle University because I wanted to be a part of building a solid foundation for a great program,” said Bennett. “I love the family environment of the school and felt at home with the staff and administration. I am excited to be a part of the future of the volleyball program and the university.”
A middle blocker during her playing career, Bennett was a four-year letterwinner at Louisiana Tech, where she was named to the school’s All-Decade Team. She ranks second all-time in school history in career total blocks with 373, and she averaged 1.11 blocks per set during her sophomore season, the third-highest single season mark in program history. Bennett was a co-captain in both her junior and senior seasons, earned Second Team All-WAC honors as a senior, and received Academic All-WAC recognition in 2009.
After graduating in 2010 with a degree in sociology, Bennett played overseas in 2011 for the Farmacia Malena Volleyball Club in Ciro Marina, Italy, helping the team to a league championship. In 2012-13, she served as the co-head coach and also played as the team’s middle blocker at Durham University, England, helping the club to a league finalist finish. In addition, she played for Club Northhumbria bringing home two national championships.
Bennett’s high school coaching experience began in the fall of 2010 when she returned to Tucson and was an assistant with Rincon-University High School, her alma mater, coaching their freshman team to an undefeated season and assisting with the junior varsity and varsity teams. She continued her high school coaching experience in 2013, serving as the assistant coach for the varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams at Sahuarita High School, along with being the freshman head coach.
"KC brings a passion for excellence along with an understanding of the culture we must continue to build to have a consistent championship program. The experience she gained at Oregon State along with coaching and playing overseas will allow her to have an immediate impact on our players, staff and program," Finley said.
Ames comes to Seattle U after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Shoreline Community College last season. Previously, she had been a high school volleyball coach since 2008, and she played at Edmonds Community College as an opposite hitter from 2004 to 2006. Ames received her bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University in 2010 in social sciences and law and justice, and then she earned her master’s degree in sport leadership from the University of Kentucky in 2013.
“I am very excited to be working at Seattle University, am grateful for the opportunity, and am looking forward to a great season,” said Ames.
"Our program is happy to have Mary expanding our staff. Her understanding and experience with volleyball along with her education will help us be more efficient with the day to day operations. She is a strong addition to our staff that will help us be successful," added Finley.
The Seattle University volleyball team finished with a winning record within the Western Athletic Conference for the second straight season and advanced to the championship match of the WAC Tournament. The Redhawks are expected to bring back an experienced squad for the 2015 campaign, with 10 players who saw action last season returning for another year.