Christy Stegall, a former standout at Fort Mill High School and Newberry College, has been named assistant volleyball coach at Louisiana Tech University.

Stegall, 21, served as the captain at Newberry her senior season and led the team to a 19-9 record, the best in school history.

Matt Sonnichsen, the former head coach at Newberry, brings his former star defender to help a Louisiana Tech program that struggled last year, finishing the season 6-24. Sonnichsen will also enter his first season with the Lady Techster's after only one year as Newberry's coach.

Stegall played for three coaches in her career at Newberry, but formed a bond with Sonnichsen that led to her first coaching position.

"I believe in what he believes in both on and off the court," Stegall said. "I know his philosophy and his way of coaching. I know him and what he expects from his players and what he expects from me."

Stegall said she hopes the players will see her as an intermediary; someone who the girls can talk to about all areas of their college years including school, Sonnichsen's style and life in general.

Sonnichsen believes that Stegall will be a role model for his team. Stegall earned a bachelor's degree in biology as well as achieving three minors while at Newberry. In addition to being a star on the court, she also was active in a sorority and a member of two academic sororities.

"It is good to have someone who has been through it to look to for help," Stegall said.

For her first season to be a successful one, Stegall is looking for improvement from the players. As long as they work hard and try their best, she cannot ask for anything more out of them.

Although Stegall was originally thinking about coaching for a high school team or just coaching part-time, she is now considering making coaching a career. She said she may consider trying to get a head coaching job in the future, but for now she is set on turning around a program with the help of her old coach and learning as much from him as she can.

"I definitely want to always stay in volleyball," Stegall said. "I love the sport, and to stay involved with it is my number one priority. As long as I am happy, I will stay in coaching."