January 29, 2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

SMC Names Former USC Upstate Player As Head Volleyball Coach

Harry Hopes to Lead 2007 Lady Pioneers to Regional, National Success

SPARTANBURG, SC -- Spartanburg Methodist College has hired Brittany Harry to coach its Lady Pioneers volleyball team starting in the 2007-2008 season.

Harry played from 2002-2005 on the USC Upstate women’s volleyball team, serving as team captain in its 2005 season. She is a two-time USC Upstate Defensive Player of the Year for women’s volleyball, as well as the the team’s second all-time digs leader. She was also named to second team of the All Peach Belt Conference in 2005.

While at USC Upstate, Harry also served as a special advisor to the USC Upstate Student Athletic Advisory Committee. She currently serves as a scorekeeper and in sales and promotions for the Spartanburg Crickets, and has held a sports information internship with the USC Upstate athletic department.

She anticipates receiving a B.A. in Communications, with an emphasis in Journalism, from USC Upstate this spring.

“I am extremely excited about being named the head volleyball coach here at Spartanburg Methodist College. Being from Illinois, I come from a completely different volleyball background than most of the players here at SMC.  I am very eager to spread my ‘Northern’ knowledge here in the South,” says Harry.

Her coaching experience includes working as a Wofford College summer camp volleyball coach, as head coach for the high school age girls volleyball club at Club South Volleyball in Spartanburg, and as a summer volleyball camp coach while attending high school at Champaign Central High School in Champaign, Illinois. She has also worked as a sports desk clerk at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.

Harry is currently working on her first recruiting class and has a verbal commitment from Torrie Criminger, a 4-A All State player from Rock Hill.

Harry says she has big plans for the Lady Pioneers’ volleyball team and is working with the team this spring.

“I see no reason why we shouldn't win every match in the fall.  With the motivated returners and a strong recruiting class I feel as though we should not only dominate our region, but also dominate on the national scene.  A national championship will definitely be on the top of our to-do list in the fall,” she says.

SMC athletic director Mark Perdue says that Harry’s skills and leadership will be of great value to her as head coach of the Lady Pioneers’ volleyball team.

“Brittany is a highly motivated young lady and a very talented volleyball player. We are very glad that she has become a member of the SMC family and welcome her on board. We look forward to a very successful 2007 season under Brittany’s leadership,” says Perdue.

Harry is a native of Illinois, and resides in Spartanburg.   

For more information, contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.

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