Two additions to Saluki volleyball coaching staff carry new hopes for next season

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Two additions to Saluki volleyball coaching staff carry new hopes for next season
Kristina Dailing
Daily Egyptian

SIU volleyball head coach Sonya Locke knew exactly who she wanted to be her new assistant coaches.
So former SIU volleyball player Lenika Vazquez and former Indiana State student assistant volleyball coach Matt Affolder filled the vacancies in the coaching staff, much to the delight of Locke.
Vazquez was hired in February as the first assistant coach. She graduated from SIU in 2002 with a degree in business management.
She played for Locke from 1996 through 1999 as a defensive specialist and was an important part of Locke's 1998 team that finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Vazquez has spent the last two years as head volleyball coach at Carbondale Community High School but is ready to come back to the college level.
"Coming back here is really wonderful," Vazquez said. "I love being back at this level and working with girls I use to play on the team with."
Players are also excited about the opportunity to have Vazquez back on the team as a coach.
"We got a chance to play with Lenika our freshman year," said senior-to-be Kristie Kemner. "She knows a lot of us personally, and she knows what makes us tick."
Since Vazquez knows many of her players, she is ready to help the team improve its skills.
"I think they have all the tools; it's just a matter of them putting it all together," Vazquez said. "I have faith in them, and I know I can help them put those tools to use."
Affolder joined the staff in April from Indiana State where he has been a volunteer coach for the past three years.
He also served as the head coach of Wapahani High School in Selma, Ind., from 1996-98 and coached SIU's all-time assist leader Debbie Barr, a former teammate of Vazquez, as an assistant varsity coach from 1993-95 at Muncie Central High School in Muncie, Ind. Affolder also coached the Munciana Volleyball Club for seven years.
After he graduated from Indiana State with a degree in political science, he sent out resumes until Locke offered him a job at SIU. He had been watching the SIU program and Locke closely for three years and was ready to make the step up to assistant coach.
"I knew that coaching was my next step," Affolder said. "It's what I wanted to do, and Sonya offered me the opportunity."
With nine years of coaching experience and connections in the MVC, Locke expects Affolder to play a large role in recruitment, which is especially important because there are five seniors on the team.
"I knew I was going to get someone who could help me train the team at a higher level and help to bring players in," Locke said.
Affolder also knew many of the players and had seen them play by being a MVC opponent and because of his own recruitment of many of the girls. He hopes this knowledge will help him bring excitement and experience to the team.
"I think I can put my two cents in and help out with getting us to be a top team in the MVC," Affolder said.
Players are also looking forward to what he will bring to the team. His involvement in the MVC is helpful in knowing against what teams SIU will play.
"He will be a great part of the team," said senior Lindsey Schultz. "Matt knows a lot about our conference and our competition because of his experience at Indiana State."
Locke expects a lot from the new staff and knows that they will bring a lot to SIU Athletics.
"There aren't any hopes and dreams," Locke said. "I know what it is that they can bring to the staff. I feel very blessed to have both of them and we will see what happens."

Reporter Kristina Dailing can be reached at kdailing@dailyegyptian.com

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