Photo by: Greg Mintel
Speaks Returns to Wolfpack Volleyball as Volunteer Assistant
3/7/2019 3:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Former All-Region & All-ACC setter returns to the program
RALEIGH, N.C. – Former NC State volleyball AVCA All-Region and All-ACC Selection Maggie Speaks has returned to the program as a volunteer assistant, head coach Linda Hampton-Keith announced Thursday.
"I'm so excited to add Maggie to our staff," said Hampton-Keith. "With her international and professional playing experience, along with her history here with Wolfpack Volleyball, she will be an invaluable addition to our gym and staff.
"As a coach, one of the most rewarding things is to have former athletes give back to the sport and I'm thrilled that Maggie can continue impacting our program beyond her playing years."
Speaks turned in a stellar career with the Wolfpack at the setter position as she dished out 3,240 assists, the second most in the rally-scoring era and fifth most in NC State history. Following her senior season, she was tabbed an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region selection and was a Second Team All-ACC Selection.
"Linda reached out to me in January and asked what my plans were, and I said that I wanted to play again," Speaks said. "With this opportunity, it gives me a chance to help out because the team needed another setter in practice and train as well, so it's a win-win situation."
She handed out the third-most assists in the conference with 1,148 in 2016, the second-highest total by an individual in NC State's rally-scoring era at the time. Speaks ranked among the top 50 in the NCAA with 10.63 assists per set and orchestrated an NC State offense that finished the season with the second-best attacking percentage in the program's rally-scoring era at .226.
The Camden, S.C., native set the Wolfpack rally-scoring era record at the time with 64 assists in NC State's five-set win against SMU that season.
After graduating with a degree in communication, Speaks signed to play professionally in Greece with the Makedones Axiou Club. She also has international playing experience with Team USA, as she competed in the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Learning from my professional experiences, I think I have something extra to bring to the table and I played for Linda and the staff here, so it makes it a better connection. I don't have to come in and relearn the style and what they expect from the players."
NC State is next in action at its third spring tournament, which will be held on Sunday, March 31 at 10 a.m. inside James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.
"I'm so excited to add Maggie to our staff," said Hampton-Keith. "With her international and professional playing experience, along with her history here with Wolfpack Volleyball, she will be an invaluable addition to our gym and staff.
"As a coach, one of the most rewarding things is to have former athletes give back to the sport and I'm thrilled that Maggie can continue impacting our program beyond her playing years."
Speaks turned in a stellar career with the Wolfpack at the setter position as she dished out 3,240 assists, the second most in the rally-scoring era and fifth most in NC State history. Following her senior season, she was tabbed an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region selection and was a Second Team All-ACC Selection.
"Linda reached out to me in January and asked what my plans were, and I said that I wanted to play again," Speaks said. "With this opportunity, it gives me a chance to help out because the team needed another setter in practice and train as well, so it's a win-win situation."
She handed out the third-most assists in the conference with 1,148 in 2016, the second-highest total by an individual in NC State's rally-scoring era at the time. Speaks ranked among the top 50 in the NCAA with 10.63 assists per set and orchestrated an NC State offense that finished the season with the second-best attacking percentage in the program's rally-scoring era at .226.
The Camden, S.C., native set the Wolfpack rally-scoring era record at the time with 64 assists in NC State's five-set win against SMU that season.
After graduating with a degree in communication, Speaks signed to play professionally in Greece with the Makedones Axiou Club. She also has international playing experience with Team USA, as she competed in the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan.
"Learning from my professional experiences, I think I have something extra to bring to the table and I played for Linda and the staff here, so it makes it a better connection. I don't have to come in and relearn the style and what they expect from the players."
NC State is next in action at its third spring tournament, which will be held on Sunday, March 31 at 10 a.m. inside James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.
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