Volleyball’s Trey Cruz Named Associate Head Coach
2/5/2024 3:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice head volleyball coach Genny Volpe has announced the promotion of Trey Cruz to associate head coach.
"I am happy to announce Trey's promotion to associate head coach," Volpe said. "Trey is a very talented and dedicated coach who has proven to be extremely valuable to the Rice volleyball program."
Cruz joined the Owls for the 2023 season, helping Rice to an 18-11 record with a 12-6 mark in AAC play in his first season on South Main. It was Rice's ninth consecutive season with at least 18 wins and 16th straight season finishing above .500 in conference play. The Owls also set the second-best mark in program history for home attendance, averaging 871 fans per contest at Tudor Fieldhouse.
"I'm beyond thrilled for this opportunity to continue building on the national success that Genny has built here at Rice," Cruz said. "I'm incredibly thankful for her leadership and guidance alongside our amazing administration. This place is special and I'm grateful to be a part of it."
Cruz served as the associate head coach at Tulane in 2022 before joining Rice. Prior to Tulane, Cruz spent four seasons as an assistant coach at LSU where he guided the squad in areas of blocking and defense while focusing on the team's overall data metrics. He coached several standout student-athletes to top marks in the Southeastern Conference and assisted in securing Top 25 recruiting classes in 2019 (#13), 2020 (#22), and 2021 (#17).
One of Cruz's most successful student-athletes was the school's all-time kills leader, Taylor Bannister. She was a four-time All-SEC honoree, as well as an All-American in both 2017 and 2019. He also coached the SEC and LSU's all-time dig leader Raigen Cianciulli.
Prior to his indoor coaching stint at LSU, Cruz served as an assistant coach for the LSU beach volleyball program from 2016-2018. During his time on the sand, the Tigers were ranked in the Top 10 nationally after posting back-to-back 27-win seasons in 2017 and 2018. Cruz also served as the assistant volleyball coach at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2015 to 2016.
Cruz earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2013 from LSU and his master's degree in 2015 focusing on human resource & leadership development.
"I am happy to announce Trey's promotion to associate head coach," Volpe said. "Trey is a very talented and dedicated coach who has proven to be extremely valuable to the Rice volleyball program."
Cruz joined the Owls for the 2023 season, helping Rice to an 18-11 record with a 12-6 mark in AAC play in his first season on South Main. It was Rice's ninth consecutive season with at least 18 wins and 16th straight season finishing above .500 in conference play. The Owls also set the second-best mark in program history for home attendance, averaging 871 fans per contest at Tudor Fieldhouse.
"I'm beyond thrilled for this opportunity to continue building on the national success that Genny has built here at Rice," Cruz said. "I'm incredibly thankful for her leadership and guidance alongside our amazing administration. This place is special and I'm grateful to be a part of it."
Cruz served as the associate head coach at Tulane in 2022 before joining Rice. Prior to Tulane, Cruz spent four seasons as an assistant coach at LSU where he guided the squad in areas of blocking and defense while focusing on the team's overall data metrics. He coached several standout student-athletes to top marks in the Southeastern Conference and assisted in securing Top 25 recruiting classes in 2019 (#13), 2020 (#22), and 2021 (#17).
One of Cruz's most successful student-athletes was the school's all-time kills leader, Taylor Bannister. She was a four-time All-SEC honoree, as well as an All-American in both 2017 and 2019. He also coached the SEC and LSU's all-time dig leader Raigen Cianciulli.
Prior to his indoor coaching stint at LSU, Cruz served as an assistant coach for the LSU beach volleyball program from 2016-2018. During his time on the sand, the Tigers were ranked in the Top 10 nationally after posting back-to-back 27-win seasons in 2017 and 2018. Cruz also served as the assistant volleyball coach at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2015 to 2016.
Cruz earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2013 from LSU and his master's degree in 2015 focusing on human resource & leadership development.
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