University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matt Ludtke, UWGB
Wharton Named Volleyball Assistant Coach
Jul 03, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
Head coach Sean Burdette hires former assistant from Green Bay.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Alexa Wharton has joined the University of Memphis volleyball staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, head coach Sean Burdette announced Tuesday. Wharton also served as an assistant for Burdette at Green Bay in 2017.
In her one season in Green Bay, Wharton helped direct the Phoenix to a 17-16 overall record, including a 9-7 Horizon League mark. Green Bay came on strong in the 2017 postseason with a 4-2 record, advancing to the Horizon League championship match and the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) quarterfinal round.
"I am very excited to announce the addition of Alexa to our staff," said Burdette, who took over the reins of the Memphis program in January. "With her background as player and coach at various levels of the NCAA, Alexa is very driven and self-motivated to bring fresh ideas and knowledge to the Tigers volleyball program.
"Alexa was an integral part of my staff and success last year at Green Bay, where we had one of our most successful seasons with a second-consecutive appearance in the Horizon League Championship match and a Final Eight finish in the NIVC Tournament. Alexa, who will be our recruiting coordinator, fits in well with our program's philosophy and what we are looking to build here at Memphis. She has a unique ability to identify talent and find various ways to connect with prospective student-athletes."
Wharton also played a major role in player development at Green Bay. She helped coach two All-Horizon League first team picks (Lydia DeWeese, Taylor Wolf), two Horizon League All-Freshman Team selections (Roberta Todd, Wolf) and an All-Horizon League honorable mention performer (Maddie Yoss). Wolf also was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year.
In addition, DeWeese wrapped up her collegiate career with 1,042 kills and a program-record .353 hitting percentage, and she also led the conference in hitting percentage (.339) in 2017. Yoss led the Horizon League in assists (1,330) and ranked 16th nationally in assists per set (11.38) last season.
"I'm honored to be a part of the Memphis staff," said Wharton. "I'm fortunate to be working with (head coach) Sean (Burdette) again. He's an experienced coach, and he knows the Mid-South area from his time at Ole Miss. I believe Sean will move this program in the right direction, and I'm excited to work with him in helping build a bright future for Tigers volleyball."
Prior to her time in Green Bay, Wharton served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Wharton was a member of the staff that guided the Warhawks to an undefeated home record (32-0), one Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular-season title (2015), back-to-back WIAC Tournament crowns and consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearances over those two campaigns. UW-Whitewater advanced to the 2016 NCAA Division III Sweet 16.
The Warhawks, ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region, were selected to host the NCAA Division III Region Championship both seasons. Wharton assisted in the event management of the regionals.
As the Warhawks assistant that worked with setting/defense, Wharton helped develop American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans at both setter and libero. Before her time at UW-Whitewater, Wharton served as a graduate assistant at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, for the 2014 campaign.
Wharton was a volleyball student-athlete at Heidelberg from 2010-13. A four-year starter at setter, Wharton helped lead The 'Berg to three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) crowns in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012. She was an All-OAC honoree in 2013 and finished her career in the No. 6 spot on Heidelberg's all-time assists chart.
Wharton, a Tiffin native, graduated from Heidelberg with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in May 2014. She earned her Master of Science in Education from UW-Whitewater in May 2017.
The Tigers open the Burdette era in late August with the Memphis Invitational Aug. 24-25. Memphis has 16 home matches scheduled for the 2018 campaign, and all home matches are played at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
In her one season in Green Bay, Wharton helped direct the Phoenix to a 17-16 overall record, including a 9-7 Horizon League mark. Green Bay came on strong in the 2017 postseason with a 4-2 record, advancing to the Horizon League championship match and the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) quarterfinal round.
"I am very excited to announce the addition of Alexa to our staff," said Burdette, who took over the reins of the Memphis program in January. "With her background as player and coach at various levels of the NCAA, Alexa is very driven and self-motivated to bring fresh ideas and knowledge to the Tigers volleyball program.
"Alexa was an integral part of my staff and success last year at Green Bay, where we had one of our most successful seasons with a second-consecutive appearance in the Horizon League Championship match and a Final Eight finish in the NIVC Tournament. Alexa, who will be our recruiting coordinator, fits in well with our program's philosophy and what we are looking to build here at Memphis. She has a unique ability to identify talent and find various ways to connect with prospective student-athletes."
Wharton also played a major role in player development at Green Bay. She helped coach two All-Horizon League first team picks (Lydia DeWeese, Taylor Wolf), two Horizon League All-Freshman Team selections (Roberta Todd, Wolf) and an All-Horizon League honorable mention performer (Maddie Yoss). Wolf also was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year.
In addition, DeWeese wrapped up her collegiate career with 1,042 kills and a program-record .353 hitting percentage, and she also led the conference in hitting percentage (.339) in 2017. Yoss led the Horizon League in assists (1,330) and ranked 16th nationally in assists per set (11.38) last season.
"I'm honored to be a part of the Memphis staff," said Wharton. "I'm fortunate to be working with (head coach) Sean (Burdette) again. He's an experienced coach, and he knows the Mid-South area from his time at Ole Miss. I believe Sean will move this program in the right direction, and I'm excited to work with him in helping build a bright future for Tigers volleyball."
Prior to her time in Green Bay, Wharton served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Wharton was a member of the staff that guided the Warhawks to an undefeated home record (32-0), one Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular-season title (2015), back-to-back WIAC Tournament crowns and consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearances over those two campaigns. UW-Whitewater advanced to the 2016 NCAA Division III Sweet 16.
The Warhawks, ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region, were selected to host the NCAA Division III Region Championship both seasons. Wharton assisted in the event management of the regionals.
As the Warhawks assistant that worked with setting/defense, Wharton helped develop American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans at both setter and libero. Before her time at UW-Whitewater, Wharton served as a graduate assistant at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, for the 2014 campaign.
Wharton was a volleyball student-athlete at Heidelberg from 2010-13. A four-year starter at setter, Wharton helped lead The 'Berg to three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) crowns in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012. She was an All-OAC honoree in 2013 and finished her career in the No. 6 spot on Heidelberg's all-time assists chart.
Wharton, a Tiffin native, graduated from Heidelberg with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in May 2014. She earned her Master of Science in Education from UW-Whitewater in May 2017.
The Tigers open the Burdette era in late August with the Memphis Invitational Aug. 24-25. Memphis has 16 home matches scheduled for the 2018 campaign, and all home matches are played at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
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