The Tiger volleyball program will be under new guidance in 2009, but there will be minimal change as a familiar face of the program takes over the reins. Tabitha Turner, who was on the staff last year as assistant coach, was brought on board last spring to continue to build upon the past two volleyball campaigns. The 2009 season will launch Turner’s head coaching career.

In 2008, Turner was instrumental in UWA’s 22-11 season and second-straight trip to the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Turner came to the Livingston campus after serving as an assistant volleyball coach at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. The Sea Devils finished 18-5 overall and 16-4 in the Carolinas Junior College Conference in 2007. The Wilmington, N.C.-native was on the United States of America All Armed Forces women’s volleyball staff in the summer of 2008, as the USA squad competed in the 29th World Military Championships in Warendorf, Germany. The Red, White and Blue topped Canada and also stretched The Netherlands to five games. Additionally, Turner has served as a camp counselor and instructor at various volleyball camps in the state of North Carolina.

Turner played collegiate volleyball career at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., from 2003-2006. She played in 107 matches for the Orange and Black, and as a dual position player Turner tabulated over 1,000 kills in her four seasons at CU. During her sophomore campaign, Turner was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference Team after leading the squad in kills (421), kills per game (3.97), service aces (44) and total blocks (490.0). She received conference player of the week honors in October of 2004 and was tabbed to the North Carolina A&T Classic and Virginia Tech Classic All-Tournament Teams. She recorded double-digit kills on 20 different occasions and carded seven double-doubles in 2004. Turner also turned in a career-best performance against Stetson with 29 kills. For her efforts as a sophomore, she was voted CU’s Most Valuable Player in 2004 and was chosen as the Campbell University Women’s Strength and Conditioning Award recipient.

Turner earned her bachelors degree from Campbell in mass communication in 2007. She is the daughter of Roy Turner, Jr., and Rhonda Turner and has one brother, Todd.