WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo first-year head volleyball coach Jim Lodes has announced the hiring of Ladi Iya as an assistant to round out his coaching staff entering the 2005 season.

Iya, a native of Nigeria, comes to UB after one year as an assistant coach at Nicholls State University of the Southland Conference where she was responsible for recruiting and academic advising in addition to directing drills and on-the-floor coaching. Iya assumed the position of interim head coach when the Colonels' head coach resigned in March, adding responsibilities such as budget management, scheduling and camp coordination. Iya was also a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Evansville, in 2001 and 2002.

Iya was a four-year letterwinner and one-year team captain at Evansville where she set school and Missouri Valley Conference records in blocking.Iya was a second-team All-Conference selection as a senior in 2000, and she earned Academic All-Conference honors three times in her four-year career. As a senior, she ranked nationally in solo blocks (second, 51) and total blocks (15th, 202), and she was named to the Missouri Valley All-Tournament Team. Her 202 total blocks and 151 block assists in 2000 were both school single-season records. Iya compiled 105 solo blocks and 323 block assists during her career, both currently second all-time at Evansville.

Iya graduated magna cum laude from Evansville in 2001 with a degree in business administration. In the spring of 2002, she was the starting middle blocker for the Grand Rapids Force of the USPV (United States Professional Volleyball League), the only professional volleyball league in the United States. In October 2003, she joined Nigeria's national team, and she represented her country in the Olympic Qualifiers for African nations in January 2004.

"We are fortunate that Ladi has joined the University at Buffalo volleyball staff," said Lodes. "She will be involved in recruiting, court training and office administration. Ladi is charismatic, driven to succeed and will contribute immediately to the future success of our program."

The Bulls open the 2005 season on Saturday, August 27 at Marist.