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Shawn Mahmoudi Named Utica Head Volleyball Coach
Story and Photo Courtesy of the Empire 8 Site
Utica College Athletic Director Jim Spartano named Shawn
Mahmoudi head women’s volleyball coach Tuesday. Mahmoudi
comes to Utica after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at
nearby Syracuse University.
“Utica College is excited to welcome Shawn into our family
and we believe she is the best fit to guide our volleyball program
into the future,” said Spartano. “Her experience as a
player, and most recently as an assistant coach, speaks for itself.
We had several great candidates apply for the position and we felt
Shawn would provide our student-athletes with the best possible
experience.”
In her first season as an assistant at Syracuse she mentored Sarah
Morton, who was an All-Big East First Team selection, after leading
the nation in solo and total blocks. Morton finished her career as
the University’s all-time leader in solo blocks, block
assists, total blocks and blocks per set. Mahmoudi also guided the
Syracuse defensive unit to a top ten finish nationally, after
averaging 2.83 blocks per set.
In the Fall of 2010, she helped the Orange to four tournament
titles, and a program-best 17-0 start.
Mahmoudi is a 2006 graduate of Seton Hall University where she
played three seasons of BIG EAST volleyball for the Pirates. As a
middle blocker, she played in 158 career games and totaled 334
kills for an average of 2.40 kills per game. She also registered
111 total blocks, and closed out her final season ranking ninth in
the Big East with 1.08 blocks per game.
Originally from Allen, Texas, she also held club coaching and
administrative experience prior to her two seasons at Syracuse. She
coached on the club level with Niagara Frontier before founding her
own Central New York club team called Empire Volleyball.
Mauhmoudi currently resides in Utica with her fiancé Ben
Crossley. For more information about Utica College volleyball you
can contact Coach Mahmoudi at 315-223-2540 or you can e-mail her
at: stmahmou@utica.edu.
