Wingate’s Bloemer selected as coach for USA Volleyball clinics in Haiti

WINGATE, N.C. - Wingate University graduate assistant volleyball coach Rebecca Bloemer is in the early stages of her new coaching career. In recent days, she received exciting news that will certainly jump start her entry into the profession. She has been selected to represent USA Volleyball for a series on clinics to be conducted in Haiti in early July.

Bloemer completed a highly successful volleyball career at Wingate last fall and graduated with honors in May. This fall, she will be taking on a new role as the top assistant coach under head coach Shelton Collier. Last week, Collier received an inquiry from USA staff coach Tom Hogan regarding potential candidates for the Haiti experience. Hogan has been a long-time assistant coach for Collier on a number of USA Youth National teams; most recently, Hogan was the assistant coach for the USA Olympic women's team that won the silver medal in 2008 in China.

"My first thought, when I received the inquiry about recommending someone for the trip, was Rebecca," Collier says. "She has tremendous potential to be an outstanding coach; even more importantly, she has so many exceptional personal qualities. These attributes led me to recommend her as an ideal candidate for this unique and exciting experience. I know she will embrace this unique opportunity with regards to her development as a volleyball coach, but also because of her sincere interest in helping others."

Hogan will be acting as the head coach for the clinic tour. USA Volleyball will be partnering with Haiti Street/Child in Hand to put on the clinics in several cities in Haiti. The concept of the clinics will be to help hundreds of Haitian coaches and athletes learn more about volleyball, while at the same time, drawing attention to the needs of the country devastated by recent disasters. The coaching staff will visit orphanages in Port-au Prince, followed by a series of player and coaches clinics in several villages. Joining Hogan and Bloemer will be USA National team player Tracey Stalls.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime," Bloemer says. "I am so appreciative to Coach Collier for recommending me. I am thankful to Tom Hogan for selecting me for such an amazing experience. Of course, having a chance to conduct clinics alongside some of the top people in the volleyball profession is exciting, but it is also really motivating for me to have an opportunity to be a part of the relief efforts and the incredible work done by the Child in Hand Organization."

Bloemer will be departing July 5 and returning July 10. The coaching staff will be bringing a variety of food and clothing items for children at the orphanages. More information on the Haiti Street project and the Child in Hand organization can be found on their website at www.childinhand.org.

In her four-year career at Wingate, Bloemer led the team to four consecutive South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament championships and an impressive overall record of 138-8. Last fall, she captained the Bulldogs to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. In December, Bloemer was selected as one of four student-athletes to receive the AVCA Coaches for Coaches Scholarship, which paid for her expenses to attend the AVCA Convention and NCAA Division I volleyball Final Four in Kansas City, Mo.