LEXINGTON, Ky. - Former Alabama A&M student-athlete and current graduate assistant coach Maci Battle has been selected as one of just 18 recipients of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Diversity Award for 2022, as announced by that organization on Thursday, November 3.
 
Established in 2015, the program is designed to continue to move the sport forward with initiatives that lead to substantive change for society while providing development opportunities for AVCA members.
 
To that end, this year's class of Diversity Award recipients will attend the 2022 AVCA Convention in Omaha, Nebraska from December 14-17. While there they will participate in a series of educational seminars - many of which focus on professional and personal development for coaches - and take part in additional key relationship building opportunities.
 
"It is exciting that our award recipients will have the opportunity to join the volleyball community in Omaha this December to learn from all the great coaches and practitioners in attendance," said Nickie Sanlin, McKendree University head men's and women's volleyball coach and chair of the AVCA Diversity Development Team. "We are grateful for the contributions of many generous supporters - from universities and industry partners to individual coaches - who continue to assist with our efforts to advance the sport of volleyball."
 
Battle played for the Bulldogs from 2018-21 and appeared in 83 matches. In that time she averaged 2.97 digs as a libero, registering 772 digs in 260 sets. She is in her first year on head coach Rose Mager-Powell's staff and was sponsored for the honor by the Southern Region USAV.
 
Of the 18 recipients she is one of just three from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) joining Kayla Black, head women's volleyball coach at Philander Smith, and Vivica Price-Spraggins, assistant women's volleyball coach at Xavier University of Louisiana.
 
"Maci Battle is a talented, up and coming coach with a track record of success and the heart of a champion," said head coach Rose Magers-Powell, "This prestigious achievement is for up-and-coming coaches nationwide and is a true testament to her impact on the game thus far and the potential she has. I am proud of her impact on the game and know that her future is very bright as a volleyball coach."
 
ABOUT THE AVCA DIVERSITY AWARD PROGRAM
The Diversity Award program is a key component of the AVCA Diversity Development Team's efforts to advance the sport and continue to move forward with initiatives that lead to substantive change for society and the volleyball community. Including this year's 18 members, the total number of coaches who have received this honor is 131.
 
2022 AVCA DIVERSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS
Maci Battle, Alabama A&M (Graduate Assistant Coach)
Kayla Black, Philander Smith (Head Women's Volleyball Coach)
Alexis Calloway, St. Mary's College of Maryland (Head Women's Volleyball Coach)
Julian Diaz, Essex County Schools of Technology (Boys Head Volleyball Coach)
Andre Foster, Xavier University – Ohio (Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach)
Shatel Gaines, The Academies at Jonesboro High School – Arkansas (Counselor/Assistant Volleyball Coach/Club Director)
Brian Hogg, Lincoln Memorial (Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach)
Ou Huang, Maryland Volleyball Program Club (MVP 16 Black Head Coach)
Adrian Lynch, Blessed Savior Catholic School (Physical Education Teacher/Club Director)
Nicholas Monroe, Academy of Art University (Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach)
Eugene Murray, Pike High School – Indiana (Varsity Girls Head Coach)
Vicia Price-Spraggins, Xavier University of Louisiana (Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach)
Mariah Robinson, Saint Ignatius College Prep – Illinois (Girls Volleyball Head Coach/Boys JV Assistant)
Keydrick Segur, Rider (Volunteer Assistant)
Jeff Thomas, Edgewood (Head Men's Volleyball Coach/Strength & Conditioning Coach)
Penina Tusa, Tea Woman's University (Graduate Assistant)
Amaya Williams, Providence College (Graduate Assistant)
Samantha Worley, West Alabama (Graduate Assistant Coach)