LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Tabitha Turner as Assistant Volleyball Coach effective August 1, 2008. 

Turner comes to the Livingston campus after serving as 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.  The Wilmington, N.C.-native was also on the United States of America All-Armed Forces women’s volleyball staff.  The USA squad competed in the 29^th World Military Championships in Warendorf, Germany.  The Red, White and Blue topped Canada and stretched The Netherlands to five games before falling in the fifth game.  Turner has served as a camp counselor and instructor at various volleyball camps in the state of North Carolina.

Turner finished her intercollegiate volleyball career at Campbell University in 2006.  At the Buies Creek, N.C. institution, Turner played under the tutelage of new UWA coach Nathan Baker when he was on the Fighting Camels volleyball staff from 2003-06.  She played in 107 matches for the Orange and Black.  As a dual position player, as an outside and middle hitter, Turner tabulated 491 kills in her four seasons at CU.  During her sophomore campaign, Turner was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Second 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 Aggie Classic All-Tournament Team.  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 Most Valuable Player and was chosen as the Campbell University Women’s Strength and Conditioning Award recipient.  Turner quickly made the transition from high school to the collegiate level, ranking third on the team in kills and was named to the Virginia Tech Hokie Classic All-Tournament Team.

Off the court at CU, Turner served as a summer intern with the Fighting Camels Sports Marketing department.  She helped plan and develop marketing promotions for fall sports along with maintaining inventory for CU merchandise. Last spring she helped run the promotions for spring athletic events on campus.

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