Head coach Kendall Rainey will enter her third season at UVa-Wise with sights set on improving the club's 2010 mark. A year ago, UVa-Wise started the season 0-4 but came together as a squad and opened the Mid-South slate by winning their first two conference matches. The Cavaliers made strides after a rough 2009 campaign and showed improvmentin the ultra competitive Mid-South Conference, finishing 5-8 in conference play and 11-23 overall.

In 2011, Rainey will look to improve on last year's success and continue the ascension of the UVa-Wise program. Three-time all conference performer Mikaela Anders returns at middle hitter to lead the offensive attack. To complement Anders, senior Megan Funk and junior Autumn Chisenhall will be counted on to turn the Cavalier program into one of the top Mid-South Conference teams. Overall, Rainey will be working with a very young squad this season. The team will consist of nine freshman, one sophomore, four juniors, and two seniors. 

The third year coach was a two sport standout during her playing days at UVa-Wise. Rainey earned NAIA All-Region XII and All-Appalachian Athletic Conference acclaim in both volleyball and softball while playing for UVa-Wise.  On the court, she received All-Region XII and All-AAC status as a senior and made the All-AAC Tournament team in 2002 and 2003. Rainey was also Academic All-AAC three seasons. The former Cav still holds the school career records for assists (3,431) and aces (137) and season assists per game (13.00/gm in 2004).

On the diamond, Rainey was a NSCA All-America honoree her last two seasons as well as a three-time All-Region and four-time All-AAC pick.  She was also named the AAC "Champion of Character" in 2005 and Academic All-AAC her final three seasons. Rainey maintains the program's career records for runs scored (157) and stolen bases (87) and runs in a season (52), in 2005.

Coach Rainey graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPA in business administration at UVa-Wise in May of 2005.  She earned the Stanley Botts Award for Business Administration and Outstanding Achievement in Business Administration award at UVa-Wise. She was also a Darden Honor Society member during her time as a student.

The volleyball coach added a master's degree in sport studies with a concentration in sport management from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville in May of 2007.  She is currently working on her Ph.D. in sport studies with a concentration in sport sociology also from The University of Tennessee.

Former UVa-Wise Cavalier Kristen Salyer returns to the position of assistant volleyball coach at her alma mater this season. The all conference performer served as the assistant coach last season under head coach Kendall Rainey. Salyer played for the Cavaliers from 2005-2008 where she achieved All-Appalachian Athletic Conference and All-Region XII honors. During her player career, she also aided the school to its only national tournament appearance in 2007.

A Gate City, Virginia native, Salyer graduated from UVa-Wise in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. Salyer currently resides in Wise, Virginia.