Rich Named Head Volleyball Coach at Virginia State University

August 9, 2011

Virginia State University has announced the hiring of Ivana Rich as their new head volleyball coach. Rich comes to VSU after serving as the Volunteer Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach at Chowan University, helping lead them to a CIAA championship in 2010.
 
In addition to her assistant coaching experience, Rich also coached club volleyball at MidAtlantic Volleyball Club in Midlothian, Virginia and various camps at Virginia Commonwealth University and Tusculum College. Rich’s philosophy is based on the core goal of using volleyball as an instrument to become a better student-athlete as well as a better person.  
                         
Rich played four years as a part of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) women’s volleyball program playing both middle blocker and right-side hitter. As a senior and captain of the VCU team, she help lead the Lady Rams to their first regular season conference championship in school history and 65th best RPI in the nation. During her tenure at VCU, she was awarded All CAA First Team (2008), All CAA Second Team (2009), All CAA Tournament Team (2009) and COBRA Magazine All-National Third Team (2009). Rich also broke two school records, the VCU all-time blocks record, finishing with a total of 384 blocks in 117 career matches and the single season hitting percentage record charting .332.
 
Rich received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Rich is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Counselor Education from Virginia State University.
 
A native of Cumberland County, Virginia, Rich comes from a family “rich” in athletics. Her oldest brother, Diamand Rich played football for Shenandoah University 09’ and her youngest brother, Jule Rich is entering his sophomore season on the track team at North Carolina State University. Her father, Alfonso Belle, coached football for over twenty years at Cumberland High School and semi-professional football.

Rich is also the daughter of Dr. Michelle Belle, the recipient of the first Doctoral degree from Virginia State University. Rich is a legacy member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.