Schmiedel takes over Aggies program after spending two seasons as the assistant

GREENSBORO, April 13. 2007 – North Carolina A&T Athletics Director Dee Todd announced today that Lyndsay Schmiedel will be promoted to head interim volleyball coach. Schmiedel had served as the Aggies assistant the past two seasons before earning the promotion.

The Aggies volleyball team was 16-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference over those two seasons, including an appearance in the MEAC Championship game in 2005. Schmiedel, 24, will be entering her first season as head coach of a collegiate program.

Before arriving at N.C. A&T, Schmiedel served as an assistant volleyball coach at Christopher Newport in Newport News, Va. In her only season there, Schmiedel helped CNU win the USA South Atlantic Conference Championship as well as the regular-season conference title. The Captains also advanced to the Division III NCAA regionals.

During her collegiate career, Schmiedel was a four-year starter at setter for the Akron Zips. When she graduated in 2004, she was third on the Zips all-time assists list. Schmiedel is a Livonia, Mich., native, and she attended Livonia High School where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

“I’m looking forward to next season,’’ said Schmiedel. “I’m happy to still be working with my team, and I’m happy to be their head coach at North Carolina A&T. I think we have a great group of student-athletes on the team. I’m expecting a lot from them next year. I think from working with them before, they already have experienced my coaching style and they respect it, so I think it should be an easy transition.”

The Aggies return three starters next season, including versatile setter Brenden Chatman. They also lose three starters to graduation in all-time kills leader Arlene Mitchell, sister Darlene Mitchell and defensive standout Lauren Walker.