Aug. 14, 2012

RUSTON, La. - Former Louisiana Tech volleyball standout KC Clayton recently signed on to coach for the Durham University volleyball team based out of Durham, England.

Clayton will have the opportunity to not only coach the team, but she will also get the chance to extend her volleyball playing career with Durham during the season while studying to get her master's degree at the university.

"The day Durham University told me I was going to be able to play on the team, as well as coach the team, was incredible," Clayton said. "I have missed playing in college, and granted, it will not be the same as playing Division I volleyball, but I am excited to be playing for a school again."

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Clayton spent time coaching in her home state after graduating from Tech in 2010 before continuing her playing career overseas.

Clayton played professionally with Volley Farmica Malena in Ciro, Marina, Italy after coaching stints with her former high school, Rincon/University High School, and club team, Zona Volleyball Club in Arizona. She was an integral part of Volley Farmica Malena's league championship in 2011, which propelled the squad to a higher division for the following season.

While at Tech, Clayton earned All-WAC and All-Louisiana honors, including an academic All-WAC award in 2009.

In her collegiate career, the middle blocker finished with 373 blocks, ranking her second all-time in the program's history.

Clayton said the experience she gained in her time as a Lady Techster is unmatched and helped her continue her playing career professionally.

"I had two coaches while playing for Tech and I think that they both prepared me in different ways to be successful after graduation," she said.

The Louisiana Tech volleyball team kicks off its 2012 campaign August 24 against Central Arkansas in the Southern Miss Invitational.

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