Wallace State Volleyball 2023-2024

The Wallace State volleyball tradition stretches back more than 30 years ago, when it was introduced at the school in 1989. Over the years, the program has received 26 Coach of the Year awards, while producing 27 conference MVPs and 14 All-Americans.

Wallace State volleyball teams have earned conference/district championships 23 times, earning them a conference-best 21 appearances at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament. Numerous members of the program have continued their athletic and academic careers after signing with 4-year institutions.

Under coach Randy Daniel, Wallace State volleyball wrote another successful chapter to its conference dominance during the 2022 season. The Lions finished the season with a 38-9 record, winning their 15th consecutive ACCC/Region 22 regular-season title and 13th conference tournament title in 16 seasons. The Lions extended their home conference match winning streak to 126.

Sophomore outside hitter Daisy Manasco (Fairview High School) had a Honorable Mention All-American year with leading the team with 385 kills, and 416 digs in 2022. Alexis Shadix (West Point High School), Grace Allen (Smiths Station High School) and Gracie Barksdale (Cullman High School) were Region 22 All-Tournament selections. Freshman Anna Claire Hutto (Lawrence County High School) lead the team with 920 assist and was also selected 2nd Team All-Conference. Other key freshman team members was Alexis Weber (Alexandria High School) with 170 kills, and 64 blocks, and Marley Wakefield (Corner High School) was second on the team with 657 assist and lead the team with 57 aces.

Sophomore setter Savannah Rutledge solidified her spot as one of the most successful players in program history. Rutledge was named a NJCAA Division I 2nd-team All-American for the second consecutive season after establishing the program's single-season (1,795) and career (2,792) assists mark. Rutledge's 1,795 assists in 2021 were tops in the nation, and she added 371 digs. Rutledge was also the 2021 ACCC Player of the Year and made the ACCC and Gulf Atlantic District All-Tournament teams. Rutledge became the second player in program history to earn NJCAA All-American recognition in consecutive seasons, joining Erica Baker (2011-12).

Sophomores Temperance Chatman and Haven Hall also capped stellar Wallace State careers.

Chatman, a libero from Jasper, set the program's single-season and career marks for digs, racking up 855 digs during the season and closing her career with 1,449 digs. Chatman was an All-ACCC 1st-team selection and named to the ACCC and Gulf Atlantic District All-Tournament teams.

Hall, an outside hitter from Geraldine, had a conference-best 528 kills – the third-best single-season mark in program history. Hall, who also added 118 digs, was an All-ACCC 1st-team selection and the 2021 ACCC Tournament MVP.

Wallace State volleyball is also a stalwart in the classroom. Daniel's team produced a conference-best and second nationally with a 3.84 GPA for the 2021-2022 academic year, earning them NJCAA honorable mention All-Academic team honors. Achieving a 4.0 GPA on that team were Grace Allen, Megan Edmond, Daisy Manasco, Chloe Shadden, Alexis Weber, Marley Wakefield, Makayla Lindsey, Ryleigh Jones, Amillia Tucker.

Daniel, who became the program's all-time winningest coach in 2013, has been the one constant behind Wallace State's conference dominance over the past decade and a half. He surpassed the 500-win plateau during the 2021 spring season and maintains a 590-121 career record after 16 seasons with the program. Daniel has been awarded District L/M Coach of the year from 2010-2023, ACCC Coach of the Year eight times since 2008.

Daniel has coached 10 ACCC "Player of the Years," 12 ACCC Tournament MVPs, one 1st-team NJCAA All-American, four 2nd-team NJCAA All-Americans, eight NJCAA Honorable Mention All-Americans and 78 All-Region players in 16 seasons. Prior to Daniel's tenure at Wallace State, he spent 10 years coaching in the high school ranks. He won a state championship in 2001 at Winston County High School and finished runner-up in 2003. His former players currently hold numerous records in the AHSAA statistical categories, and many others are ranked very highly.

Wallace State volleyball has produced NJCAA All-Americans under Daniel since 2009. Along with Daisy Manasco in 2022, Rutledge being selected to the 2nd team for two straight seasons, Lexie Riggins was 2nd-teamer in 2018. Abby Borden was an honorable mention selection in 2017. Kelsey Bivins (2016) and CeCe Hall (2015) were named 2nd-team NJCAA All-Americans in consecutive years. Syretha Pride was a 1st-team NJCAA All-American in 2014 and Breanna Thompson an honorable mention selection. Kianna Delaney earned a honorable mention recognition in 2013, Erica Baker in both 2011 and 2012, Lesley Bemis in 2011, Taulise Dunklin in 2010 and Cassie Daniels in 2009. In 2010, Wallace State put together a school-record 53 wins and set single-season team marks in kills, assists, digs and blocks.

Coach Daniel has a B.S. degree in Comprehensive Science from The University of Alabama and a Master's degree in Education from Montana State University. In addition to coaching the Lions, he teaches geology for Wallace State.

For more information, contact:

Randy Daniel, Wallace State Volleyball Coach
Phone: 256.352.8351
Email: randy.daniel@wallacestate.edu