The volleyball team at Plymouth State University has their eyes set on a deep post-season run, yet again, under their exceptional Head Coach, Moira Long. With 15 wins lying in their wake, and a returning nucleus of healthy players, Long and her players are riding high, and loving life, as they gear up for the exciting stretch run of the 2007 volleyball campaign.
In her tenth year on the staff, Long has piloted the Panthers to many of the most ground-breaking season successes in the program’s history. These successes included their first five post-season appearances over the past five seasons and a 2004 NCAA tournament berth. With a 223-117 overall record in nine years as the Head Coach of PSU, Long has won 20 matches seven times, and posted winning campaigns every single season.
“The dedication of my players to winning and working hard has been a main reason why we have been successful over these past few seasons. I like to recruit players who are passionate about the sport and these players are able to set the ‘Plymouth State Volleyball’ tone for other generations of girls who will play.”
A current resident of Campton, NH, Long was voted Little East Coach of the Year in 2002 after the squad made its first post-season berth in the ECAC North Championship. From there, the squad has not looked back, making appearances in post-season play every year since.
Long is a native of Billerica, MA., and graduated from Marist College in 1994, after being a four-year starter on their volleyball team, “I knew I wanted to try to play volleyball when my sixth grade history teacher kind of pushed me in that direction. I was a soccer player before that,” said Long, “I had to make a decision in high school whether to play soccer or volleyball because they fall on the same season, so I went with volleyball. Many were shocked, but I think I made the right choice.”
At Marist, Long knew she wanted to stick with the sport any way she could, and she was given the opportunity to do just that when she was asked to guide the men’s club team, throwing her right into the coaching ranks for the first time.
After Marist, Long attended Springfield College, earning her degree in Sports Management, as well as serving as a graduate assistant in 1996, then an interim Head Coach for their program in 1997, “I feel I really identified with coaching at Springfield, I had a great time and an amazing mentor, so I stuck with it.” After that, Long coached the Men’s club team at Western New England College from 1995 to 1996 and then served as the Head Coach at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. for one season in 1997.
Long has also accumulated many achievements in the sport outside of coaching. She served as the president of the New England Women’s Volleyball Coaches Association, the chair of the NCAA Division III Regional Volleyball Committee, and the vice-chair on the NCAA National Volleyball Committee.
She has resided in her Campton home for seven years now with her husband Joe Long, who serves as the PSU Alumni Director, and her two children, “I love New Hampshire, and Campton,” said Long. “I am originally from MA and there was a bit of an adjustment period when I came to New Hampshire, but it would be hard to go back because the quality of life is simply better up here.”
As for the season at hand, Long and her players feel they have been refocused after a tough loss to Keene. “We stepped back, and re-evaluated our goals at that point. I think we have been able to adjust from that point because the experience that we have as players has been critical in helping us to make these adjustments based on strong team awareness.”
Long’s ability to keep her squad in contention every season may have something to do with her resolute belief in the abilities of her players. “Going into every season I feel we have a chance to contend for the LEC championship. We have great girls who can put us in positions to win yearly.”
PSU and Coach Long currently are in the middle of the conference standings, but control their-own destiny as their final few games include two LEC bottom-dwellers in UMass Boston and UMass Dartmouth. At the same time, conference leading Keene State is entering a tough stretch as they will meet Rhode Island College who is poised to knock off the Owls, setting the Panthers in a good position, according to Long, “I think we could end up second, third or fourth in the conference but all of these teams are beatable, and I think we can match-up well with Keene if it comes down to it but we’ll play anyone.” The PSU style is very active defensively, and Long credits this playing style for their ability to stay in matches and win. “We tend to be able to frustrate teams with our play,” said Long about her team. “We need to serve with a purpose and play solid defense and we’ll be fine. When we play hard we can beat anyone!”
Coach Long is one of those kinds of people that many strive all their lives to become, she loves her job, her home, and her life in general and she puts much of the reason square on the shoulders of her team. “I love coming to work every day and working with some of the most amazing girls in the world. They make me laugh so much. I’m lucky to have this job and my life up here; my team reminds me of that every day.”
Get excited, students and fans, for your PSU volleyball team under Coach Long as they get set to contend, once again, in 2007!