January 22, 2001
Former Texas A&M volleyball standout Genny Wood-Volpe (pronounced VOLE-pee) is returning to Aggieland as assistant volleyball coach, A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli announced today. Wood-Volpe replaces former three-year assistant coach Nicole Lantagne, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Miami last August.
"It was exciting when John (Corbelli, associate head coach) and I realized that Genny might have an interest in coming back to A&M to join our staff," Corbelli said. "There is a certain comfort level and trust already there because she is a good friend, as well as a loyal Aggie, and she also is very sharp, dedicated and team oriented. I know she is the perfect person for our program."
"I have so much respect for Texas A&M and for Laurie and John and how they have developed the volleyball program," Wood-Volpe said. "And with their tremendous reputation and knowledge, I know it is only going to get better, and it will be special for me to be a part of it.
"I gained great experience at SMU, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and to also work with Laurie and John. It's just a great fit all around."
Wood-Volpe comes to A&M from Southern Methodist University, where she has served as first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since the volleyball program began in 1996. After posting a 7-24 record in their inaugural season, the Mustangs went 15-19 in 1997, winning their quadrant in the Western Athletic Conference and qualifying for the WAC Tournament. In only its fourth year of existence, the SMU volleyball team achieved its first 20-win season, going 20-13 and placing an all-time high fourth in the conference standings.
Prior to joining head coach Lisa Seifert at SMU, Wood-Volpe served as an assistant coach at Rice in 1995, helping direct the Owls to their first postseason bid as they were selected to play in the NIVC tournament. Wood-Volpe served as a student assistant coach under Corbelli at A&M in 1994 as the Aggies advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
An all-around talented athlete, Wood-Volpe was a four-year letterwinner as a setter and outside hitter at Texas A&M from 1990-93. She quickly developed into one of the best defensive players in the Southwest Conference and led the Aggies in digs for three consecutive seasons. A two-year team captain, Wood-Volpe capped her stellar A&M playing career by leading the Aggies to a 27-8 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament as a senior.
Wood-Volpe's name is still scattered throughout the A&M record books and she remains the Aggie all-time record holder for most matches played (140) and most games played (488). In addition, she is ranked third in career digs (1,403), and sixth in both career assists (2,309) and career service aces (123).
Wood-Volpe continues to compete in the USA Volleyball Nationals, and last summer was named to the all-tournament first team as her team captured the Women's AA Gold Division national championship. She also was named All-American first team at the 1997 U.S. Open Tournament after her team finished runner-up in the Women's Open Gold Division.
The San Antonio, Texas, native received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from A&M in 1995 and a master's degree in liberal arts from SMU in 1999. Born July 28, 1972, she married John Volpe on May 22, 1999.