Fairfax, Va.- Sam Greenslade, a standout former outside hitter for George Mason University’s men’s volleyball team, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the Patriots. This move marks a significant return for Greenslade, who previously earned First Team All-EIVA honors in 2019 and Second Team accolades in 2020 and 2021. During his tenure at George Mason, he amassed 174 kills, 22 service aces, and 126 digs in the 2021 season alone, solidifying his reputation as a dynamic and versatile player. 

“I am excited and grateful to be back in the Mason community”, said Sam Greenslade. “This program changed my life as a player, and I cannot wait to give my heart back to it as a coach. Thank you to Jay and the Mason Athletic Department for trusting me in this role. I am eager to get to work. Go Mason!”

Before returning to George Mason, Sam Greenslade served as an assistant coach for Winthrop University’s women’s volleyball team, where he played a key role in the program’s resurgence. In his 2023 season, he helped guide the Eagles to the Big South Championship match and a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), their first since 2019. Under his leadership, the team ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage, points, assists, and kills. Greenslade was also instrumental in player development, notably helping Sasha Ratliff earn All-SEC and AVCA South All-Region honors and guiding Payton Brgoch to a top-four single-season blocks record in program history.

Greenslade’s journey from player to coach has been marked by impressive achievements. After graduating in 2020, he furthered his education with a graduate certificate in Business Analytics and a Master’s in Sports Analytics. His coaching career began at the University of Mississippi, where he contributed to a remarkable turnaround, helping the Rebels improve from a 1-19 record in 2020-21 to 21-9 in 2021. Under his guidance, Ole Miss set multiple program records, including total team blocks and attacking percentage, and secured an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Greenslade’s appointment is expected to bring a wealth of experience and a player-centric approach to the Patriots’ program. His deep understanding of the game, combined with his leadership skills and analytical expertise, positions him to make a significant impact on the team’s development and success in the upcoming seasons.

“I am extremely excited to bring Sam back home as an assistant coach for the program! Sam was not only a great player for us, earning numerous accolades over his time here, but also a great teammate, and student”, said head coach Jay Hosack. “These experiences will no doubt help him connect with the athletes on the team as he will be a valuable resource for them to learn what it takes to be successful here at George Mason! As for coaching, Sam knows what I like in our gym and he will bring an inherent knowledge of what it takes to be successful here. He will bring another strong voice that will help guide these young men into becoming champions, and we can’t wait to get him in the gym!

DALLAS – Following a standout senior season, both on the course and in the community, Abbie Lee has been named the winner of the Spring Conference USA Spirit of Service Award, announced by the league office Thursday afternoon. The award honors student-athletes who continuously give back through community service endeavors, good academic standing and participation in their respective sports. Award recipients are nominated by their institutions.
 
Senior Lee dedicates her off-course time to a number of causes while serving as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at MTSU. She helped organize a donation drive for MTSU student-athletes to take part in for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Teddy Bear Toss and fundraised for Ascension St. Thomas for new and expecting mothers. The Glasgow, Ky., native also helped make over 200 meals for local hospital staffs during the holiday break and over 250 meals for local children in need during Student Government’s Big Event. With SAAC, Lee led a department-wide food drive for local Murfreesboro food banks to get student-athletes more involved in the community.
 
A true scholar, Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering with a minor in mathematics this past semester, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a three-time CUSA All-Academic First Team selection and a two-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar.
 
On the links, Lee had a phenomenal season which culminated in her earning All-CUSA Second Team honors. Her 73.09 scoring average enters the record books as the third-lowest single season scoring average in program history and she closed out the spring season with four-straight top 10 finishes, including a fifth place finish at the CUSA Championships, earning her a nod to the All-Tournament Team.
 
2024-25 Spring Spirit of Service Award Recipients
Ethan Riley, Outdoor Track and Field, FIU
Ella Tuomela, Women’s Tennis, Jacksonville State
Ema Baraniakova, Women’s Tennis, Kennesaw State
Daniella O’Neill Garcia, Women’s Tennis, Liberty
Alannah Rogers, Softball, Louisiana Tech
Abbie Lee, Women’s Golf, Middle Tennessee
Emma Schuber, Beach Volleyball, UTEP
Averi Cline, Women’s Golf, WKU
 

As the fourth set started, both Wayland and Westfield went point for point, up until Wayland took a 6-5 lead. As the set progressed, Wayland took over with an impressive rally and kill by senior Cooper Sazamazenta to make the score 10-7 in favor of Wayland. In the back and forth affair, Westfield tied the game 11-11. The set had many momentum shifts throughout, but ultimately Wayland took a late 22-18 lead after an incredulous point. Three points away from Wayland’s second straight state championship appearance, they kept the momentum in their favor and closed out the game, winning the set 25-18.