Volleyball pro Merritt Beason returns to Gardendale as head coach

GARDENDALE, Ala. (WBRC) – A Gardendale High School legend, NCAA All-American, and current professional volleyball player is returning to her alma mater as head coach.

Merritt Beason, Gardendale High School c/o ‘21, is preparing for her first season leading the Rockets.

“A bunch of the girls that are actually going to be seniors and juniors this year, I was doing private lessons for in my driveway before I left for college,” said Beason.

And once Beason left for college, she made a name for herself on a national scale. Beason began her career at Florida and ended as an All-American at Nebraska, leading the Cornhuskers to back-to-back final four appearances. Beason is now a professional volleyball player after being selected first overall in the 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation Draft (PFV).

While Beason has been a private coach for years, this is her first time leading a team for a full season.

“The goal is to ultimately change the goal in Gardendale, and to me that looks more than just a year. Obviously, you can’t build a historic program in a year,” said Beason.

Beason played for the Atlanta Vibe last year in the PVF. She says it is yet to be determined which team she will play for in 2026.

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