LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Jan. 31, 2023) – The Georgian Court Volleyball sideline will have a slightly different, yet still familiar feel in the 2023 season. Former Lion player and assistant coach Shana Rayside has been hired as the sixth Georgian Court Volleyball Head Coach in program history, Athletics Director Daniel Sempkowski announced today.

Sempkowski, the Lions head coach for the previous 11 years, stepped down following the 2022 season to serve solely as the Georgian Court University Athletic Director. He was serving both roles during the 2022 Lions Volleyball season. That created a vacancy at the head coaching position and after a three-month search Georgian Court is proud to announce the hiring of Shana Rayside to the position.

"We are excited about Shana Rayside stepping into the role of Head Coach," commented Sempkowski. "As an alum and Assistant Coach of the program, she is 100% bought into the values of this university and athletic department. Throughout the interview process, Shana made it very clear that the high expectations on and off the court will remain for the volleyball program. I am looking forward to the future success of this program with Shana at the helm."

Rayside spent four seasons, 2016-19, wearing the blue and gold as a rightside hitter. As a senior captain, she led the Lions to the 2019 CACC Tournament Championship and to the NCAA Regional Tournament. Her career totals include 686 kills, 277 blocks, 844.5 points and a .205 attack percentage. As a senior she made the All-CACC Second Team and the CACC All-Tournament Team. Her 277 blocks are still the fifth-most all-time at Georgian Court.

Following her playing days, Rayside took to coaching. The 2022 season was Rayside's first on the GCU sidelines, but she has a wide array of coaching experience. She was a seasonal coach at both the Ocean County Volleyball Club and the Shore Volleyball Academy in Toms River. In March of 2021, Rayside was an Assistant Coach at Red Bank Catholic High School and she returned to her alma mater in August, 2022 to assist Coach Sempkowski and the Lions.

"I am beyond excited to start another new journey here at Georgian Court," said Rayside! "I want to thank Coach Sempkowski and the athletic department for trusting me with this new role. Walking into the arena at GCU brings back all my memories from undergrad and I cannot wait to make new memories from a different perspective. With Coach Ulrich by my side, going from my coach to now my coworker, I cannot wait to see the milestones we get to build together with this team!" 

A New Jersey native, Rayside graduated at nearby Lakewood High School before coming to Georgian Court. In between her stops at Georgian Court, Rayside paid a visit to our neighbors across the Atlantic. She earned a Master's Degree in Psychology while playing as a graduate student at the University of East London in London, England.

Since Sempkowski stepped down in November, Rayside has taken over as the Lions recruiting coordinator. She will remain in that role as the Head Coach and Assistant Coach Jason Ulrich will return to the staff for a 10^th season in his same position. Rayside will start February 1^st and can be reached at 848-218-2870 or by email at srayside@georgian.edu. Her office is located inside the GCU Athletics offices in the Wellness Center.