Women's College Volleyball
Broncs Add Baccari as Assistant Coach

LAWRENCEVILLE--Melissa Baccari has been named assistant coach of the Rider University volleyball team, head coach Christopher Feliciano announced.

Baccari comes to Rider from the Downstate Juniors Volleyball Club where she served as head coach of the under 17 national team that placed first in the region and earned a national bid.

"We are really excited to have Melissa join our staff," said Feliciano who is in his first season.  "Anytime you can add a coach that has had Division I playing experience and has also won multiple regional championships, it is a real bonus."

"I am very pleased to join the staff," Baccari said.  "The opportunity to take a team and make it something great and relevant to the University is very exciting.  I'm looking to help change the culture and outlook of the program."

Baccari graduated from Mercy College in New York with a Criminal Justice degree after starting her career at Maryland Eastern Shore.

Baccari also coached the 12 and under national volleyball squad for Downstate Juniors that placed third.

Baccari works with the High Performance GEVA team; the first GEVA team developed for this region and was a select coach at the World Volleyball Training Center.

"Melissa's preparation is phenomenal and her match strategy is creative," Feliciano added.  "She views each match in many parts and that will allow our incoming freshmen to make the transition to the Division I level with ease."

Rider opens the 2011 season August 26-27 at the Terrier Invitational hosted by St. Francis (NY) and the Broncs open the home schedule on August 31 against Lehigh at 6pm in Alumni Gymnasium.

Rider welcomes back eight letterwinners from the 2010 squad.

-RU-