The volleyball team added a new face to their team this past season with a new goal in mind – defense.

Head coach Lori Bennett hired Amy Schreiber last May as her new assistant coach.

Schreiber previously worked at the University of Maine as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She also coached at other smaller programs from different colleges, clubs and high schools before coming to Eastern this spring.

She admitted that the level of play in the Ohio Valley Conference is different than she was ever used to at other schools.

“From the level of play, the OVC, is a lot stronger than the America East conference,” Schreiber said. “The level of play at Eastern is a lot stronger than from where I was coming from [previously]. The style of play here is different, and we play a different and more effective offense here. [The offense] is a bit quicker [here].”

The Eastern players have been happy with the Bennett’s choice to hire Schreiber.

“I think the general consensus is that the team is happy with what Schreiber has brought to the team,” senior outside hitter Eliza Zwettler said.

Zwettler said her new assistant coach has already brought a lot more to the table.

“She has helped us in many areas, but especially with blocking,” Zwettler said. “Blocking is so important. She has been helping our middle hitters and she does a good job at it because that’s the position she used to play.”

Schreiber graduated from the Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2003.

Schreiber was also a one-year letter winner for the 1997 IUPUI volleyball team before she transferred to play her last three seasons of college ball at Mercer University, earning team captain honors all three years and in 2000 recorded a program-best 58 service aces. Schreiber described her captain honors as being “cool” and helping direct her towards coaching.

“I played as a middle hitter, and I was a captain and being a captain was cool for me,” Schreiber said. “Since I was young I knew I wanted to coach. On and off the floor I was directed towards coaching. Then I coached high school and club and [then] I knew I wanted to advance to the college level.”

At Eastern, Schreiber has several different responsibilities as the assistant coach during the matches as well as the normal duties for preparation in games.

“Things that I do include travel and tape exchange [that are office work],” Schrieber said. “During matches I track our opponents’ offense and I communicate that to our defense. I train middle hitters and focus a bit of time on blocking. Our training is an extension of Coach Bennett and most of it is communicating that they need to perform and do things they can do as well as they can.”

Another change in her transition to Eastern is that the athletic department supports volleyball and recruits differently.

“We’re well supported by the athletic department, and recruiting is different here,” Schreiber said. “You have to enhance your strength and we can draw from kids in our backyard [of Illinois]. Eastern has a lot to offer and we keep those strong athletes here.”