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Merry Graf enters her 21st season as the women’s volleyball HC at Webster University
Courtesy: Ben Economon

Merry Graf enters her 21st season as the women’s volleyball HC at Webster University

SAINT LOUIS — Merry Graf enters her 21st season as the head women’s volleyball coach at Webster University in 2021-22. The Gorloks have won the SLIAC Tournament eight times in the past 14 seasons, automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships in all of their SLIAC Tournament title years.

Webster was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 15th year and 13th consecutive season in 2020-21 while compiling an impressive 3.67 team GPA.

During the 2020-21 season that was played in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gorloks went 12-5 overall and 10-3 in the SLIAC and were the No. 3 seed in the SLIAC Tournament. Along the way during the season, the Gorloks were nationally ranked in the AVCA Division III coaches poll for five weeks, including making it as high as No. 14 for two consecutive weeks. In addtion, the Gorloks won the Bronze Bracket consolation title at the AVCA Division III National Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind.

In 2019, the Gorloks posted a 17-12 record and went 14-4 in the SLIAC and finished third in the league standings and advanced to the SLIAC Tournament for 16th consecutive season.

Graf has been named the SLIAC Coach of the Year four times (2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012.) while compiling a stellar 265-49 (.844) record in the SLIAC. Graf has 440 collegiate wins overall as she won her 400th career game in 2018 with a three-set sweep at Westminster (Mo.) College and has a record of 387-222 (.635) guiding the Gorloks. She has coached 82 SLIAC All-Conference players, six SLIAC Newcomers of the Year, seven Defensive Players of the Year, four SLIAC Players of the Year and an AVCA All-American.

Prior to Webster, Graf spent five seasons as the head volleyball coach at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.  Graf has coached grade school, high school and USA Juniors volleyball teams in the area as well.

She graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and earned a Masters of Education in Kinesiology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She is also a USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) Level II Coach. Graf was a standout collegiate athlete in softball and volleyball, earning the Millikin University’s Best Blocker Award for volleyball and setting a record for most hits in a game with 5 for softball.

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