Beaver State News

Oregon State head volleyball coach Lindsey Behonick announced the additions of assistant coaches Abbie Wright and Peter Manguiat, as well as the retention of director of operations Alyssa Whitney to round out her staff for the 2023 season on Tuesday.

Wright spent the 2022 season serving as the interim head coach at Fresno State, after spending the last five seasons as the head coach at Seattle Pacific.

"I am so excited to welcome Abbie to Beaver Nation," Behonick said of the addition. "Abbie comes to Oregon State as a great recruiter and experienced coach at many levels, including two head coaching stints at Seattle Pacific University and most recently at Fresno State. Abbie and I played against each other in college and have stayed connected over the years. When I was going through the hiring process, I wanted someone that had ties to the Pacific Northwest, head coaching experience and someone the people gravitate towards. Abbie embodies those qualities and I'm thrilled to have her join our program."

Combining to win 65 matches in her time in the Pacific Northwest, Wright led the Falcons to a 15-10 mark in 2021 while tying for fourth in Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Prior to her time in Seattle, Wright spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater Biola from 2013-16. During her first year there in 2013, the Eagles reached the NAIA national championship match. Biola returned to the national tournament in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and posted a 115-24 (.827) overall mark in her four-year stretch on the sideline.

In 2015, the program achieved its first-ever No. 1 national ranking while winning 30 matches and Wright earned the AVCA / NAIA Southwest Region and National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

A setter in her playing days at Biola, Wright still owns program records for most matches played (143), most sets played (508), and service aces (182). Her teams made it to NAIA national tournament all four years, advancing to the semifinals in 2007 and 2008, and to the quarterfinals in 2010.
 
Following the 2016 season, Wright was named to the "30 Under 30" list by the American Volleyball Coaches Association which recognizes top coaches across all levels of the game who are age 30 or younger.

"I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Lindsey's staff at Oregon State. It is an honor to get to work at a place with such rich tradition, strong community ties and welcoming people," Wright said. "From the moment I stepped onto campus, I knew it was a place with a mission I wanted to contribute to. In meeting the staff and student-athletes, I felt right at home. Thank you to Lindsey for believing in me and entrusting me to help your vision for OSU volleyball come to life. Thank you to Jacque Bruns and the entire athletic department for this opportunity."

Manguiat comes to Corvallis after spending the past two seasons as an assistant at Cal Poly, where the Mustangs combined for 32 wins over the two-year span and five student-athletes were selected to Big West All-Conference honors following the 2022 season.

I am grateful that Peter has joined Beaver Nation and this volleyball staff," Behonick added. "I knew our time at Pitt wasn't going to be the last time we would work together. Peter can bring so much to the program on and off the court. Having that built in trust with a person from working together previously makes Peter a great fit for the culture we are building within the program here at Oregon State. "

Manguiat spent two years at Pitt where he served as both interim assistant coach and director of volleyball operations. During his time second stint with the Panthers, he was part of the staff that guided the program to its first appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament as well as high as a No. 5 ranking in the country. During that time, he also coached three players who were named All-Americans.

Prior to that, Manguiat served as an assistant coach at Marist College for two seasons in 2017-18. There, he coached three players who earned All-MAAC honors.

In 2016, he was the volunteer assistant coach at Pitt during his first stint there. That year, he was part of the coaching staff that guided the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years.

Manguiat's other coaching experiences include as a volunteer assistant coach at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, Calif. from 2012-14. He has also helped coach club volleyball for Diablo Valley Volleyball Club between 2003-16.

An Oakland, Calif. native, Manguiat attended Springfield College where he played from 2007-10 where he won two NCAA Division III national championships. He ranks in the top 10 in school history for career serve reception percentage.

"I'd like to thank Lindsey and Jacque Bruns for this opportunity," Manguiat said. "I've had the privilege of working with Lindsey in the past and I'm excited about her vision for this program. Lindsey is a great coach and even better person to lead the student-athletes in this program. I am looking forward to working with her again and taking this program to new heights.

After serving the past six seasons as the director of operations, Alyssa Whitney will stay on to continuing serving in that role to round out Behonick's staff.

"I am excited to have Alyssa on staff. When looking for a director of operations, I wanted someone that is organized, works well with others, someone that can adapt and someone that cares a lot," Behonick concluded. "Through the interview process I knew how valuable Alyssa has been and will continue to be for the program. I'm thrilled to welcome her back and know that she will continue to help move our program forward."

Whitney, who was raised in nearby Albany, Ore., is an Oregon State graduate who has devoted her career to organizing volleyball squads and tournaments throughout the region and the nation.

Prior to joining the volleyball staff, Whitney spent two years as the sport programs specialist in Oregon State's Recreational Sports office. In that role among other duties, Whitney coordinated travel for 40 sport club teams and coordinated intramural leagues. 

Original source can be found here