Chicago, IL - The Eagles' search for a volleyball head coach ended on State Street just a few miles south of the Loop Campus when Athletic Director Megan Smith Eggert announced former Illinois Tech All-American and assistant coach Lauren Joyce as the new leader of the Robert Morris Volleyball program.

During her prep career at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, IL, the Packers won three straight Illinois High School Association sectional titles. Coach Joyce took her winning ways to IIT where she earned All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference status four times. She was a two-time All-American and garnered Scholar-Athlete honors as well. Three-times chosen as the ScarletHawks' Most Valuable Player, she joined the IIT staff upon her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Professional and Technical Communication. She was the ScarletHawks' Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach.

Her coaching experience includes stints with two of Chicago's premier volleyball clubs, Second City and 1st Alliance. She helped lead 1st Alliance to a tenth-place finish in the Junior Olympics.

"We're excited to have a coach with Lauren's experience," said AD Smith Eggert. "She is also familiar with the CCAC and the recruiting scene in Chicagoland."

Coach Joyce takes the helm of a program that has failed to reach the CCAC post-season the last four seasons, but has a core of experienced players--including All-CCAC outside hitter Megan Yerkes (Chicago, IL)--and some stellar recruits already in the fold.

"We've got a good base in place," said Coach Joyce. "If we dedicate ourselves to execution and commit to a winning attitude, we'll get the results we want."

Robert Morris is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Eagles field teams in twenty-one men's and women's sports. The College also belongs to the Unites States Bowling Congress-Collegiate Division, the American Collegiate Hockey Association, the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, and the United Dance Association.

The College is a private, not-for-profit, associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree-granting institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Over 6500 students pursuing an education that meets the demands of today's business, graphic arts, health care, culinary, and technical worlds are served at the College's main campus in Chicago as well as at locations in DuPage, Orland Park, Bensenville, Springfield, Peoria and Lake County.  

Robert Morris College admits students of any race, color, sex, national origin, or with any handicap to all the rights, privileges and activities generally accorded or made available to students at Robert Morris College. The College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, national origin or students with disabilities in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, loan programs, career services, housing, and school administered programs.