Women's Volleyball | 2/21/2020 5:06:00 PM

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Roselidah Obunaga secured her position as the full-time head volleyball coach for Savannah State this off-season after a successful year as the interim in 2019.

"We are proud to announce Coach Obunaga as the new head volleyball coach at Savannah State," Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki said. "This was an easy decision. She stepped in and did an outstanding job managing our student-athletes while keeping them motivated to be successful in our new division and conference."
 
Obunaga came to Savannah State from Montana State University. Previously, she coached at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. and for club teams in St. Louis, Mo. She was a competitive collegiate volleyball player and was a member of Kenya National Team in the World Championships in Japan as well as the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.
 
She earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Columbia College and a master's degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville in Indiana.
 
"I plan on growing the volleyball program here at Savannah State and look forward to seeing my recruiting class graduate," Obunaga said. "Savannah has more to offer and I am looking forward to being part of the community." 
 
Obunaga penned five new recruits as well this year, adding to a roster full of returners. The Lady Tigers had a sole senior leave in the 2019 season and are set to return most of last year's team. Savannah State added three middle hitters, an outside hitter and a middle blocker to the team.

Destiny Gaines, a 6-2 middle hitter from Williston, Florida, signed with the Lady Tigers this year. Gaines helped her high-school team win the 1A District Championship in 2018 in volleyball. She also played basketball.

Out of Brandon, Mississippi, middle hitter LaShundria Chatman signed with Savannah State. Chatman won the 2017 and 2018 MHSAA Class III State Championship and was named to the all-region team.

"I am excited to have LaShundria on campus and looking forward for a great spring start as we prepare for the fall season," Obunaga said. "Lashundria is a strong middle and opposite hitter, and will be a great addition to our volleyball program.
 
Makyala Mondy will add some strength to the Lady Tigers middle. The 5-9 middle blocker out of Kankakee, Illinois signed with the Lady Tigers as well. She was captain of her varsity team last year and maintained a 3.5 GPA in her senior year.
 
Out of Canton, Georgia, the Lady Tigers added 6-2 middle hitter Jasmin Walker. While playing volleyball in high-school, she also ran track and was an honor student.
 
Jamilya McPherson, a 5-6 outside hitter/defensive specialist from Madison, Georgia, committed to Savannah State as well. She was named MVP, Best Offensive Player of the Year, and was named to the All-Region First Team during her high-school career.
 
In their first year of competition within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) the Lady Tigers earned six conference wins, enough to make the SIAC Championship as the No. 4 seed from the East Division.
 
After falling to defending champions Spring Hill in the opening game of the 2019 SIAC Championship, they rallied to beat Central State 3-2 and make the semifinals.
 
They finish the 2019 season 9-18 overall, an improvement on 2018's 3-21 record. The nine wins were the most in program history since the 2009 season when they went 11-19.
 
Several Lady Tigers earned SIAC Player of the Week awards during the regular season. Destini Williams was named SIAC Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 24. Valeria Aldarondo was named SIAC Setter of the Week on Oct. 7 and then again on Oct. 21. Aldarondo was named to the SIAC All-Conference Second Team for her efforts in the setter position last year.

Savannah State volleyball also began spring practice this week and will announce their fall schedule the coming weeks. The Lady Tigers practice Monday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to. 6 p.m. each week.