Head volleyball coach Melissa DeRan loves being in downtown Canton and seeing her athletes decked out in their volleyball gear.  “It shows me they’re proud to be a part of our volleyball team and proud of their hard work and effort,” she says.

For Coach DeRan, that sense of pride in something you commit so much time to is essential. “I don’t remember easy days when playing volleyball,” she says; “I remember proud days.  I want my athletes to be proud not just of what they accomplished on the court, but of whom they accomplished it with.”

Both the team and the coaches should be proud.  In 2007, her first season at the helm of the program, the Saints enjoyed their best season of the decade, and as the 2008 season progressed were on pace to better that mark.  But their goals are much higher than just improving year to year. “When people talk about the best Division III programs, I want them to talk about St. Lawrence,” says Coach DeRan.  “We’re capable of being that team because we trust each other and are open to new systems and ideas.  We’ve demanded a lot from our players, and they’ve responded wonderfully.”

A standout athlete and 1999 graduate of Murray State University, DeRan wants her athletes to have the best possible experience at St. Lawrence.  She lets prospective students know up front what they’re getting themselves into.  “You’re going to minor in volleyball,” she says. “We’re going to empower you to help us build something great.  As much as it is about a game, it’s more about the learning experience and support we’ll provide for you.”

The student-athletes aren’t the only ones getting an education; Melissa believes she’s gaining an informal advanced degree. “Our players are exceptional both on and off the court,” she says. “I think I learn more from them than they do from me.”