By Stacy Troiano

There is a new face at the end of the women’s volleyball bench this season, and it’s the poised yet confident glow of Lauren Netherby.In just her second season on the Hofstra coaching staff, first as head coach (in an interim role), Netherby has been called on to fill the shoes of Fran Kalafer, the longtime Hofstra coach and AVCA Hall of Famer.”Fran is my mentor. She taught me more in one year than other leaders have taught me in the past 10,” Netherby said of Kalafer, who won 591 matches in 25 years at Hofstra. “It’s hard to follow a legacy, but it’s an honor at the same time. I’m able to handle this because of her.”Netherby took over the reigns when Kalafer retired in August after working as an assistant coach last year. As head coach, she has led the Pride to a successful start to the 2006 season, with a 9-5 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 mark in conference.Born in San Clemente, Calif., Netherby earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, where she also played four years of volleyball. In her junior year, Netherby was a starter on a Nevada squad that won the eastern division of the Big West conference and achieved top 25 recognition on its way to an NCAA tournament bid. Upon graduating college, Netherby stepped into the marketing world, working for the Breckenridge Group, where she helped create marketing and advertising campaigns. After working as a coach at a number of volleyball camps for different colleges, Netherby realized that the world of coaching was where she belonged.”I just loved it so much, I knew it was what I wanted to do,” she said.Netherby received coaching offers from Santa Clara, Fordham and Columbia, and ultimately chose Columbia so that she could also earn her master’s degree in physical education. Aside from Columbia, Netherby was also the head coach of the Club Asics Long Island team in 2005.Off the court, Netherby doesn’t stray far from sports. As an athlete in high school, she claims sports will always be important to her, and in her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, volleyball and soccer. Some of her favorite hobbies also include horseback riding, and like most, being around friends and people she cares about most.Netherby has overcome a lot on her way to the head of the Hofstra volleyball team, including a number of medical problems. In college, she underwent heart surgery and recovered in time to continue to lead her Nevada team to success. She has also suffered from kidney failure and hyperthyroidism, which results from excessive activity of the thyroid gland.”To go through all of that and come out healthy is really special to me,” Netherby said.Netherby has goals set for her first season as head coach, including several that involve small, specific points each week, but she is clear in the ultimate goal for herself and the entire team.”Our main goal is to win a CAA championship,” she said. “Whether it’s my first year or 25th year, that’s [always] the goal. It’s so important to all of us; the players, coaches and even Fran, it’s special to be a part of.”Netherby is off to a successful start in her first season, and hopes to lead the Pride to that ultimate goal.