Arlicia Ortiz has been named head volleyball coach at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Ortiz became the seventh head coach in program history. She succeeds Katrina English, who led the Cotton Blossoms the past two seasons.
Ortiz spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach under Reeshemah Johnson at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, serving as a volunteer assistant in 2021 and full-time assistant from 2022-23.
“I’m so blessed to be starting this new adventure with UAM,” Ortiz said in a news release. “I’d like to thank Coach (Hud) Jackson and the Athletic Department for bringing me in. The support that everyone has already provided has been amazing. The sky is the limit for this program, and the young ladies and I are eager to put in some work to take it there. Go Blossoms!”
Ortiz, originally from Spanaway, Wash., played at Fayetteville State and graduated from there in 2017 with Dean’s List recognition and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She won first place in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coca-Cola Scholarship Essay Contest that year.
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As a player Ortiz competed in 53 matches from 2016-17, making all-CIAA twice. She helped the Broncos reach the CIAA championship match in 2016, and the next year she shared CIAA Co-Woman of the Year honors with Sydney Holland of Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
Jackson, UAM’s athletic director, expressed his excitement for Ortiz’s arrival.
“We believe she will push our volleyball program to new heights and make us competitive in the Great American Conference,” Jackson said. “Her passion for the game will create a culture our community will be very proud of.”
Ortiz’s experience also includes being a participant at the WeCoach Women’s Coaches Academy and club coaching for Regional Evolution.
Twice Ortiz participated in the Disney College Program. She also volunteers for nonprofits and at hospitals, and she mentors youths through clinics and camps, according to the release.
UAM did not list a reason for English’s departure. English went 11-46 overall and 5-27 in two seasons with the Cotton Blossoms.
UAM will begin the volleyball season Sept. 6 in the St. Edward’s University tournament in Austin, Texas. The Blossoms are hosting a tri-match with Missouri’s William Jewell College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Sept. 17 to open the home schedule.
Seat sponsorships for Cotton Blossom volleyball and Boll Weevil football are available by contacting assistant athletic director for internal affairs and special events Garianna Pace at (870) 460-1157 or emailing PaceG@uamont.edu.
2024 UAM volleyball schedule
September
6-7 at St. Edward’s tournament, Austin, Texas
6 — at St. Edward’s, 11:30 a.m.; vs. Ill.-Springfield, 4:30 p.m.
7 — vs. Purdue-Northwest, 9 a.m.; vs. Newman (Kan.), 4:30 p.m.
13-14 at Union Univ. tournament, Jackson, Tenn.
13 — vs. Edward Waters (Fla.), 11 a.m.
14 — vs. Catawba (N.C.), 11 a.m.; vs. Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 5 p.m.
17 — vs. William Jewell (Mo.), 11 a.m.; vs. UAPB, 6 p.m.
20 — vs. Christian Brothers, 2 p.m.; at Union, 6 p.m.
24 — vs. Arkansas Tech, 6 p.m.
26 — at Ouachita Baptist, 6 p.m.
October
1 — at Southern Arkansas, 6 p.m.
3 — vs. Henderson State, 6 p.m.
5 — vs. Harding, 1 p.m.
10 — at NW Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.
11 — at SW Oklahoma State, 4 p.m.
17 — vs. Oklahoma Baptist, 6 p.m.
19 — vs. Southern Nazarene, 4 p.m.
24 — at SE Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.
25 — at East Central, 4 p.mm.
31 — at Harding, 3 p.m.
November
4 — at Arkansas Tech, 6 p.m.
7 — vs. Ouachita Baptist, 6 p.m.
12 — vs. Southern Arkansas, 6 p.m.
14 — at Henderson State, 6 p.m.