HOME LIFE: Malayna has lived in Cache Valley for most of her life. She is married to Marty Knowles and is a mom to four, grandma to two, mom-in-law to two!

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EDUCATION: Malayna attended Mountain Crest High School. After high school, she played at Eastern Arizona, and then finished her education at USU earning a bachelors degree in secondary education. 

 

VOLLEYBALL CAREER: Malayna started playing at South Cache in 8th grade, back when it was a junior high (yes, I am THAT old!). She played in high school at Mountain Crest and was proud to be part of the school's first state championship team! She was able to play after high school for two years at Eastern Arizona College where her team finished 3rd and 5th in the nation at the NJCAA tournament. She moved back to Cache Valley and started coaching summer camps, club and high school.

 

COACHING CAREER: Malayna has been involved with coaching, officiating, directing club, or playing volleyball for over 30 years, most recently coaching at Sky View and then Green Canyon High School. She has been an assistant coach at high school for two years and a head coach for 13 years. 

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WHY I COACH: "I coach because I love to see and be part of the miraculous change in kids as they learn. (Also why I parent and teach!) When we find love in the process of learning, the possibilities are endless!"

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VOLLEYBALL IDOL: "My volleyball idol actually never played. It would be my dad. My dad fell in love with the game when he started officiating for some extra money, and he passed his love along to his family. As far as a player, it would be Lauren Goebel Keller. She was an All-American at USU, then played for the USA, but missed Olympic Games when the US boycotted the games in Moscow. Ironically, that's why she came back to USU and I got to have her as my high school coach at Mtn Crest."

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." - Winston S. Churchill