DEJA HARRIS HIRED AS UNLV VOLLEYBALL ASSISTANT COACH
Las Vegas native returns to UNLV after previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Rebels during the 2021 season
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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Deja Harris has been hired as an assistant coach for the UNLV volleyball program, head coach Malia Shoji announced this week.
A native of Las Vegas, Harris will return to the sideline in her hometown after having previously been a volunteer assistant coach for the Rebels during the 2021 season.
“Deja is the perfect addition to finalize our coaching staff,” Shoji said. “I’m excited to welcome her back to the UNLV volleyball family. Her deep ties within Las Vegas provide an incredible advantage to our staff as we integrate into the community. She brings elite volleyball knowledge, is a strong female role model and has the competitive drive to help us make history.”
A former collegiate standout at San Diego State from 2014-18, she also played professionally overseas in Halmstad, Sweden and the A1 League in Caserta, Italy in 2019 and 2020. She was a member of the 2018 USA Collegiate National Team and competed as a middle blocker for the Women’s College National Team that same year.
“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to be a part of such a successful and high-caliber program,” Harris said.” Being able to have seen UNLV volleyball grow in such a unique, personal, and innovative way is what made my decision to be a part of the Rebels so easy. Thank you to Coach Shoji and the staff for allowing me to be a part of this program that exceeds my expectations and for trusting me to unite in the vision for the Rebels. I hope to bring a unique perspective to the growing success of the program and can’t wait to get started. Go Rebs!”
In college, she became the first four-time All-Mountain West honoree in Aztecs volleyball history and just the fifth four-time all-conference selection in league history. She still holds her place in the school’s record book as the program’s all-time leader in block assists (484), while ranking fourth with 317 career blocks and eighth in hitting percentage (.322).
Harris was also one of only four players in MW history with 1,250 career kills and 550 career blocks, and ranks 10th all-time in conference history with 559 career blocks and 20th with 1,298 career kills.
A former Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Las Vegas, Harris graduated from SDSU with her bachelor’s degree in psychology in the spring of 2019.
Harris also started and owns her own local volleyball club called Top Flight Volleyball Academy.
2023 UNLV VOLLEYBALL SEASON: The Rebels are scheduled to play its intrasquad Scarlet & Gray scrimmage this Saturday, Aug. 12 in the Cox Pavilion’s practice gym at 7 p.m. and host an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 19 against Northern Arizona at 1 p.m.
The regular season begins for UNLV at Colorado’s tournament, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 25-27 in Boulder, Colorado. In addition to facing the Buffaloes on Aug. 25, UNLV will also play North Texas (Aug. 26) and Campbell (Aug. 27) at the event.
UNLV will host its first home match on Tuesday, September 12 against Southern Utah. The full season’s schedule may be found here.
UNLV SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for UNLV volleyball are on sale now and may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267). Season tickets are $50 for adults (13 and older), and $40 for active alumni, seniors, and faculty and staff.