Former local athletic standout and current Gaston County teacher Annelle Grealis has been hired as the school’s beach volleyball head coach by Rhinos athletic director Shohn Doty.
Grealis, in her second year at Gaston College’s Early College high school, becomes the second head coach in program history. She replaces Rachel Noreika, who guided the Rhinos for three seasons including the final two ending in the National Junior College Athletic Association championships.
“I know this first year will be about building a good base and a foundation,” Grealis said. “We need a team first but I want to create a super competitive atmosphere here.”
So far, Grealis has only one player returning from last year’s roster and will be holding open tryouts on September 28 at the school’s on-campus facility. “Ideally, I’d like to have 10 players and get it going,” Grealis said. “I look forward to building the program.”
Grealis has international athletic experience and has played indoor and beach volleyball in addition to running track and field in high school and in college. “I’ve been around the sport my whole life,” Grealis said, who competed in club beach volleyball through college and is currently an indoor volleyball referee for the Western Piedmont Region.
