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Erin Labasan

Erin Labasan

Erin Labasan is the Head Volleyball Coach at Lewis & Clark College.

The Lewis & Clark Pioneers will have a record-setting leader in charge of the program next season. Erin Labasan has been named the head coach of the Pios, Director of Physical Education and Athletics Mark Pietrok announced on Wednesday.

Labasan joins Lewis & Clark following a decade as a successful assistant and co-head coach in collegiate volleyball. Over the last two seasons, Labasan helped Grinnell to an NCAA tournament berth, conference championship as well as program records for win percentage and All-America, all-region and all-conference awards.

"I'm overjoyed and grateful to join Lewis & Clark," Labasan said, the 11th head coach in Lewis & Clark history. "The opportunity to work with incredible student-athletes at a top liberal arts institution in my home state is absolutely unmatched. I'm grateful to the many people who engaged warmly and thoughtfully in the search process, from department members to faculty athletic representatives to the volleyball student-athletes.

"Every person I spoke with mentioned a commitment to community, holistic growth and a competitive sports experience, and I'm thrilled to work in an environment that mirrors my values. Thank you especially to Mark Pietrok, associate AD Sharon Sexton and the search committee for their work and this opportunity."

"We are fortunate to have this tremendous leader join our staff," Pietrok said. "Erin has extensive experience in NCAA Division III volleyball and was critical in the recent success of the Grinnell programs. She is eager and prepared to help our student-athletes thrive within the Building Champions philosophy and will provide us opportunities to compete atop the Northwest Conference and beyond."

In 2021, Labasan's Grinnell team had their best conference win percentage and first all-region and All-America award winners in program history. The team set records for all-conference selections and received the Coaching Staff of the Year award. The team, also nicknamed the Pioneers, didn't compete in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but won the Midwest Conference championship in 2019, which earned them a berth in the NCAA tournament.

"Thanks to the student-athletes on this team and the coaches who led this program before me," Labasan said. "There's a strong foundation within Lewis & Clark volleyball, namely passion for the game and a desire to play for the other people in the program. That shared joy and investment in team success will serve us really well in the process of getting a little bit better every single day. I'm hopeful we can build a tradition of excellence through a commitment to authenticity, growth and competing together."

An alumnus of Grinnell, Labasan rejoined her alma mater's coaching staff prior to the 2019 season after one year as a volunteer assistant at Davidson. In 2017, she was the interim co-head coach at Smith, a season after joining the program as a graduate assistant. Her first stint at Grinnell was from 2014-16, where she was an assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator.

Labasan graduated from Grinnell in 2011 with a degree in Psychology and competed for the Pioneers from 2007-10. Labasan is listed in the Pioneers' record book as eighth for digs in a three-set match (28), ninth for career assists (782) and ninth for career digs (1,059).

After graduating from Grinnell, Labasan spent two years in South Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, where she also served as women's coach for a co-ed ultimate Frisbee team that garnered two league championships. While spending a year in Seattle, Labasan served as an assistant coach for Relentless Pursuit Volleyball Club's 18 Nationals team, responsible for defensive specialists, player conditioning and development and statistics tracking.

Labasan was born and raised in Lincoln City, Ore. and is a graduate of Taft High School where she competed at state in volleyball, swimming, softball and track and field.

In 2018, Lewis & Clark had its first winning season since 2009. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Pios won their first five games. Following the 2021 season, the Pios had their most selections in the top two All-Northwest Conference teams since 2015.

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