University of West Florida

<p><strong> </strong><em></em>West Florida graduate Marcela Cunha returns for her fourth season as a graduate assistant for the UWF volleyball team in 2011.</p><p>&quot;We are very excited about bringing Marcela back into the UWF volleyball program,&quot; says Head Coach Melissa Wolter. &quot;She is one of the smartest volleyball players that I've ever coached and has always seemed to look at the game from a coach's perspective. The transition from player to coach should be an easy one for her.&quot;</p><p>Cunha spent three years as an Argo and helped lead the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2004, her 59 assists against Northwest Missouri (9/10) was the fourth-highest single-match total in school history. In 2006, she led the team in assists with 7.73 assists per game and was named to the All-GSC Second Team and the GSC All-Academic team. Cunha has coached volleyball camps since 2003, working at camps hosted by UWF, Northern Kentucky, Auburn, Tampa, and Florida Southern.</p><p><b>Career:</b> Ended her career with 1,286 assists, the third-highest career assist total in Argonaut history. </p><p><b>2005:</b> Appeared in 109 games... Led the Argonauts with 7.18 assists per game... Her 783 assists were the fourth-highest single-season total... Helped lead the Argonauts to 27th in the nation in assists per game (14.09)... Collected 42 assists in the season-opening win over Arkansas-Monticello (8/26)... Posted 39 assists in the Albany State win (9/10)... Totaled a season high 56 assists and 15 digs in the win over Central Arkansas (9/10)... Tallied 15 digs in the win over Alabama-Huntsville (9/17)... Totaled 25 assists and 13 digs in the home win over West Georgia (10/20)... Collected 36 assists and 10 digs in the win at Rollins (10/29)... Named to the GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll. </p><p><b>2004:</b> One of three Argonauts to play all 41 games... Averaged 12.27 assists and 2.61 digs per game as the Argonauts starting setter... Her 59 assists against Northwest Missouri (9/10) rank fourth in school history for single-match highs... Posted double-digit dig totals in five matches... Collected a season-high 13 digs three times, including in the win over her old school, Northern Kentucky (8/28). </p><p><b>Northern Kentucky:</b> Totaled 19 service aces and averaged 2.12 digs per game as a freshman... Averaged 11.59 assists and 2.23 digs per game in her sophomore year... Received the 2002-03 and 2003-04 AVCA Team Academic Award... Made the GLVC All-Academic Team both years... Named to the Dean[apos]s List in the fall of 2002 and 2003... Received Honor[apos]s List accolades in the spring of 2003 and 2004. </p><p><b>High School:</b> A three-time all-state selection from 2000-02... A member of the 2000 runner-up team and the 2002 national championship squad... Named the Curitiba International Tournament[apos]s Most Outstanding Setter in 2001... Part of the first place team at the South American Tournament in Chile in 2000. </p><p><b>Club:</b> Played on the Santa Monica Club team with former teammate Kali Kalache. </p><p><b>Personal:</b> Daughter of Francisco and Celia Cunha... Is currently working toward her Master's degree in Business Administration... Has a younger sister, Michele... Volunteered for an organization that helps provide support and treatment for people suffering from drug addictions... Majoring in Business Management. </p>