HCU alumni dot the landscape of the athletic聽department, with several former players entering聽the coaching profession and returning to their聽alma mater. When head volleyball coach Trent聽Herman had an open position, he jumped at the opportunity聽to bring Kayla Armer (鈥�17) back home.
Armer was a four-year letter winner at setter for Herman聽from 2013-16. She finished as the school鈥檚 all-time聽leader with 5,070 assists, which ranks among聽the top 10 in Southland Conference history.聽She was also part of the foundation聽for the fledgling beach volleyball聽program from 2016-18, ranking third聽all-time in winning percentage,聽tied for fourth with 46 wins and聽qualified for the 2018 USA Beach聽Volleyball Championships alongside聽Tori Hinojosa (鈥�20).聽Following her collegiate career,聽Armer coached indoor and beach聽volleyball at ULM, where she聽began to build her resume.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been so fun to be back (at聽HCU) in a coaching role 鈥� it felt like聽coming home,鈥� Armer said. 鈥淢y three years聽coaching in Louisiana definitely helped prepare聽me for the position I鈥檓 in now. I learned so much about聽what it takes to lead young women, both on and off the聽court through coaching both indoor and beach in the Sun聽Belt and CCSA Conferences.鈥�
Armer鈥檚 steady presence helped the Huskies make an聽immediate impact as a new member to the Southland聽Conference in 2013. As the league has changed significantly聽from her time at HCU, the goal remains the same in the聽pursuit of a conference championship.
鈥淭he Southland looks pretty different from when I聽played,鈥� Armer said. 鈥淚 think our program is very strong聽and will continue to compete at a high level in this league.聽This year鈥檚 team has already faced a lot of adversity, but聽I鈥檓 excited about the growth of our team, both as a whole and as individual players. I鈥檓 looking forward to聽seeing what all we can accomplish as we聽continue to grow.鈥�
Armer became eligible for the HCU聽Sports Hall of Honor this year and聽was an overwhelming first-ballot聽selection. She was a three-time聽All-Southland Conference聽performer and was just as聽impressive in the classroom聽as a three-time academic All-Conference聽honoree, as well as聽a CoSIDA Academic All-District聽selection in 2014.
She was joined in this year鈥檚聽Hall of Honor class by women鈥檚聽soccer midfielder Allison Abendschein,聽women鈥檚 basketball center Anna Strickland,聽men鈥檚 basketball guard/forward Andrew聽Gonzalez, the 1986 4×800-meter relay team of Charlie聽Foreman, Magness Fhyr, Sam Shimfessel and Alfredo聽Lahuerta, and men鈥檚 basketball assistant coach Steven Key.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be chosen to the Athletic Hall of Honor,鈥澛燗rmer said. 鈥淲hat I鈥檓 most proud of in my playing career聽are the relationships that I built with my teammates and the聽friendships that continue to this day.鈥�
