Traffic accident claims EOU volleyball coach

The head volleyball coach at Eastern Oregon University died Monday after a two-vehicle crash near Ritzville, Wash., according to the Washington State Patrol.

Hailey Pearce, 25, of La Grande, was heading south on Highway 395, about 24 miles south of Ritzville, at just after 3 p.m., said Trooper Shawn Pichette.

Pearce was traveling the speed limit when she drove into the back of Pence’s truck. He reported no injuries.

Witnesses told Pichette there was no sign of erratic driving and that Pearce was belted in. There were no skid marks indicating braking, the trooper added.

While the passenger’s side air bag engaged upon impact, the driver’s side air bag did not. “I believe if the air bag was working, it probably would have saved her,” Pichette noted.

Pearce was a native of Walla Walla.

ROOKIE COACH Hailey Pearce had guided Eastern Oregon University’s volleyball team to a 13-11 record in her first season and was making preparations for the beginning of the 2011 season in mid-August with a week-long road trip to southern California.

She had spent the weekend in Billings, Mont., participating in the Big Sky State Games volleyball tournament with a Rocky  Mountain College alumni team, according to Rocky Mountain head coach Laurie Kelly.

The sudden death of the coach was a shock, according to EOU’s athletic director.

“Hailey made an immediate impact at our university and in the Cascade Collegiate Conference,” EOU athletic director Rob Cashell said. “She was a fantastic coach and more importantly a wonderful person. Our players, staff and everyone who knew her all feel a great loss.”

Pearce joined EOU’s coaching staff in 2010. Prior to that she was an assistant coach at Rocky Mountain College. Coming to EOU was a return “home” for her, Pearce had said. She grew up in Walla Walla and has family throughout the area.

In her first season on the bench, she guided the Mountaineers to a 9-9 record in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The team had a 6-4 home record at Quinn Coliseum and were 5-6 on the road.

The Mountaineers finished three games out of fourth place in the CCC volleyball race and will have five of its six starters returning this season.

The 2011 season is scheduled to start Aug. 15 with a trip to California to compete in the Azusa scrimmage tournament, followed by games at Vanguard University, California State University- San Marcos, Concordia University of Irvine, Azusa-Pacific University, The Masters College and Biola University.

The first home contest for the program will be an alumni game Aug. 27.

According to the EOU athletic director, no decision has been made regarding a replacement coach.

Members of the university community were notified of Pearce’s death Tuesday morning and urged to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers, according to a college spokesperson.

A scholarship fund has been established in her memory. Individuals wishing to support the fund should direct their contributions to the EOU Foundation and indicate the Hailey Pearce Memorial Scholarship. For additional information, contact University Advancement at 541-962-3740.

The Billings (Montana) Gazette, the Walla Walla-Union Bulletin and EOU Athletics contributed to this report.