SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State beach volleyball has hired former MSU indoor volleyball player Manuela Ibarguen as the team's assistant coach, head coach Ashley Emery announced Tuesday.

"Ella is coming to us after a successful career with indoor volleyball," Emery said. "I am excited to bring her into our circle. The team has welcomed her with open arms and she is already impacting these young ladies. She's a perfect balance of fresh perspective out of playing and embraces the culture we are trying to create in our program."

Ibarguen played for Missouri State during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Across 200 sets played, Ibarguen earned 635 career kills and averaged 3.17 kills per set. She was also strong on the defensive end, raking in 527 digs with an average of 2.63 per set. She ranked second on the team in 2021 with 296 kills and 350 points.

In 2022, Ibarguen led the Bears with 339 kills and made the All-MVC first team. She had double-digit kills in 33 of her 53 career matches.

Ibarguen hails from Carmen de Viboral, Antioquia, Colombia and started her collegiate career at Polk State in Florida where she was an AVCA All-American in 2019. She helped the Eagles to a 20-0 start and a fourth-place finish in the 2019 NJCAA Division I Championship. She was also named the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year.

Her hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.