Arlicia Ortiz has resigned as head volleyball coach at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, a spokesman for the UAM athletic department confirmed Friday, the Pine Bluff Commercial first reported.
The university has not announced the change. The spokesman did not give a date for the resignation or a reason, according to the Commercial.
Who is leading the team now
UAM’s athletics website now lists assistant coach Mirela Polete Vasconselos as interim head volleyball coach. The Commercial reported she joined the staff as an assistant in June.
- Hired in 2024: Athletic Director Hud Jackson named Ortiz the seventh head coach in program history on July 24, 2024. She came to Monticello from Fayetteville State University, where she had been an assistant coach, according to UAM’s announcement at the time.
- This season: The Cotton Blossoms are 2-22 overall and 0-11 in the Great American Conference. Their last win came Sept. 5 against Lane College, the Commercial reported.
- Home court: UAM plays its home matches at Steelman Field House on the Monticello campus.
Friday’s match and what’s next
UAM closed a two-match Oklahoma road trip Friday with a 3-0 loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, losing the sets 17-25, 22-25 and 17-25. Freshman Isabella Garcia led the team with 10 kills and 18 digs, according to the UAM recap.
The team plays next at Grambling State in a nonconference match at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Grambling, Louisiana.
Sources: Pine Bluff Commercial, which first reported the resignation; UAM athletics staff directory and game recap at uamsports.com; UAM’s July 24, 2024, hiring announcement.
