SPORTS
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Shaw University is a proud member of the
Volleyball Head Coach Laura Akers
The
2009 campaign marks Laura Aker’s sixth season as the head volleyball coach
at Shaw University, where she also serves as the resident hall manager. Her
stint as the volleyball coach is just the latest chapter in her life with
Shaw athletics.
Aker attended Shaw from 1987-91, where she played four seasons on the softball team, earning First Team All-CIAA honors in 1987 and 1991, and Second Team recognition in 1988 and 1989. She was MVP or co-MVP of the Lady Bears all four years she played.
Aker also spent her sophomore year on the volleyball team, and earned a bachelor’s of science degree.
Aker began her coaching career at Shaw as a volunteer assistant for then-head softball coach Dianthia Ford-Kee. She served in that capacity from 1991 to 2004, watching Shaw win CIAA titles in 1994, 1996 and 2003. Shaw would also advance to the NCAA Mod-Atlantic Regional in 2003.
In 2005, Aker was named head volleyball and softball coach at Shaw. She served as softball coach for four years. While Aker has not had the coaching success of her predecessor, she takes great pride in the high graduation rates of her teams.
A native of Dadeville, Ala., Aker has served as an umpire in the Amateur Softball Association for over ten years. She also completed the NCAA Coaches Academy in Atlanta in 2007, and Aker was awarded the 2006-07 Volunteer of the Year Award from the City of Raleigh Recreation Department.
In her spare time, Aker likes to read, listen to music, play softball and spend time with her 12-year-old daughter, LaShon TyNel.
2007-08
10-9 Overall
10-3 Conference
8-2 Division
0-6 Non-conference
2008-09
1-16 Overall
0-10 Conference
0-10 Division
0-6 Non-conference
7-14 Overall
7-9 Conference
6-4 Division
0-5 Non-conference
2005-06
5-15 Overall
5-11 Conference
3-7 Division
0-4 Non-conference
2006-07
9-8 Overall
9-8 Conference
8-3 Division
0-0 Non-Conference