BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PIPPA PASSES — When Kayla Moore Vanhoose took over the Alice Lloyd College volleyball program in 2023, the Lady Eagles were coming off a 4–29 season and had never reached national prominence. Two years later, Vanhoose has guided the program through the most successful season in school history, transforming ALC into a nationally respected contender.
Vanhoose, a 2004 graduate of Sheldon Clark High School, was named the 2025 Mideast Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Eagles to a 24–10 record, the most wins ever by the program. ALC captured its first Mideast Conference Championship, posted its first undefeated conference season, and made its first non-bid appearance in the National Tournament to cap the run with a fifth-place national finish.
“Going undefeated in NCCAA conference play was the big indicator of how far we had come as a program,” Vanhoose said. “The other things were incredible milestones we had set for ourselves all season, but that one really showed our growth.”
The Lady Eagles delivered a season filled with historic firsts, including the program’s first national tournament victory and first national tournament upset, knocking off the No. 2-ranked defending national champion Arlington Baptist. ALC also earned its first Top 10 national power ranking, climbing as high as No. 4.
They notched their first win over Georgetown College, a victory against an NCAA Division II opponent, and a nine-game win streak.
To keep the team focused on incremental progress, Vanhoose introduced a season-long goal system built around a “Bingo” board to reinforce accountability and unity.
“We played Bingo all season, and our card was filled with attainable goals,” Vanhoose said. “By the end, we didn’t just hit a Bingo – we did it six times. Some of those goals were individual stats, and our culture is so strong that everyone was clapping for one another as we crossed them off.”
Vanhoose described the season as “surreal,” crediting the team’s collective mindset for sustaining its success.
“I have never coached an entire group of 15 people willing to put self aside for a common goal,” she said. “Our bench players were just as all in as our starting outside hitter. It’s hard to lose when everyone is going in the same direction with the same mindset.”
The transformation at ALC is the latest chapter in a coaching career rooted in eastern Kentucky. Vanhoose previously served as head coach at Sheldon Clark High School in 2014 and 2015, where she set the school’s single-season wins record at the time, and later coached at Johnson Central High School from 2016 to 2019.
In 2018, she founded the Bluegrass Volleyball Academy, which has grown into the largest club volleyball organization in eastern Kentucky, serving more than 500 athletes through camps, clinics and travel teams. In 2024, a BVA national team won its bracket at AAU Nationals, marking the first time an eastern Kentucky club had achieved that milestone.
Her influence continued to grow in 2025 when she served as a camp coach at the University of Kentucky and was invited to return in 2026. She was also recognized as a 2022 Rise Up Sports Media Merit Award finalist.
When Vanhoose accepted the ALC position, she said the institution was ready for a clear shift in identity and pace.
“Most people don’t know that Nathan Hall was the one who called me about the job,” Vanhoose said. “He’ll tell you himself that he’s a softball guy, (currently the winningest coach in ALC history). He asked me if I wanted his job and I told him I was interested. As an institution, Alice Lloyd was ready to hire a volleyball person to take the program forward.”
She said the early transition came with challenges, particularly as the program adjusted to higher expectations.
“At first, the speed of Alice Lloyd volleyball was very similar to a high school team,” Vanhoose said. “When I got the job, seven girls from my club followed me there, and they’re the very reason it is where it is today. I tell people I brought my culture with me, and that part was easy.”
That culture translated into individual success as well and produced the most decorated roster in program history. Libero Gracie Gibson earned Conference MVP and Mideast Libero of the Year honors. Christa Amburgey became the program’s first NAIA All-Conference First Team selection. Kyleah Ward (an Inez native), Amburgey and Peyton Taylor also earned First Team honors.
Taylor led the nation with 1,012 assists, while Ward set program records for single-season kills (257), career kills (801) and career blocks (274). Amburgey broke the single-season blocks record with 105, and Gibson set the single-season digs mark with 493.
Vanhoose said the foundation of the program is built on disposition rather than raw skill.
“My most sought-after traits in an athlete are character and mentality-based,” she said. “I can teach the volleyball. I’m looking for someone with a ‘next ball’ mindset after a mistake and someone who is an incredible teammate, one that’s fun to play with and fun to coach.”
From a four-win rebuilding project to a nationally ranked program, Vanhoose has reshaped ALC volleyball and expanded what is possible for athletes across eastern Kentucky.
Her advice to younger athletes aspiring to play at the next level is rooted in perspective of the game.
“Open your mind about playing at the next level,” Vanhoose said. “Wherever you land, you are in elite company. Make sure it’s a good fit, be coachable, be a good teammate, and most of all, have fun.”