LIVONIA, Mich. - - Madonna University head volleyball coach Jerry Abraham announced Tuesday (June 23) that former volleyball All-American Tera (Morrill) Woodruff has joined the Crusader coaching staff as an assistant. Woodruff's appointment is effective immediately.

Woodruff replaces Ed Tolentino who left Livonia for a similar position at Georgia Tech.

"Tera brings experience having been a head coach at the high school level and a club coach," commented Abraham. "She brings a great work ethic and leads by example. I think that the kids already respect her and can learn by her approach. Her style of coaching is aggressive and her knowledge of the game is very good. I was happy to add in a qualified and quality female coach to work with me on a full time basis."

Woodruff lettered at MU from 2000-2004 and was named to the NAIA All-American team in 2002 after helping the Crusaders to the NAIA Final Four for the first time in program history. In addition to taking home a pair of all-region honors as well as being a three-time All-WHAC first team selection from 2002-04, Woodruff was twice named to the All-WHAC academic and the NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete teams. She currently ranks in the top-10 of four records at MU including total kills (eighth - 1,541), attacks (eighth - 3,470), service aces (sixth - 223) and digs (sixth - 2,117).

Since her graduation from the university, Woodruff has been coaching at Crestwood High School in nearby Dearborn Heights in addition to coaching the Crusader Junior AAU program. The head varsity volleyball coach for five seasons, Woodruff has seen a number of her former pupils move on to the college ranks, including MU junior Amanda Lenart (Dearborn Heights, Mich.). In addition to her coaching duties, she has just finished her third year as a teacher in the math department at Crestwood.

"The volleyball program at Madonna University is considered one of the NAIA's best," said Woodruff.  "They are perennial Top 25 finishers and in contention for a national championship year in and year out.  As a former player for Coach Abraham, I understand the dedication and hard work needed to keep this program running at the highest level.  I am excited about the opportunity and am looking forward to continuing my coaching career at the collegiate level."

Woodruff and her husband Chris - a former All-American baseball player at Madonna - reside in Livonia.