Coach Vanessa Howell is entering her fourth season as ESCC’s head volleyball coach, following a successful third season (2024-25) where she led the team to its first Alabama Community College Conference Championship title, going undefeated throughout the tournament. The Weevils went on to beat Mississippi’s conference winner Jones College, earning the Gulf South District Championship title and getting a chance to compete at the National Tournament for the first time in program history. The team’s overall record was 29-11 and 11-1 in conference. Coach Howell was chosen as the 2024-2025 South Division Coach of the Year, as well as Gulf South District Coach of the Year, and several team members earned post season awards:  

• Sophomore setter Christina Vigil was named South Division Setter of the Year, ACCC Setter and Player of the Year, First Team NJCAA All-American, 3rd Team AVCA All-American, as well as ACCC Tournament Most Valuable Player.  

• Freshman middle hitter Alivia Freeman was named South Division Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Region, ACCC Conference Tournament All-Tournament Team, and NJCAA Second Team All-American.  

• Sophomore libero Lilian Rhoades was named South Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Region.  

• Freshman outside hitter Caleigh Peddie was Second Team All-South.  

The Lady Weevils showed tremendous growth in its second season (2023-24), finishing Runner Up in the ACCC Tournament, ending the season with a record of 27-12 overall and 8-2 conference as well as a first-place finish in the southern division. In October 2023, the Lady Weevils entered the Top 20 national rankings by the National Junior College Athletic Association for the first time in program history, climbing as high as number 18 during week 8 (10-16-2023). Three players took home postseason awards, including Christina Vigil, who got South Division Player of the Year. Team overall GPA was 3.44 in the fall.  

ESCC’s inaugural volleyball season (2022-23) showed promise, finishing with an overall record of 15-19 and 13-11 in conference. The team made it to the conference tournament and lost in the second round. Two players earned postseason awards: freshman outside hitter Tiyanna Preston earned First Team All-Conference, and freshman setter Sharide Sykes earned Second Team All-Conference. In addition, four players were named Academic All Americans.  

Before joining Enterprise State in 2021, Coach Howell served as the head volleyball coach for Houston Academy in Dothan, AL, for four years. She led the team to four consecutive area championships from 2018-2021 and four state tournament appearances. Her 2020 squad made it to the final four of the Class 3A State Tournament. In 2020, Howell was named the Dothan Eagle Coach of the Year. 

A native of Porto Alegre, Brazil, Howell’s volleyball journey began in Kansas at Independence Community College, where she was named conference Freshman of the Year in 2002-03. She then transferred to the University of North Alabama and was a starter for the Lions from 2003-2005. Howell is one of just nine student athletes in school history to be named both All-American and Academic All-American. She helped lead the team to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2003 and Gulf South Conference Championships in 2004 and 2005.  

Howell’s college career is decorated with more than 30 individual honors. Some highlights include being named to the Gulf South Conference Team of the Decade for 2000-09, earning first-team AVCA and Daktronics All-American honors in 2005, being named GSC East Division Player of the Year twice in 2004 and 2005, and winning 2005 GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player award. As a senior, she led the NCAA Division II with 757 kills while helping UNA to a 36-2 record. Howell was inducted into the University of North Alabama's Hall of Fame in 2016.   

In 2006, Howell graduated from UNA with a degree in Political Science and moved to Spain to play professional volleyball for Finques Borrell Camp Escolar. She returned to the United States for the 2007-08 season to serve as a graduate assistant coach for the Troy University Volleyball program.  

Her favorite part of coaching is helping her players reach their full potential, both on and off the court. She believes that a positive team environment is crucial for success, where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to shine. Outside of coaching, Coach Howell enjoys relaxing with a good book and spending time with her husband, Wess, and their two sons, Noah and Ben.