PORTLAND, Ore. — Just as everyone starts hitting the beach for the summer, the Portland State volleyball team has added a touch of the beach to its coaching staff. Grace McCullough, a two-year beach volleyball player for Concordia University Irvine, has joined the Vikings' coaching staff, head coach Michael Seemann announced Wednesday.
 
McCullough, who will serve as technical director for the team, adds depth to a Viking coach staff that will feature four official members on the bench for the first time in several years.
 
"We are fortunate to have the opportunity to hire Grace as our newest staff member for the program," Seemann said of McCullough. "Grace has a diverse background in the sport, competing as a student-athlete and coaching at the club level. She is motivated, organized, and ambitious, all traits that will help pave the path to her professional goals.
 
"In her role with us, Grace will focus on student-athlete wellness, operations, and technical coordination, in addition to assisting in the gym."
 
McCullough spent two years with the Golden Eagles of Concordia-Irvine, including this past spring when the team placed third at the AVCA Small College Championships. That served as redemption for the previous year, when the Golden Eagles fell in the third-place game at the same tournament.
 
McCullough played beach and indoor volleyball at MiraCosta Community College during the 2020-21 school year, after playing a year of indoor volleyball for Lewis & Clark College in Portland in the fall of 2019. She prepped at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, Calif., while playing club volleyball for the Wave Volleyball Club – the same club that produced incoming freshman Devon DeNecochea.
 
During her time at Concordia-Irvine, McCullough also served as the head coach of the California Volleyball Club's 16-1's boys team for two years.
 
In addition to her role with the volleyball team, McCullough will also be working towards a master's degree and professional license in Early Intervention Special Education at Portland State University.