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Harper Creek alum Leigh Barea takes UW-Parkside team on the road with side trip back home

bill broderick, battle creek enquirer
·4 min read

BATTLE CREEK - Former Harper Creek standout Leigh Barea, now the head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside women’s volleyball team, took her team on a road trip and ended up at home instead.

Let’s explain.

Barea and her Parkside team left the state of Wisconsin and boarded a bus to travel to play Wayne State and Grand Valley State University this weekend. But on the way, she brought her team to her former home gym at Harper Creek High School on Thursday.

And, even though the scoreboard wasn’t on because it was just a practice, the girls on the Harper Creek team were the big winners, getting a chance to experience a touch of volleyball from the next level.

University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's volleyball head coach Leigh Barea instructs players at Harper Creek High School on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's volleyball head coach Leigh Barea instructs players at Harper Creek High School on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

“I love the idea of my team getting to be around college volleyball,” Harper Creek coach  Terra King said. “They also get to see that anything is possible. They see an alum, that not only played college volleyball, but is now also coaching college volleyball. That’s kind of the message with this.”

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Wisconsin-Parkside was getting set for its final weekend of the regular season as the Division II program was scheduled to play at Wayne State on Friday and Grand Valley State University on Saturday. It is the end of a standout season for the Rangers. Following a year with only three conference wins a year ago, Parkside will finish this weekend's events in the top half of the league and go home to host their first ever postseason game next week.

Barea has been the catalyst to the turnaround. Barea is a 2011 graduate of Harper Creek and played for King when she was a Beaver. Barea was hired as the 13th head coach of the Parkside volleyball program in January of 2018. In 2019, Barea led Parkside to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, reaching the quarterfinals.

University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's volleyball head coach Leigh Barea works with players at Harper Creek High School on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's volleyball head coach Leigh Barea works with players at Harper Creek High School on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

Prior to coming to Parkside, Barea served as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State from 2015-18 where she was the Gamecocks’ recruiting coordinator and was the lead contact for the academics of the program. Barea was a standout at Lewis University during her playing career from 2011-14. She was a four-year starting setter and three-year team captain for the Flyers. She was a three-time all-conference honoree, two-time Academic All-Conference selection and helped Lewis to four straight NCAA appearances and three straight regular-season championships. She ranks first all-time at Lewis in assists and seventh in digs.”

Getting a chance to make a side trip to her old home high school has been a bonus on this current road trip. A trip that also included having the team have dinner with her parents at her real home.

“We get to have some time together and bond a little as a team. That’s a plus. Bringing them here, a place that is home to me, it’s a good space for us and it feels good to be here,” Barea said. “I’m sure all the girls are looking forward to seeing the old pictures of me at my house. But I love sharing my family with my team. My dad, who was my coach, that creates a whole other bond. It's always more than just sports, that’s what we are saying by doing something like this."

Barea’s trip into Harper Creek comes at the end of an emotional week for the Beaver volleyball team. Harper Creek, after winning its first Division 1 district title a week ago, lost in the regionals on Tuesday to end the season.

“I am here in support of the program, just keeping tabs on what is going on,” Barea said. “Great to stay in touch with Terra as we don’t get to see each other as much as we want as we are both so busy these days. It is also a good chance to give back. Any young women I can inspire in any capacity, I want to do it. If coming here and having a little practice helps with that, I want to do it.”

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: UW-Parkside coach Leigh Barea back home to talk to Harper Creek squad