Hailey Pearce, head volleyball coach at Eastern Oregon University, died Monday July 18, 2011as the result of a motor vehicle accident.
Pearce joined EOU's coaching staff in 2010. Prior to that she was an assistant coach at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., her alma mater. Coming to EOU was a return “home” for Pearce, who grew up in Walla Walla and has family throughout the area.
A scholarship fund has been established in her memory. Individuals wishing to support the fund should direct their contributions to the EOU Foundation and indicate the
Hailey Pearce Memorial Scholarship.
Born September 5, 1985 in Ontario, Oregon Hailey May Pearce was dearly loved and the youngest of six children of Parley and DeAnna Pearce. She loved being active, whether it was volleyball, tennis, wakeboarding or roping and surrounded herself with friends and family. Hailey was preceeded in death by her mother Deanna Pearce and her grandparents Dehlin and Jean Erickson and Jean Pearce. Hailey is survived by her father Parley Pearce of Walla Walla;her siblings: Justin Pearce, Heather Campbell, Ashley Mathews, Audra Cummings and Drew Pearce; her niece Gracelynne Pearce and nephew Pearce Mathews; grandfather Ivan Pearce and numerous aunts and uncles.
While at Rocky Mountain as an assistant, the Battlin’ Bears went 39-19 overall and 19-9 in conference play. RMC finished the 2008 season in second place in the Frontier Conference behind No. 14 Lewis-Clark State. Pearce was the head coach of the Rocky Mountain Junior Varsity team in 2008 and 2009.
Pearce graduated with a Business Management degree in 2008 from Rocky Mountain College. She lettered in all four of her seasons from 2004 to 2008. Pearce was selected All-Frontier Conference Second Team and All-Region honorable mention in her senior season.
Pearce, a setter, was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Week multiple times during her career, including three times her senior season. She was a member of the 2008 RMC squad that was recognized as an American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award winner.
In 2004, Pearce was named the Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year. She was named Second Team All-Frontier Conference in her junior year as well. After graduating, Pearce joined a select team from the United States that played in the Netherlands and Germany.
