After a stellar high school volleyball run that followed into a historic college career, Rainey Aven has retired the uniform and has followed in the family footsteps joining the Oklahoma Christian University volleyball coaching staff as an assistant this summer.
Aven, whose father Jason is a veteran coach and current assistant at Bushland, is thrilled to get into the business and continue her passion for her favorite sport.
“I’ve always loved playing sports or being involved in sports since I was little,” Aven said. “I was always going to play volleyball, and I grew up in a competitive atmosphere in Hereford. Playing and coaching is all I know. Having a coach as a dad, I’ve taken a lot from him over the years, and I get a lot of insight a lot of athletes don’t get that always helped and humbled me. It shaped me into who I am today.”
Aven grew up loving the tradition of Hereford volleyball always going to practice and participating as a ball girl.
In high school, Aven joined that Lady Whiteface legacy with her leadership and versatile play on the court earning two-time All-State honors as a junior and a senior. Aven also helped Hereford to a UIL Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2019.
“I loved playing for Hereford,” Aven said. “I saw so many practices as a kid and I love the tradition. It was an honor to actually play and be successful in the program. Coach Brenda Kitten started it all and I thought coach (Catherine Beville) Foerster and coach (Carley) McCracken continued to build it. That program grew me as an athlete.”
Former Hereford coach Carley McCracken says Aven definitely was a special player.
“Rainey loves the Hereford program,” said McCracken, who coached Aven her senior season. “The Lady Whiteface program has great tradition and girls like Rainey always saw that. Rainey is a natural competitor and brought the team to new heights because she was always selfless. She became a great setter and just did anything asked of her.”
Over those two years, Aven signed her name to the record books for assists in a career with 1,909, assists in a season 1,266, and assists in a match tallying 52.
“There is always a lot of talk about JUCO,” Aven said. “I felt it was an easier transition. It was a two-year program that gave me a chance to get on the floor and I was able to take advantage of that. I got a step ahead and I had great coaches. I can’t believe how incredible it was and the career I had there.”
Last season, Aven played her final year of volleyball transferring to Oklahoma Christian where she made an impact on the program. However, that chapter is closed and now Aven is looking forward to the coaching ahead. Her goal now is to be the best on the sideline and make a difference for future players.
“I want to be a coach that a player can look back on and think they learned so much from that person,” Aven said. “I want to be a great role model on and off the court and give back to the sport that gave me so much.”
McCracken echoed Aven’s comment.
“I love that Rainey is following in the family footsteps,” McCracken said. “I think it’s a great idea to start at the college level. She’ll bring a lot of wisdom to the team and those players. Rainey has a tremendous volleyball IQ and will take so much to that coaching staff.”