Ayona Tharps
Ayona Tharps

Bio

Ayona Tharps joined the Bethany Athletics staff in June 2024, but Tharps is no stranger to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), having completed a decorated playing career at Ottawa University, along with one year of coaching.  

Tharps spent 2022-23 as a student coach at Ottawa, where she assisted in all facets of the program. She worked with both the junior varsity and varsity teams, including player development, practice planning, game strategy, on-court coaching, scouting reports, recruiting, team building and communication, travel arrangements, and equipment management. Tharps also assisted with the Ottawa University Volleyball Camps from 2018-2022.  

Following her time at Ottawa, Tharps had a brief stint as a collegiate head coach before returning to club coaching. The past year, she was the Assistant Coach for 13 Select for High Performance Volleyball Club in St. Louis, Mo. Tharps previously served as one of the Head Coaches for High Performance Volleyball Club in 2021-22. In addition, she coached club volleyball during her career at Ottawa. Tharps served as an Assistant Coach for 13 Premiere in 2020-21, and Head Coach for 15 Select and 16 Select in 2019-20 and 2022-23, all with Mid America Volleyball (MAVS) in Overland Park, Kan. 

Tharps began her collegiate career at Evangel University for one year before transferring to Ottawa University, where she played for four years. Her playing career at Ottawa was one for the record books, as she was the first volleyball student-athlete in Ottawa history to be a named a three-time NAIA All-American. In addition, Tharps was a two-time KCAC Player of the Year (2019, 2021), four-time First Time All-KCAC (2018-2021), three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-West Central Region (2019-2021), and AVCA All-West Central Region Honorable Mention (2018). During her time at Ottawa, the Braves were two-time KCAC Regular Season Champions (2020, 2021) and four-time KCAC Tournament Champions (2018-2021). Tharps served as team captain in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and was a member of the 2021 All-Decade Team. She finished her career as the Ottawa career leader in kills (1,728), third in kills per set (3.4), third in solo blocks (88), third in block assists (289), and third in blocks (377).

Following her time at Ottawa, Tharps had a brief stint as a collegiate head coach before returning to club coaching. The past year, she was the Assistant Coach for 13 Select for High Performance Volleyball Club in St. Louis, Mo. Tharps previously served as one of the Head Coaches for High Performance Volleyball Club in 2021-22. In addition, she coached club volleyball during her career at Ottawa. Tharps served as an Assistant Coach for 13 Premiere in 2020-21, and Head Coach for 15 Select and 16 Select in 2019-20 and 2022-23, all with Mid America Volleyball (MAVS) in Overland Park, Kan. 

Tharps began her collegiate career at Evangel University for one year before transferring to Ottawa University, where she played for four years. Her playing career at Ottawa was one for the record books, as she was the first volleyball student-athlete in Ottawa history to be a named a three-time NAIA All-American. In addition, Tharps was a two-time KCAC Player of the Year (2019, 2021), four-time First Time All-KCAC (2018-2021), three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-West Central Region (2019-2021), and AVCA All-West Central Region Honorable Mention (2018). During her time at Ottawa, the Braves were two-time KCAC Regular Season Champions (2020, 2021) and four-time KCAC Tournament Champions (2018-2021). Tharps served as team captain in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and was a member of the 2021 All-Decade Team. She finished her career as the Ottawa career leader in kills (1,728), third in kills per set (3.4), third in solo blocks (88), third in block assists (289), and third in blocks (377).