Three-time All-American and long-time assistant Heather Pavlik '95 is in her second season as head coach of Juniata women’s volleyball, after taking the reins from former mentor Larry Bock in the spring of 2011.

In her first season at the helm, Pavlik guided the Eagles to a 27-8 overall record and the program’s 31st consecutive conference title and appearance in the NCAA tournament. Juniata continued its streak of being the only program to qualify for every Division III women’s volleyball championship, and advanced to the regional championship match.

Under Pavlik’s tutelage two Eagles earned All-America honors in 2011, while senior libero Libby Morrison was both the Landmark Conference Player of the Year and Specialist of the Year, and was a Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree.

"Heather was the obvious choice to continue the rich tradition of Juniata women's volleyball, and build upon the program's accomplishments under Larry Bock," said Dean of Students Kris Clarkson, at the time of Pavlik’s hiring on January 19, 2011. "She has been a part of much of that success, as a student, as an athlete, and as a coach, and understands perhaps better than anyone what it takes to be a successful student-athlete at Juniata College."

The 2010 campaign, Pavlik’s last season prior to moving into her new role as head coach, was Pavlik's 15th on the bench with Juniata women's volleyball and her eighth since being named associate head coach prior to the 2003 season. In her 15 seasons as assistant and later associate head coach, the Eagles amassed a record of 493-63, and she was on the bench helping guide Juniata to its NCAA Division III national championships in 2004 and 2006.

During her tenure with Juniata women's volleyball, the Eagles have produced 37 All-America honors. Her work with the team's setters has produced six All-Americans and three Division III national players of the year.

Pavlik also served as an assistant coach with the Juniata men's volleyball program from 1998 through 2001. The Eagles captured their first Molten Division III Invitational title in 1998 with Pavlik as an assistant coach, as well as the EIVA Division III crown. Juniata captured its second EIVA Division III title in 1999, while placing fourth at the Molten Invitational.

A 1995 graduate of Juniata College with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Pavlik earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First team All-America honors in 1992, 1993, and 1994. She is a 2005 inductee into the Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame, and was one of six former collegiate players named to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Silver Anniversary Team.

Pavlik was formerly Heather Blough before marrying Mark Pavlik, the head coach of the Penn State men's volleyball program, in June 1997. The couple lives in Cornpropst Mills, Pa., with their son, Jackson. She is a native of Johnstown, Pa., and a graduate of Richland High School.

Coach Pavlik can be reached at pavlikh@juniata.edu.