Loizous Loizou watches from the sidelines as his explosive, fast-paced women’s volleyball team practices. Loizou is the new assistant volleyball coach at Guilford, serving under head coach Glenda Dellinger.
He also balances working full time as a special education teacher at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem. The elevenwomen on the volleyball team are enthusiastic about the addition of Loizou.
“He’s a great coach,” said team captain A.J. Robinson. “He makes us have pride in our team.”
With his cocky grin and thick Greek accent, Loizou modestly credits the eleven women on the volleyball team for his love of the game.
“They are all very special to me. I love to joke with them.”
Loizous started coaching well before coming to Guilford. He played semi-pro volleyball for eight years in Cyprus and was the setter for his country in the European Volleyball Championship in 1992.
Loizou later moved to America to study education, and got his bachelor degree from UNC Wilmington in 1999. He received his masters from UNCG.
Because UNC-Wilmington does not have a volleyball team, Lou started volunteer coaching at local high schools and colleges. Hoggard High School’s volleyball team went to the state play-offs for the first time in nearly two decades under the coaching of Loizou and placed second in the state. When his visa would only allow a few hours of coaching a week, Loizou became a full-time volunteer.
Today, as he shares his experience with Guilford, Loizou has philosophy in his goals for the team that can be applied to any field.
“I want all the girls to learn to be a team … learn how to listen. It’s a skill they will need in life.”
As of September, the team is 1-10, but that doesn’t get Loizou down. Optimistically, he acknowledges that for a team where three teammates had never played volleyball before, they are doing very well.
“They definitely are a team that has heart and has potential,” Loizou said. “They just need a final push to break through.”
Only halfway through their season, Loizou’s attitude and confidence has proven as a powerful new asset to the volleyball team.
With a shrug, Loizou has great trust in his team. “Winning will come.”
Head coach Dellinger can’t praise Loizou enough.
“I feel very fortunate to have someone of Lou’s caliber, with his experience, background, and knowledge of the game,” Dellinger said. “He has and will help us in our game to get to the next level.”
Loizou will be coaching the volleyball team with Dellinger at the G.Q. Invitational Tournament this weekend. The tournament kicks off Friday, Oct. 3, with Guilford vs. Bridgewater at 3 p.m.Sports Scores
Matt McCall
Staff Writer

Football (1-2, 0-1 ODAC)
Lost 52-33 to Hampden-Sydney, Sept. 27

HSC GC
FIRST DOWNS 28 17
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 44-212 35-122
PASSING YDS (NET) 414 160
Passes Att-Comp-Int 43-30-1 25-12-1
TOTAL OFF. PLAYS-YARDS 87-626 60-282

Volleyball (1-10, 1-2 ODAC)
Lost 30-26, 21-30, 28-30 to Emory & Henry, Sept. 27

Lost 30-28, 30-24, 28-30, 31-29 to Lynchburg, Sept. 25

Men’s Soccer (2-4, 0-2 ODAC)
Lost 3-1 to Roanoke, Sept. 24
SOG: Tim Imafidon-1, Steffen Schollaert-1, Bo White-2
G: Bo White-1
A: Noam Sorek-1
Saves: Zane Campbell-4

Lost 3-0 to Bridgewater, Sept. 27
SOG: Tim Imafidon-2, Ampofo Darko-1, Greg Hampson-1, Steffen Schollaert-1
Saves: Zane Campbell-4, Matt McCall-3

Women’s Soccer (6-5, 3-1 ODAC)
Beat Emory & Henry 6-0, Sept. 22
SOG: Jennifer Mundy-4, Rachel Gwin-2, Emily Ott-2, Flo Lance-1, Micah Risk-1, Heather Ruggiero-1, Trina Scurka-1
G: Jennifer Mundy-4, Heather Ruggiero-1, Emily Ott-1
A: Heather Ruggiero-2, Diana Newman-1, Emily Ott-1
Saves: Angie Barnett-1

Beat Randolph Macon Woman’s College 7-1, Sept. 24
SOG: Jennifer Mundy-4, Heather Ruggiero-4, Flo Lance-3, Megan Barolet-Fogarty-2, Danielle Bassett-2, Rachel Gwin-2, Emily Ott-2, Diana Newman-1, Trina Scurka-1, Alissa VanZee-Phillips-1
G: Ruggiero-1, Megan Barolet-Fogarty-1, Rachael Gwin-2, Mundy-1, Flo Lance-2
A: Megan Barolet-Fogarty-2, Rachel Gwin-1, Micah Risk-1
Saves: Angie Barnett-6

Beat Bridgewater 2-1, Sept. 27
SOG:Rachel Gwin-2, Flo Lance-2, Lori Layton-1, Jennifer Mundy-1, Emily Ott-1, Heather Ruggiero-1
G: Lori Layton-1, Jennifer Mundy-1
Saves: Danielle Brisotti-1, Angie Barnett-4

Golf
Guilford finished third behind #1 Methodist and #2 Oglethorpe at the Tom O’Briant Memorial Golf Tournament, Sept. 29-30

Sophomore Brant Stovall finished third in the 90-player field with a 144, and first-year Colin finished ninth with a 149.