Ashley Walton is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Vulcans, but is certainly no stranger to volleyball in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Walton was a two-time All-American and teammate of head coach Stephanie Burner at rival Edinboro University.
Walton finished her career with the Fighting Scots (2000-03) as the school’s all-time leader with 1,906 career kills and ranks among the top players in school history with 403 total blocks and 466 games played.
She made an immediate impact with Edinboro, earning PSAC West Rookie of the Year and Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year honors after the Fighting Scots advanced to the PSAC Championship match and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
A middle hitter, she helped lead Edinboro to the 2001 PSAC Championship and another NCAA Tournament appearance. As a junior, Walton earned AVCA third-team All-America honors after leading the team with 462 kills and 96 blocks as the Fighting Scots advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1998.
Walton then registered a single-season school record 634 kills in 2003 as Edinboro posted a 26-12 overall record. For her efforts, she was named the PSAC West Player of the Year and a third-team All-American.
The only AVCA All-American in program history, Walton helped Edinboro post a 91-42 overall record (.684) in her four seasons and the Fighting Scots advanced to the NCAA Tournament in all four years.
Walton was a four-time All-PSAC West selection, including a three-time first-team honoree.
After earning her bachelor of science in Health and Physical Education, Walton started her coaching career at Littlestown High School in Littlestown, Pa. After two years working as the girls’ junior varsity volleyball program, she accepted the varsity head coaching responsibility with the Thunderbolts in 2006.
She also served three years as the girls’ track & field coach at Littlestown High School, working with the jumpers (long, triple and high).
A native of Manchester, Pa., Walton also was a volunteer coach at the West Shore YMCA, where she worked with an under-16 club volleyball team.
Walton, like Burner, was one of 15 former Fighting Scots named to Edinboro’s all-time volleyball team during the 2006-07 academic year.
