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Trish Kissiar-Knight is a native of Licking, Mo., and has long been considered one of the nation’s top volleyball coaches. As coach of the West Plains High School Zizzer volleyball teams, her squads won four consecutive Class 4A state championships, two third place state trophies, and numerous tournaments across the state and region during her 13-year stay at that school.
A 1976 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU, now Missouri State University) and a former member of the SMSU VolleyBears, Trish also teaches physical education at Missouri State University-West Plains. She has a master’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor of science in physical education, both from SMSU. Among her many honors is membership in the SMSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
In addition to her teaching duties at Missouri State University-West Plains, Trish has served as program director of the Junior Olympics volleyball program, which includes much of the south central part of the state of Missouri, and as area coordinator for the U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis in the summer of 1994.
With Trish at the helm, the Grizzlies have accumulated a record of 607-141-3 over fourteen years of play, and during the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,2005,and 2006 seasons, placed eighth, seventh, fourth, second, second, seventh, third and third place respectively, at the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. The Grizzlies are the Region XVI champions for the eighth consecutive year, and were Region XVI runners-up six years in a row from 1993 to 1998. Trish was named Region XVI Coach of the Year for the 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons; District H Coach of the Year for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; District N Coach of the Year for 2004; and AVCA Junior College/Community College Midwest Coach of the Year for 2000 and 2002.
Trish also was named Citizen of the Year in 2001 by the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce.
Paula Wiedemann is in her tenth year as the Grizzlies' assistant coach with the Grizzlies. A two time All-American at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., she received her bachelor's degree in corporate fitness in 1989. She then earned her master's degree in education - exercise and sport science - while serving as graduate assistant coach.
Paula served as a program director and coach for Junior Olympic volleyball programs for 12 years, and after leaving Drury, she spent three years as head coach and faculty member at East Central College in Union, Mo.
In 1998 Paula was a starting outside hitter for the Kansas City Lightning, a professional team competing in the National Volleyball Association. In it's first season, the Lightning won the regular season and was one match away from the NVA finals. She was also a member of Power Angle, a USAV women's team and was a two-time All-American in the 1997 and 1998 USAV National Tournaments.
Paula and her husband, Warren have a daughter, Kelly
