Ali Duckworth

**Alli Duckworth** was named as the first head coach for the Lindenwood beach volleyball program in June of 2021. Competition for the beach volleyball program will begin in 2022-23. Duckworth was an assistant coach for the women's volleyball team for six seasons.

On the sand in 2023, Duckworth led the Lions to an 8-14 record, including a 2-8 mark against OVC competition. The Lions went 1-0 at home during the year, defeating Eastern Illinois, 3-2 on April 16. The duo of Maider Soto and Katie Malzahn earned All-OVC first-team honors after compiling a record of 14-6 out of the No. 1 slot. For her play, Malzahn was recognized as the OVC Freshman of the Year.

In the fall of 2021, Duckworth helped the team to a 14-13 record and a 7-9 GLVC record in the Lions' final season as a Division II program. This was the fourth time in Duckworth's career that she assisted Condon to an above .500 season record, and the second straight season as well.

Duckworth helped coach Lindenwood to its first-ever appearance in the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament in the 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021. With Duckworth’s assistance, Lindenwood boasted one of the most efficient offenses in 2020 (spring 2021), notching a GLVC-best .241 hitting percentage, which ranked 16th in the nation. Duckworth also assisted with the tutelage of four All-GLVC selections during the campaign, for the first time in program history. In the classroom, the Lions collected GLVC Team Academic All-Conference honors, and 15 student-athletes earned Academic All-GLVC honors.

In 2019, Duckworth aided with one of the top teams in all of the GLVC in service aces, ranking third, with a 1.46 average for the season. She helped coach middle blocker Sadie Kosciuk to a top two rank in the conference with a 0.39 service ace average per set and the eighth-best points per set average at 3.80.

In 2018, the Lions posted their second-consecutive winning season with Duckworth’s assistance. As a team, the Lions were 36th in NCAA DII in blocks per set at 2.19 and 68th in hitting percentage at .215. Duckworth helped coach Sadie Kosciuk, who led the MIAA with 1.19 blocks per set and was fifth in the conference with a .317 hitting percentage.

Under Duckworth’s tutelage, the 2017 Lions set program NCAA records in solo blocks, assisted blocks, and total blocks. The Lions' 255 total blocks surpassed the previous NCAA team record by 38 blocks. Duckworth helped to coach the team’s first two All-MIAA selections in team history, Megan Hellwege and Emily Wylie.

Duckworth was previously the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Saint Louis University from 2014-16. Duckworth helped the Billikens to a conference runner-up finish in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2016, the best finish since 2009. While at Saint Louis, she coached one All-American, one All-Region selection, three All-Conference honorees, and one Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

Prior to Saint Louis University, Duckworth served as Armstrong State University’s assistant coach from 2011-13 under Lindenwood head coach Will Condon. She helped the Pirates capture the Peach Belt Conference championship in each of her three seasons. Duckworth coached eight All-Americans, 12 All-Region selections, and 14 All-Conference honorees.

Before Armstrong State, Duckworth played professional volleyball for Societa Sportiva Cuore in Reggio Calabria, Italy. She was the team’s starting middle blocker, earning team MVP accolades.

Duckworth played collegiately at South Florida, where she was a four-year letter winner for the Bulls from 2006-09. She was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection and an AVCA All-Northeast Region performer as a senior. Duckworth finished her career sixth on USF’s all-time list with 430 total blocks and fourth in block assists with 380. In her senior season, Duckworth averaged 1.49 blocks per set, leading the Big East and ranking in the top 10 in the NCAA.

Duckworth, a St. Louis, Mo. native, was a standout at Marquette High School, lettering in volleyball and basketball all four years along with winning numerous team, tournament, and conference awards. She resides in St. Charles, Mo. with her husband, Ben and her two children, Marlowe and Eleanor.