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Leslie Whitfield Gehris is beginning her second season as Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.   Coach Gehris comes to Montreat from coaching at North Buncombe High School and having been an all-conference volleyball player at UNC Asheville.

Gehris began her volleyball career as the PAC-6 Conference player of the year wile attending Person High School in Roxboro, NC. After walking on to UNC-Asheville's volleyball program in the spring of 1999 she gradually solidified her role as a top defensive player. Her career culminated with Gehris being named All Big South, the first for a defensive only player, and UNC-Asheville's first Regional All-American. In addition to those accolades, Gehris received UNCA's Female Athlete of the Year (2003), and the Inspirational Award for her dedication to volleyball and her team. This recognition came on the heels of a 26-8 overall season record, which gave UNCA the regular season championship, in which Gehris broke a national record for total digs in a Division I volleyball season (eclipsing the 1989 mark with 763). This accomplishment enabled Leslie to tryout for the National Team in New Orleans (2002), and it landed her in the December 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated: Faces in the Crowd.

Leslie Whitfield Gehris received her Bachelor's of Arts with a degree in Biology and teacher certification on May 17, 2003 from UNC-Asheville. She graduated having been a member of the President's List and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. upon graduation she taught biology, physical science, earth science, and anatomy & physiology at North Bumcombe High School for three years.

She is married to former UNCA athlete Granville Gehris. The Gehris' and their daughter (McKensie) reside in Asheville, North Carolina.