By Desiree M. Cooper
Photo by Sports Communication; Hayley Couch returns a shot at Greyhound Arena
Her last name is Couch, but star volleyball player Hayley is not about to sit down during her senior year at Eastern New Mexico University.
Her busy semester includes taking part in the Student Athlete Committee and spending time 
with her teammates. Couch jokes that she only has time to “eat, sleep, play volleyball, and do homework.”
This is Couch’s second year at ENMU. She lived in Galveston, Texas, before coming to Portales. Despite missing the beach and seafood, Couch has embraced the New Mexico lifestyle. Her favorite local restaurant is Something Different. She also enjoys eating in the Campus Union Building, especially for breakfast.
Couch’s favorite college memory is of last year’s Mud Volleyball tournament. Couch and her volleyball teammates were on a team called the Red Hots. They had a record of 2-1. She said that playing in the mud was much different than playing normal volleyball.
Couch has high hopes for her senior year. She is excited about the chance to play in the Lone Star Conference Tournament, go to a home game for the football team, and participate in Mud Volleyball again. She also wants to take part in Homecoming Week activities.
She is looking forward to playing an away game at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Kingsville is close to her home in Galveston, Texas, so her family will be able to watch her play.
Rap and techno music help Couch and her teammates get pumped up for volleyball games. Couch’s favorite pre-game song is Lil Wayne’s “Right Above It.”
Destiny Hooker, a member of the United States women’s national volleyball team is Couch’s favorite athlete. Couch followed Hooker’s illustrious career throughout high school. She remembers watching Hooker and her University of Texas teammates play for the national championship in 2010. She believes Hooker is “an amazing volleyball player.”
An Education major, Couch plans on teaching history in high school. Her favorite class at ENMU was Structured Observations of Teaching/Lab with Ms. Russ.
“She was one of my favorite teachers. The way she taught it, she made me want to become a better educator,” Couch said of Russ.
Couch would like to go to graduate school, but she does not have a particular school in mind.
She would like to become an assistant volleyball coach and work her way up to a head-coaching position. Couch is looking “to get her foot in the door” wherever she can.