KINGSTON, R.I. - Kiera McCarles is back with the Rhode Island volleyball program, joining the coaching staff as a student assistant for the 2026 season.

McCarles was a team captain in both seasons she played for head coach Ryan Sullivan in Kingston. She came to URI after two seasons at Mercer and over the course of her career, McCarles recorded 2,551 assists, 603 digs and 106 service aces. She has 113 career matches and 394 sets played to her credit.

"Kiera has been a leader for the program since she arrived at Rhode Island," Sullivan said. "Not only does she understand the intricacies of volleyball on the court, she also relates well to the student-athletes in the program. She adds a veteran presence who understands what our program is about."

In addition to her own playing career, McCarles has coached with the Burloak Beach Volleyball program in Burlington, Ontario. While completing her degree in Psychology last year, she also was an academic advising intern with the URI Student-Athlete Academic Advising Center. In that role, she provided guidance and support to student-athletes in time management, course scheduling and strategies for balancing athletic commitments with academic responsibilities.