Home / Sports / Volleyball Legend April Chapple Dies at 62
Volleyball Legend April Chapple Dies at 62
6 Aug
Summary
- Chapple earned SEC Player of the Year and MVP honors in 1984.
- She ranks second in career aces and third in kills for Tennessee.
- Chapple played professionally in Italy and was MLV's first draft pick.
April Chapple, a distinguished figure in Tennessee volleyball and a member of the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame, died at the age of 62. Originally from Inglewood, California, Chapple made a significant mark on the Lady Vols program between 1981 and 1984. During her tenure, the team secured three SEC regular-season championships and three SEC Tournament titles.
The Lady Vols reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Chapple's four seasons. A standout player, she was named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Tournament MVP in 1984, also becoming UT's second All-American in volleyball. She remains second in career aces (244) and third in career kills (1,650) for the program.
Chapple's professional career included eight years playing in Italy, reaching multiple finals with Reggio Emilia. She was also the first overall pick in Major League Volleyball and played for the New York Liberties. After her playing career, she transitioned to writing and coaching, contributing to Coaching Volleyball magazine and coaching club volleyball in Las Vegas.
