CSU Pueblo head volleyball coach Jordan Bruere as announced the addition of Brilane Manchego as an assistant coach for the ThunderWolves' program.
“I am thrilled bring coach Bri with me here to the Pack,” Bruere said. “Coach Bri brings a wealth of knowledge from her playing experience and as an All-American setter. Her ability to see the game and the connections she builds with our athletes is what makes her one of the best.”
Manchego joins the Pack after serving the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Western Colorado University for current Pack coach, Jordan Bruere.
A Pueblo, Colo., native, Manchego played college volleyball at Otero Junior College for former CSU Pueblo assistant coach Jordan Willis. In her two seasons at Otero, Manchego became the program's first-ever All-American in volleyball in 2019 as she earned First-Team NJCAA and Second-Team AVCA All-American honors and was also the Region IX Setter of the Year and a First-Team NJCAA Academic All-American in 2018. During her career at Otero, she broke the school record with 2,317 assists in 2019 en route to helping Otero earn a Region IX title and a seventh-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament.
Following her two seasons at Otero, Manchego transferred to Davis & Elkins (W.Va.) College, where she played for three seasons, including 2020-21 spring COVID season. That season, the Senators, who were coached by Willis, reached the semifinal round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament after posting a 9-3 regular season record.
A setter, Manchego was a First-Team All-MEC selection as a junior in 2020-21 after ranking second in the league and 26th nationally in assists per set (10.24), accumulating a total of 430 assists, which was third-most in the league.
Finished her three seasons at Davis & Elkins with 2,373 assists, 188 kills, 59 aces, 542 digs and 67 blocked in 69 matches and 240 sets. She averaged 9.89 assists and 2.26 digs per set in her collegiate career and earned two Honorable Mention All-MEC accolades to go along with her First-Team honor in 2020-21. Her 2,373 assists are third-most in school history, while her 542 digs are ninth on the school's all-time list.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, with a minor in Health and Athletic Training from Davis & Elkins in 2022. In the classroom, she was a two-time member of the Dean's List and was also a three-time member of the President's List.
Manchego prepped at Pueblo West High School for Coach Casey King. In her high school career, she broke the school's all-time assists mark with 1,500 and was a two-time All-State and a three-time All-Conference honoree and took home League MVP honors as a junior in 2017. Helped lead Pueblo West to back-to-back State Final Four appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Manchego earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science, with a minor in health and athletic training, from Davis & Elkins in 2022 and recently completed her Master of Education degree in Positive Coaching & Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri.
