Sacred Heart’s Walker coaches U.S. to eighth-place finish at Paralympics

Sacred Heart coach Greg Walker came up short in his attempt to coach the United States to a sitting volleyball medal at the 2016 Paralympics.

The U.S. Men’s Paralympic Team concluded the sitting volleyball tournament with a three-game loss to China in the consolation bracket during the weekend.

The United States under its first-year head coach Walker was making its first Paralympic Games appearance in 12 years. In addition, Walker as an assistant coach last year helped guide the United States to the silver medal at the Parapan American Games and an Olympic berth.

With its loss to China, the United States (0-4) finished the eight-team Paralympic tournament in eighth place.

The United States dropped to the consolation bracket after going winless in the pool-play round with three-game losses to Egypt and the host-nation Brazil and a five-game loss to Germany.

Walker has served as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Sitting Volleyball Team coaching staff throughout this Paralympics quadrennial. He also is entering his second season as the head coach at Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart in Walker’s inaugural year finished last season in sixth place in the EIVA, including an upset victory against the EIVA Tournament finalists St. Francis.