Karen Parra is in her first season as an assistant volleyball coach for Newman University.
Parra played collegiate volleyball at Wichita State from 2001-04 under head coach Chris Lamb. She led the team in assists her freshman season before switching to the libero position her sophomore season once the position was introduced at the NCAA level. Parra was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Libero of the Year in 2003 and 2004. Parra was named to tha All-District VII Team in 2004. She was named to the Missouri Valley All-Tournament Team in 2004, leading the Shockers to the school's first-ever Missouri Valley Tournament championship. With the tournament win, the Shockers earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round before falling to No. 1-ranked Nebraska.
While at WSU, she coached club volleyball all four years and earned a bachelor's degree in exerside science.
After WSU, Parra played professionally for the Plantina Longa 59 in Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands. She was the starting libero and her team finished in third place at the Top Team's Cup for the European Volleyball League.
When her professional career was over Parra returned to Wichita where she earned a second bachelor's degree in nursing from Wichita State. Parra worked as a pediatric nurse at Wesley Medical Center for 5 years.
Parra graduated from Maize High School where she was First Team All-State her senior season as a setter and her team won the State 6A title.
She and her husband, Joe, reside in Wichita.
