Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Weindel Welcomes New Volleyball Assistant Coach
2/5/2013 11:08:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Elaina Kakatolis, who spent last season as an assistant volleyball coach at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota, has been named to the same position at Montana State, announced Bobcat head coach Kyle Weindel.
Elaina Kakatolis, who spent last season as an assistant volleyball coach at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota, has been named to the same position at Montana State, announced Bobcat head coach Kyle Weindel.
Kakatolis will serve as MSU's recruiting coordinator, while managing day-to-day operations with the Sideout Club and alumni relations. She will also assist in match preparation and serve as the Bobcat offensive coordinator.
With the Beavers, Kakatolis helped coach four student-athletes that garnered All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference academic honors, as well as a second-team all-league performer. She also served as Assistant Compliance Director at BSU.
Prior to her stint in Bemidji, she spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. Kakatolis' accomplishments at Northwestern State included guiding the Demons to the Southland Conference Tournament, behind the SLC Freshman of the Year Stacey DiFrancesco, and helping the program improves its overall team grade-point average from 2.4 to 3.3 over two seasons.
“I am very pleased to hire Elaina,” Weindel said. “She is going to be a great fit for us. I have known her almost ten years and she is someone I know and trust. Elaina is very likable and her personality lends well with what we are trying to do here at MSU. I know she will instantly connect with the players and build genuine relationships with the players, athletic department and everyone she connects with in Bozeman.”
Kakatolis' early career path mirrored Weindel- as both played collegiately at Ball State and coached in the Munciana Volleyball Club program in Muncie, Ind.
As a three-time team captain, Kakatolis helped guide the Cardinals to two Mid-American Conference Tournaments as a right-side hitter. Ball State improved its RPI from 254 to 152 during her tenure with the team.
“She comes from a similar background as me,” Weindel said. “She learned how to play, teach and coach the game from the same group of amazing people that I did. I know she can come in and immediately make an impact on our recruiting and in the gym.”
Kakatolis earned her bachelor of science degree from Ball State in accounting in 2010 and her masters of science degree in health and human performance from Northwestern State in 2012.
She has already started her duties at Montana State.
Kakatolis will serve as MSU's recruiting coordinator, while managing day-to-day operations with the Sideout Club and alumni relations. She will also assist in match preparation and serve as the Bobcat offensive coordinator.
With the Beavers, Kakatolis helped coach four student-athletes that garnered All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference academic honors, as well as a second-team all-league performer. She also served as Assistant Compliance Director at BSU.
Prior to her stint in Bemidji, she spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. Kakatolis' accomplishments at Northwestern State included guiding the Demons to the Southland Conference Tournament, behind the SLC Freshman of the Year Stacey DiFrancesco, and helping the program improves its overall team grade-point average from 2.4 to 3.3 over two seasons.
“I am very pleased to hire Elaina,” Weindel said. “She is going to be a great fit for us. I have known her almost ten years and she is someone I know and trust. Elaina is very likable and her personality lends well with what we are trying to do here at MSU. I know she will instantly connect with the players and build genuine relationships with the players, athletic department and everyone she connects with in Bozeman.”
Kakatolis' early career path mirrored Weindel- as both played collegiately at Ball State and coached in the Munciana Volleyball Club program in Muncie, Ind.
As a three-time team captain, Kakatolis helped guide the Cardinals to two Mid-American Conference Tournaments as a right-side hitter. Ball State improved its RPI from 254 to 152 during her tenure with the team.
“She comes from a similar background as me,” Weindel said. “She learned how to play, teach and coach the game from the same group of amazing people that I did. I know she can come in and immediately make an impact on our recruiting and in the gym.”
Kakatolis earned her bachelor of science degree from Ball State in accounting in 2010 and her masters of science degree in health and human performance from Northwestern State in 2012.
She has already started her duties at Montana State.
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