Kristen Wright was named the Head Coach of Cal State Bakersfield Volleyball on Dec. 24, 2025. She heads into her first season at the helm of the Roadrunners in Spring of 2026.

Prior to her return to her hometown of Bakersfield, Wright served the previous eight seasons at the University of North Florida in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Inheriting a squad that posted a 13-19 record prior to her arrival in 2018, Wright quickly turned the program around, finishing with a 25-8 showing in just her third full season with the Ospreys.

Wright’s 2021 squad made it to the NIVC Quarterfinals while resetting the program record for wins in a season with 25. She also guided the Ospreys to a program-high RPI of 49, ending with the highest final RPI at 75 and tallying the program’s first-ever victory over a Power 5 squad.

During her eight-year tenure at North Florida, Wright became the winningest coach in the program’s Division I history (since 2005) with an overall record of 197-154. She coached 10 All-Conference selections, four ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honorees and one ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, all while maintaining a team cumulative GPA between 3.3 and 3.7. Wright also proved to be an elite recruiter, attracting four Power 5 transfers to the UNF program.

Boasting a track record of success, Wright’s resume is flooded with championship achievements at all levels, including a CCCAA State title with the MiraCosta College beach volleyball team and nine-consecutive CIF San Diego Section Championships and six Southern California State Regional Championships with Tri-City Christian High School.

A Stockdale High School graduate who went on to earn All-America honors in college, Wright (née Hurst) has put together a coaching resume as equally as impressive. With championship coaching experience at every level of amateur volleyball, Wright brings coaching Hall of Fame and Coach of the Year accolades in her return to Kern County.

A standout prep star, Wright was highly recruited out of Stockdale High School, but she turned down Power 5 offers to compete for the University of San Diego. Wright became a four-year starter and captain for the Toreros. The pin hitter was named an All-American while leading USD to the program’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.

Congratulations to St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf and 185 other players from around the state:

FIRST TEAM

PLAYER SCHOOL HT. YR. POS.

Madison Anspaugh Rockford Christian 6-2 Sr. OH

Clemson-bound star propelled the Royal Lions to a 34-7 season and Class 2A fourth-place finish with 468 kills, 229 digs, 57 aces and 26 blocks

Avery Boehm Mascoutah 5-10 Sr. OH

Future Saint Louis outside hitter was a force for the 28-win Indians, wrapping up her prep career with 507 kills, 302 digs, 48 blocks and 29 aces

Lily Bosworth Mahomet-Seymour 6-4 Sr. MB

Bosworth flipped her commitment from Michigan State to Purdue and then went on to lead the Bulldogs to 32 wins with 302 kills and 65 blocks

Haley Burgdorf St. Charles North 6-0 Sr. OH

The N-G’s player of the year dominated at the net for the 35-4 North Stars and will head to Penn State after totaling 435 kills, 198 digs and 52 aces

Cassidy Cage Marist 6-2 Sr. MB

Next stop for Cage after putting up 236 kills and 92 blocks for the 36-win Class 4A champs is Mississippi State

Trixie Carroll Lanark Eastland 5-10 Sr. OH

Uber productive outside hitter finished with 535 kills and 279 digs for the 27-11 Cougars, which should thrill Central Michigan fans

Elayna Davidson Marist 5-6 Sr. L

Maryland-bound libero did it all in the back row for the Class 4A state champion Redhawks with 402 digs, 125 assists and 36 aces

Abbey Knight Providence Catholic 6-1 Sr. OH

Wright State-bound outside hitter was the go-to option for the Class 3A third-place Celtics, finishing with 470 kills, 218 digs, 64 aces and 34 blocks

Kalia Kroth DePaul Prep 5-9 Jr. OH

Kroth, a North Carolina commit, put up 440 kills, 215 digs and 40 aces while being an ace passer for the 33-6 Rams this fall

Mia Lamberti Limestone 6-0 Jr. S/OPP

Lamberti committed to Illinois this summer and went on to post 406 assists, 402 kills, 137 digs and 67 aces for the 34-win Rockets

Addison Lucht Cissna Park 5-10 Sr. OH

Lucht capped her volleyball career — she’s off to Northwestern to play softball — with 339 kills, 202 digs and 48 aces in a run to a Class 1A state title

Lucy Maloney Mother McAuley 5-6 Sr. L

Clemson landed an impressive piece for its defensive future in Maloney, who helped the Mighty Macs go 34-5 with 627 digs, 75 assists and 26 aces

Kampbell Niepagen Bloomington Central Catholic 6-0 Jr. OH

Auburn commit was a driving force in the Saints’ 36-6 season and Class 2A state runner-up finish with 395 kills, 241 digs, 60 aces and 42 blocks

Morgan Petelin Normal U-High 5-11 Sr. S/OPP

Tennessee Tech landed a versatile option in Petelin, who helped the Pioneers win a Class 3A state title with 582 assists, 300 digs, 122 kills, 43 blocks and 40 aces

Caroline Simmons Carmi-White County 5-5 Sr. OH

Simmons is also headed to Cookeville, Tenn., to join Tennessee Tech’s beach team after posting 515 kills and 51 aces for the 37-3 Bulldogs

Ellie Stiernagle Benet Academy 6-2 Sr. S

Future Northwestern setter was a key cog in the Redwings’ 39-win season and Class 4A runner-up finish with 815 assists, 158 digs, 51 kills and 42 aces

Lynney Tarnow Benet Academy 6-5 Sr. MB

Wisconsin signee, like Burgdorf, was an AVCA All-American and put up 227 kills, 40 blocks and 22 aces in the Redwings’ state run this fall

Alana Whitfield Normal 6-0 Sr. OH

Ironmen got to 34 wins with the future Michigan State outside hitter — and high-level passer — leading the way with 418 kills, 276 digs and 34 blocks

SECOND TEAM

PLAYER SCHOOL HT. YR. POS.

Brooklynne Brass Benet Academy 5-10 Jr. OH

Maryland commit played an important role in the Redwings’ state tournament run, finishing the year with 283 kills, 248 digs, 50 blocks and 23 aces

Alayna Briggs Hartsburg-Emden 6-0 Sr. OH

Future Parkland outside hitter was a key cog in the Stags’ 35-win season, putting up 361 kills, 219 digs, 97 blocks and 39 aces in her senior year

Haven Enselman Marist 5-11 Fr. S

Star freshman set the bar high for her prep career, posting 951 assists, 205 digs, 43 blocks and 36 kills to help the Redhawks win the Class 4A title

Charlie Fleegle Libertyville 5-6 Jr. L

Illinois State commit was more than just a standout defender with 309 digs given she added 107 assists and 53 aces and was a 2.24 passer

Taylor Haas Stockton 6-1 Jr. MB

Blackhawks’ 36-6 season and Class 1A state runner-up finish was built on Haas’ two-way impact with 302 kills and 129 blocks

Peyton Heatherly Mother McAuley 5-10 Jr. S

Coastal Carolina commit ran the show again for the 34-5 Mighty Macs, closing out her junior year with 676 assists, 157 digs, 75 kills and 22 aces

Maryam Hussein Oak Lawn 5-11 Sr. OH

Spartans senior was one of the most productive six-rotation outside hitters in the state, finishing the season with 460 and 219 digs

Kenzie Jones Shelbyville 6-2 Sr. MB

Missouri State-bound middle blocker was the catalyst to the Rams’ 27-win season with 273 kills, 111 digs, 91 blocks and 42 aces

Jaydee Melton Norris City-Omaha-Enfield 5-8 Sr. S

Melton will stick close to home next season at Rend Lake after leading the Cardinals to a Class 1A third-place finish with 954 assists, 110 digs and 74 kills

Bella Potempa Timothy Christian 5-8 Sr. OH

Team captain and Tennessee Tech signee led the way for 29-6 Trojans with 359 kills, 174 digs, 39 aces and 30 blocks in senior season

Lola Robertson Durand 6-0 Jr. OH

Marquette commit helped Bulldogs post a 28-8 record thanks to her do-everything 369 kills, 252 digs, 60 assists, 33 aces and 27 blocks

Sawyer Secrist ROWVA/Williamsfield 5-10 Sr. MB

Senior middle blocker was a force at the net for the 32-win Tigers with 468 kills to go with 289 digs, 44 assists, 37 aces and 21 blocks

Addison Smith Prairie Ridge 5-10 Sr. S

Purdue Northwest-bound setter kept the Class 3A fourth-place Wolves rolling after Maizy Agnello’s injury with 924 assists, 219 digs, 106 kills and 43 aces

Laney Snow Normal U-High 6-0 Sr. OH

Future Ferris State outside hitter pushed the Pioneers to a Class 3A state title with 329 kills, 298 digs and 34 blocks for the season

Khloe Stear Limestone 5-4 Sr. L

Defensive ace was the star of the Rockets’ back row, passing an impressive 2.4 while contributing 587 digs, 101 assists and 26 aces

Kara Stephens Augusta Southeastern 5-10 Jr. S/MB

A rare athlete to split her time at setter and middle blocker, Stephens had 562 kills, 301 digs, 249 assists, 33 aces and 30 blocks for the Suns

Robyn Ward Taylorville 6-3 Sr. MB

Dominant middle blocker will play at UIC next season after totaling 316 kills, 81 blocks and 52 aces for the 32-6 Tornadoes this fall

Savanah Weathers Marist 5-8 Sr. OPP

Right-side hitter bound for Division II Davenport University helped Marist win a Class 4A title with 262 kills, 235 digs, 87 blocks and 26 aces

SPECIAL MENTION 50

PLAYER SCHOOL HT. YR. POS.

Noelle Aprati Bolingbrook 5-10 Sr. OH

Saylor Barry Mendon Unity 5-5 Sr. OH

Kamille Barth Washington 5-6 Sr. L

Kalyn Brookbank Barrington 6-1 Jr. OH

Kiersten Cieslinski Vernon Hills 6-1 Jr. OH

Ciara Cunningham Edwardsville 5-11 Sr. OPP

Carly Dawson Washington 6-2 Jr. OH

Reece Distler Althoff Catholic 5-9 Sr. OH

Maddie Dostall Minooka 5-5 Sr. L

Aubrey Duttlinger LaSalle Peru 5-10 Jr. OH

Brinlie Durbin Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 5-9 Sr. S/OPP

Marley Edson Centralia 5-11 Jr. S/OPP

Bridget Ferriter Lockport 6-0 Sr. OH

Mya Friese Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 5-11 Jr. OH

Lexie Grevengoed Joliet West 5-11 So. OH

Quinn Grevengoed Chicago Christian 6-1 Jr. OH

Lydia Hart Athens 5-9 Jr. OH

Cara Hatton Effingham St. Anthony 6-0 Jr. OH

Essence Haynes Elverado 6-1 Jr. MB

Hazel Helmers Trico 5-9 Jr. MB

Julia Irvin Rockford Christian 5-9 Sr. S

Akshara Jay Fremd 5-11 Sr. S/OPP

Ainsley Johnson Springfield Calvary 5-10 Sr. MB

Tatum Kelly Neuqua Valley 5-11 So. S/OPP

Hayden Knight Norris City-Omaha-Enfield 5-10 Sr. MB

Maura Kohlenberger Columbia 6-0 Sr. MB

Rosie Krenz Bloomington Central Catholic 6-1 Sr. MB

Mia Lieberman Father McGivney 6-0 Sr. MB

Maryn Linderman Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 5-6 Sr. L

Francesca Lorenzo Montini Catholic 6-0 Sr. OPP

Aubrey Martinez St. Laurence 5-9 Jr. OH

Ava Mathews Columbia 5-10 Sr. S/OPP

Mia McCall St. Charles North 5-11 Sr. S

Mya McCoy Galena 5-11 Sr. OH

Anna McGlasson Midland 6-1 Jr. MB/OPP

Addison Nenninger Breese Mater Dei 5-10 Sr. S

Alexis Neumann Chatham Glenwood 6-2 Jr. OH

Hailee Pietryk Waubonsie Valley 5-7 Sr. L

Avery Poppe Lexington 5-9 Sr. OH

Moira Quirk Montini Catholic 6-0 Jr. MB

Addi Samolinski Wheaton St. Francis 5-4 Sr. L

Claire Sandstrom Columbia 5-11 Jr. OH

Lyla Tate Heyworth 6-0 Sr. OH

Laine Thompson Normal West 5-9 Jr. S

Cami Tinder Rochester 5-8 Jr. S

Hope Wagner Aurora Christian 6-1 Sr. OH

Morgan Wiezorek Chatham Glenwood 5-8 Jr. S

Bryn Williamson Limestone 6-1 Jr.

Kaydra Wright Stockton 5-5 Jr. S

Peyton Zeidler Rochester 5-10 Jr. OH

HONORABLE MENTION 100

PLAYER SCHOOL HT. YR. POS.

Lauren Abbott Erie-Prophetstown 5-11 Sr. MB

Isabelle Axelson Eureka 5-11 Sr. MB

Emma Behrmann Nashville 5-10 Sr. OH

Peyton Benhoff Breese Central 6-1 Sr. MB

Taylor Berg Marist 5-10 Jr. OH

Peyton Biekert Marissa/Coulterville 6-0 Jr. MB

Annabelle Bischoff Tri-Valley 6-0 Jr. MB

Natalie Bochantin Lockport 5-7 Jr. S

Jacie Bosler Carlyle 5-3 Jr. L

Eva Breckenkamp Quincy Notre Dame 6-0 Sr. MB

Farryn Burridge Glenbard West 6-1 Jr. MB

Jaycie Buss Okawville 5-9 So. MB

Sofia Campos Niles North 5-11 Sr. MB

Demi Carbone Providence Catholic 5-10 Sr. S/OPP

Zoey Carlson Newark 5-11 Fr. MB

Laila Carr LeRoy 5-10 Sr. OH

Sophia Chinetti Benet Academy 6-0 Sr. OH

Mariella Ciaravino Saint Ignatius 5-8 Xx. OH

Ava Crabtree Normal U-High 6-1 Sr. OH

Celia Cross Hartsburg-Emden 5-10 Sr. S ICC

Arabelle Cunningham Athens 5-6 Jr. S

Catherine Daniels Bolingbrook 5-11 Jr. S

Madelyn Doggett Westville 5-9 Jr. OH

Sophie Duis Cissna Park 5-10 Sr. MB

Hannah Edwards Massac County 5-7 Sr. S

Meghan Edwards Carlyle 6-0 Sr. OH

Emma Eeten Hartsburg-Emden 6-0 Jr. MB

Addie Elliott Carmi White County 5-5 Sr. S

Eden Eyassu Joliet West 6-1 Sr. L

Aubrey Fair Bloomington Central Catholic 6-0 Sr. OH

Kelsey Frederick LaSalle Peru 5-10 Sr. MB

Madison Funk Normal U-High 5-8 Sr. S/OPP

Delaneigh Garner Warrensburg-Latham 5-4 Sr. L

Maddy Gesky Manteno 5-11 Jr. MB

Addison Glenn Nokomis 5-10 Sr. MB

Kinley Glover Benton 5-9 Jr. MB

Livia Goebel Edwardsville 6-0 Jr. MB

Lina Govoni Joliet West 5-9 Sr. S/OPP

Skylar Greene Saint Ignatius 5-10 Sr. OPP

Adeline Grider Prairie Ridge 6-0 Jr. OH

Miranda Hari Prairie Central 5-8 Jr. OH

Molly Harrison Decatur Unity Christian 5-7 Jr. OH

Neve Hayes Evergreen Park 5-9 Sr. S

Cara Herbert Glenbard West 5-11 Jr. S

Hannah Herrick Oswego 6-1 Jr. OH

Hannah Holliday Williamsville 5-9 So. OH

Campbell Hopkins Hartsburg-Emden 5-8 Jr. OH

Dani Hopp Richmond-Burton 6-0 Jr. OH

Kallie Hubbard Highland 5-9 Jr. OH

Abby Inman Stevenson 5-11 Jr. OH

Kinley Jany Columbia 5-8 Sr. OH

Alyssa Jepson Morris 5-6 Sr. L

Zoe Johnson Palatine 5-10 Sr. OH

Ella Keene Pinckeyville 5-9 Sr. OH

Ellie Kowalski Saint Ignatius 5-7 Jr. L

Kamryn Kruger Riverdale 5-6 Sr. L

Ava Lampe Breese Mater Dei 5-5 Jr. L

Taylor Langland El Paso-Gridley 5-6 Sr. S

Sami Liaromatis Wilmington 5-6 Jr. L

Madison Loos Quincy 5-11 Sr. MB

Mckenzie Love Effingham 5-8 Sr. MB

Brooklyn Lynch Shelbyville 5-3 Sr. L

Erin Lynch Saint Viator 5-11 Sr. OH

Reis McFarland Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 5-11 Sr. OH

Mady Melton Monticello 5-5 Sr. L

Ireland Mensendike Stockton 5-7 Jr. OH

Maggie Michaels Normal 5-8 Sr. OH

Cassidy Monahan St. Thomas More 6-2 Sr. OH

Klarke Mosby Lincoln-Way East 5-9 Jr. OPP

Harper Neill Fremd 5-9 So. OH

Josie Neukomm Cissna Park 5-10 Sr. OH

Madelyn Ohlau Edwardsville 5-10 Jr. OH

Maddy Ohrmundt DePaul Prep 5-6 Jr. L

Ihuoma Ozoh Homewood-Flossomoor 6-3 Sr. MB

Nora Parsons Tremont 5-10 So. MB

Avery Patton Breese Mater Dei 5-11 Jr. MB

Cayla Prohaska Mother McAuley 6-0 Sr. OH

Kinze Reese Mascoutah 5-8 So. OH

Kolby Ross Lincoln-Way East 5-8 So. OH

Jillian Schlittler Unity 5-10 Sr. S/OPP

Brooke Schumacher Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 5-11 Jr.

Kymora Scott Homewood-Flossmoor 6-2 Sr. OH

Hallee Smallman Massac County 5-3 Sr. L

Abigail Smith Prairie Ridge 5-11 Sr. OPP

Rachel Smith Wilmington 5-10 Sr. OH

Molly Southall Wilmington 5-10 Sr. S/OPP

Kendall Stotlar Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 6-0 Sr. MB

Hutsyn Timosciek Lockport 5-11 Jr. OPP

Tess Tortorello Nazareth Academy 5-3 So. L

Abby VanMeenen Morton 6-1 Jr. MB

Dia Villahard Father McGivney 5-6 Sr. L

Alayna Vincent Taylorville 5-8 Sr. OH

Tegan Vrbancic Prairie Ridge 5-7 Jr. L

Claire Weather s Benet Academy 5-9 Jr. L

Molly Welge Benet Academy 6-3 Sr. OPP

Emily Westerhold Macomb 5-5 Sr. L

Carly Whitcomb Tremont 5-3 So. L

L’Rae White Chicago Christian 5-6 Sr. OH

Sidney Wright St. Charles North 6-1 Sr. MB

Ava Yeakel Mahomet-Seymour 6-1 Sr. OH

PROVO — BYU women’s volleyball is turning to a familiar name as the seventh head coach in program history.

The Cougars hired former BYU men’s volleyball assistant and one-time interim head coach Rob Neilson on Tuesday, returning to Provo after a historic six-year career at Utah State.

Neilson replaces Heather Olmstead, who led the Cougars through one of the best stretches in program history before stepping down two weeks ago.

The former BYU starting setter who went 91-31 as a player, including the 2004 national championship, Neilson ranked fifth in the Cougars’ rally-scoring era with 2,790 career assists to go with a top-10 finish in solo blocks with 28.

“Coaching at BYU is a dream come true,” Neilson said in a statement. “This is a distinguished university with storied volleyball programs, built by amazing student-athletes, incredible coaches and a community that’s all in. I’m honored to continue that legacy with our women’s team.”

Neilson returns to his alma mater after a legendary six-season run at Utah State, leading the Aggies to a 112-59 record that included a program-best 24-8 mark and an 18-0 finish in Mountain West play in 2025.

The Aggies also won the Mountain West Tournament title to secure their second NCAA Tournament appearance in four years, and upset seventh-seeded Tennessee in the tournament opener to snap a losing skid on that national stage that dated back to 2001.

Under Neilson’s tutelage, Utah State also captured three Mountain West regular-season championships, two tournament titles, 12 all-conference honorees, three all-region selections and one All-American status. He was named the Mountain West coach of the year in 2021, 2023 and 2025 and earned AVCA Pacific North Region coach of the year honors in 2023.

“I’m grateful for Rob’s leadership in our volleyball program, including multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances,” Utah State athletic director Cam Walker said in a statement. “The profile of Utah State volleyball has been elevated, and we expected that standard to continue under new leadership. We will be efficient and aggressive in our pursuit of the next leader of Utah State volleyball and will begin an immediate national search.”

Neilson, who also earned an MBA from BYU while coaching in 2014 prior to spending time with the U.S. men’s national team, replaces Olmstead, who went 279-55 in 11 seasons as head coach after taking over for her brother Shawn.

A graduate of Utah State, Olmstead became the fastest coach to reach 200 Division I wins, doing so in just 225 matches, and was the third-fastest to 100 wins just 111 matches while transitioning the Cougars from the West Coast Conference to the Big 12.

The former AVCA national coach of the year in 2018 helped develop 14 All-Americans, 23 all-region honorees, and 22 all-conference awards in the two leagues.

With Neilson’s hire, each of Utah’s three largest Division I universities will have a first-year head coach in 2026. In addition to Neilson and Olmstead’s departures, Beth Launiere retired after 31 seasons at the University of Utah and was immediately replaced by associate head coach Alyssa D’Errico.

With the changes, the Cougars already lost a pair of departures to the NCAA transfer portal: star outside hitter Suli Davis committed to SMU, while reserve opposite Blaykli Bobik committed to TCU.

But Neilson’s hire brought good news from another portal departure: BYU All-American setter Alex Bower, who announced Tuesday evening that she was returning to the program where her mother Caroline and sisters Whitney and Morgan both graduated.

The rising junior dished out 1,265 assists last year as a sophomore, helping the Cougars to a 22-9 campaign that included a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I’m so excited to play and learn from coach Neilson, a BYU legendary setter,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful for my teammates’ support. I know this has been a difficult couple of weeks for them. I love them and can’t wait to be with them soon.”

GRAND FORKS — David Nguyen was in his mid-20s when Fairleigh Dickinson University hired him as head volleyball coach.

“He was the youngest coach in Division I,” FDU deputy athletic director Jason Young said.

Nguyen took over a program that had gone 10-70 in the Northeast Conference the previous six seasons. But things quickly changed. The Knights went 43-15 in the NEC during Nguyen’s four-year tenure.

“What he was able to do with our volleyball program…,” Young said, “we had never made the NCAA tournament, we hadn’t made the playoffs in years. In Year 1, he takes us to the NCAA tournament. In Years 2 and 3, we’re in the championship game. It was just an incredible four-year run. He deserves all the accolades coming his way.”

Nguyen is the new head coach at UND, where he will be tasked with resurrecting another program that’s fallen on hard times.

The Fighting Hawks haven’t had a winning season since reaching the NCAA tournament in 2017, and they’ve never won a match at the Summit League tournament since joining the conference in 2018.

But Nguyen has directed a major turnaround before.

“I think it’s one of the biggest (turnarounds) in Division I,” Young said. “I think he’s a little beyond his years. He’ll go toe-to-toe with anyone in that conference. I think his volleyball mind is exceptional and his ability to develop is, too.

“His demeanor is going to be unique. He’s a silent assassin in a lot of ways. He’s not a yeller and screamer. He’s very calm, cool and collected. His players carry it through in how they play volleyball. They’re steady throughout. He was able to instill a winning culture. He’ll be able to do that there, too.”

UND is planning to introduce Nguyen at a press conference at a later date.

Young said he expects Nguyen to be involved in the community.

“It will be great for that volleyball community,” Young said. “He’ll know how to make sure camps and clinics are getting done and kids get connected to the program. It will be pretty special.”

Young said Fairleigh Dickinson is happy for Nguyen’s new opportunity and happy that he “put FDU volleyball back on the map.”

“I loved my time with him,” Young said. “He’s a wonderful person with a wonderful family and an incredible volleyball mind. I’m really happy for him and his family. I think he’s going to do great things.”

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.

It took Norah Davis just one season in a Vikings uniform to cement her place among Wilmington’s elite.

The junior outside hitter made a seamless transition to Hoggard this season after transferring from Coastal Christian, where she established herself as one of the area’s most dominant attackers. Davis had 287 kills in her breakout campaign for the Centurians in 2024.

She brought that same firepower with her to Hoggard and immediately elevated a Vikings team hungry to reclaim its spot atop the Carolina Coast Conference.

Davis finished the fall with a conference-best 317 kills as the Vikings rolled to a 26-4 record. Her production, consistency and ability to deliver in big moments earned her StarNews All-Area Girls Volleyball Player of the Year honors, the first of her career and the first for a Hoggard player since 2021.

Hoggard capped its season with a second-round playoff appearance, a run fueled in part by its dominance over rival Topsail. The Vikings defeated the Pirates three times, reclaiming the conference crown from their Hampstead neighbors and asserting control over the league.

Davis saved some of her best performances for those matchups. All three of her top outings in 2025 came against Topsail, including a 20-kill effort in the Vikings’ Sept. 4 win, a season-high 23 kills on Sept. 30, and another 19-kill performance in the conference tournament championship on Oct. 15.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rob Neilson back to BYU as our head women’s volleyball coach,” Santiago said. “Rob has been a part of a rich history at BYU, both as a player and coach on the men’s side, highlighted by winning a national championship. He is a proven winner, as evidenced by his experience as a head coach at Utah State and as an assistant coach for the USA National Team. We are excited to have Rob lead our BYU women’s volleyball program and exceptional student-athletes into the future.”

A setter at BYU from 2003-06, Neilson was part of the Cougars’ 2004 national championship team. He compiled a 91-31 record in his collegiate career. He tallied 2,790 assists, ranking fifth in BYU’s rally-scoring era record book upon graduation, and finished eighth in solo blocks with 28.

“Coaching at BYU is a dream come true,” Neilson said. “This is a distinguished university, with storied volleyball programs, built by amazing student-athletes, incredible coaches and a community that’s all in. I’m honored to continue that legacy with our women’s team. Thank you to the board of trustees, President Reese, Brian Santiago, Chad Lewis and the search committee. I’m excited to get to work preparing for great things as we hurl our challenge to all foes. Rise and shout. Let’s go.”

Neilson has spent the past six seasons as head coach at Utah State, posting a 112-59 (.655) record in Logan. Most recently, he led the Aggies to a historic 2025 campaign, finishing 24-8 overall with an 18-0 mark in Mountain West Conference play, winning the Mountain West Tournament title and recording a first-round upset of No. 7 seed Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, Utah State’s first tournament win since 2001.

During his tenure, the Aggies captured three Mountain West regular-season championships (2021, 2023, 2025) and two Mountain West Tournament titles (2022, 2025). Neilson was named Mountain West Coach of the Year three times (2021, 2023, 2025) and earned AVCA Pacific North Region Coach of the Year honors in 2023.

Neilson coached 12 all-conference honorees, three all-region selections and one All-American, while guiding Utah State to winning records in five of his six seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He is just the third coach in program history to reach the 100-win milestone and the first to do so since 1978.

Prior to his time in Logan, Neilson served as the first assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team, helping Team USA earn a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League.

Before joining USA Volleyball, Neilson spent 10 seasons on the BYU men’s volleyball staff. He served as an assistant coach from 2006-10, acting as recruiting coordinator and overseeing player development. Neilson was BYU’s interim head coach in 2011, returned as an assistant in 2012 and was named associate head coach in 2014. During that span, he helped lead the Cougars to two conference championships and a national runner-up finish in 2013.

Neilson earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from BYU in 2006 and completed an MBA in 2013. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children.

The Rob Nielson File

• Played setter for BYU men’s volleyball team (2003-06)
• Assistant coach, BYU men’s volleyball (2006-2010, 2012-2014)
• Interim head coach, BYU men’s volleyball (2011)
• First Assistant, USA Men’s National Team (2014-2019)
• Head coach of Utah State women’s volleyball team (2020-2025)