March
20, 2009
(release
courtesy of Paul Misner, University of Dubuque sports information
director)
DUBUQUE,
IOWA . . . University of Dubuque Athletic Director
Dan Runkle announced today, Friday, March 20,
2009 the appointment of April Elsbernd as Head
Volleyball Coach for the University of Dubuque Spartans.
Elsbernd
is a native of Calmar, Iowa (South Winneshiek High School),
and played collegiate volleyball at Coe College from 1999-2002.
She was a four-year letterwinner and earned Academic All-Iowa
Conference honors in 2001 and 2002. She holds Coe's records
for most kills in a match (4 games), career record attempts
with 3,506, and solo blocks in a four game match with 7. After
graduating from Coe, she spent three seasons as an assistant
under Cornell College's Jeff Meeker and one season as an assistant
at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wis.
Most
recently she was the head coach at Iowa Central Community College
in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In her first season, she finished with
a 15-22 record.
"I
was really impressed with the University of Dubuque campus,
the mission and vision of the college and the city of Dubuque
itself," added Elsbernd. "I am familiar with the Iowa
Conference, as a former student-athlete and am glad to be part
of the IIAC as a head coach. I'm looking forward to the challenges
of the strong competition among the IIAC and learning from my
colleagues."
One
of Elsbernd's goals is to go out and be competitive every time
they step on the court. She is anxious to begin working with
the Spartans and to bring in recruits who will play at the level
needed to be successful in the IIAC and in regional play.
"The
University of Dubuque believes we have hired someone with a
love of the sport of volleyball, who has a great enthusiasm
for recruiting," added Dan Runkle. "We have taken
steps to help us move back among the top of the Iowa Conference
and become a successful volleyball program once again."
Elsbernd
graduated from Coe in 2003 with a degree in sociology and communications.
She received her master s degree in Sports Administration from
the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse in 2007.
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