California State University, East Bay Women's Volleyball

Kimberly Lambert was named named Head Coach for women's volleyball in 2018 following the retirement of Jim Spagle. As an assistant coach under Spagle for 10 seasons, including three as associate head coach, her duties included working with the middle hitters, coordinating recruiting, and planning travel for the Pioneers. In 2024, the Pioneers made a run leading up to the final night of the regular season to secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament.  The Pioneers under Lambert's leadership made a tremendous turnaround in 2022 from the previous season. With only eight wins in 2021, the following season included 20 wins and a No. 4 seed in the CCAA Tournament.  In Lambert's first season as head coach for the Pioneers in 2018, the team reached the semifinals for the CCAA Tournament. They also were awarded an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II West Regionals.  In 2016 and 2017, Lambert helped lead East Bay to its first two berths in the CCAA postseason tournament. The Pioneers made the semifinal round and finished 18-11 in 2017, led by middle blocker Deja Thompson, who became the first CSUEB player of the CCAA era to be named AVCA All-American. After the Pioneers finished in a tie for second-place in the CCAA in 2010, two of Lambert’s middle hitters – Brianna Bryant and Kitona Offord – were named to the COBRA Magazine All-West Region Team. Lambert also helped Spagle bring in an impressive recruiting class of 14 talented transfers and freshmen for the 2011 season. Lambert played two seasons at middle hitter for the Cal State Monterey Bay, completing her career ranked among the top 10 in single-season kills, aces, blocks and points for CSUMB. As a senior captain, Lambert helped guide the Otters to a 12-19 overall record and an 8-9 mark in conference play, while going 9-3 in home matches. Prior to her arrival at Cal State Monterey Bay, Lambert did one-year stints at Northern Michigan and Delta College. As a sophomore at Delta, she held the California state record for blocks. Lambert graduated with distinction in kinesiology with a concentration in sports management from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2008.

Former Pioneer student-athlete Ashia Joseph joined the Cal State East Bay volleyball coaching staff in 2018 after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Mills College. Since graduating CSUEB in 2016, Joseph has coached club volleyball at both Core Volleyball Club and currently, Red Rock Volleyball Club. A native of Hawaii, Joseph transferred to East Bay in 2013 after capturing the DI NJCAA national championship at College of Southern Idaho. During her time at CSI, she was the starting setter. She competed for the Pioneers for her last two seasons, playing 57 matches as the starting setter as she racked up 1,865 assists, which ranks sixth in program history. Joseph is from Hilo, Hawaii and graduated from Waiakea High School. In high school, she was a four year varsity starter, four year state tournament participant, 2007 BIIF Honorable Mention, 2008 and 2009 BIIF First Team selection and 2010 Player of the Year.  She earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State East Bay in 2016. 

In 2025, MacKenzie Draper was hired as Assistant Volleyball Coach at Cal State East Bay.  "I have a fierce passion for coaching and pushing the potential for each player I mentor. I challenge my players to find small victories within their game – to build on their abilities both physically and mentally by putting their best foot forward every time they step on the court." Draper brings many years of coaching experience to East Bay. She is also in her seventh year of coaching almost every age group with NorCal Volleyball Club in Livermore, California. For the previous six seasons, she coached a team that captured a coveted spot in the USAV National Championships. In 2024-25, she was an assistant for the club's 18 Black and 13 Black teams. The18 Black team she was on staff with finished fifth in the nation in the 18 Open Division, first in the Open Division of the Salt Lake City Showdown and first place in the NCVA Power League to become the No. 1 18s team in Northern California. There were 10 Division I commits coached by Draper. Draper played club volleyball at Cal Poly SLO where she was on two national championship teams as a starting setter for two years. She has also played as a defensive specialist/libero.  She earned her B.S. in Child Development from Cal Poly in 2019.  In high school, Draper attended Concord High School in Concord, California.