College of St. Benedict Women's Volleyball

Hess heads into her seventh season as the head volleyball coach at the College of Saint Benedict in 2016, she is looking to continue to build upon the legacy she has built in her first six seasons with the program. In 2015, Hess guided Saint Benedict to its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. CSB finished in the top three in the MIAC for the fourth straight year, and Saint Benedict made it to the second round of the MIAC postseason tournament for the fifth time under Hess guidance. As well as leading CSB to another solid season, Hess was also inducted into the St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored at a ceremony at her alma mater in September. Saint Benedict finished the year 18-10 overall and 8-3 and in third in the MIAC in 2015. CSB was mentioned in the AVCA Division III poll for seven weeks, making it as high as No. 22 in the nation mid-season. The Blazers picked up three wins against teams receiving votes in Division III, and dropped three extremely close five-set matches against top-25 teams, including a 3-2 loss to No. 3 Christopher Newport early in the season in Boston. Another big win for CSB in 2015 came on Sept. 16, when, for the first time since 2009, Saint Benedict defeated St. Thomas. CSB beat the Tommies 3-1, marking the first win against UST since Oct. 14, 2009. CSB earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, and started postseason play with a 3-2 win over Carleton which beat CSB in the 2014 and 2015 regular seasons in Claire Lynch on Nov. 3. The Blazers fell 3-1 to Bethel in the MIAC semifinals on Nov. 5, but earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and took on Wartburg in a first-round matchup on Nov. 12. Two sets took extra points and the final set came down to the wire, but Wartburg came away with a 3-2 win to end CSBs season. Megan Pekarek, a sophomore setter who transferred into the program at the beginning of the season, earned All-American Honorable Mention honors after leading the MIAC in assists. She also earned All-Region and All-MIAC honors, and became the first CSB athlete to earn MIAC Athlete of the Week honors three times in one season after recording three straight triple-doubles. Senior outside hitter Laura Schmitt earned All-Region Honorable Mention honors as well as All-MIAC honors, and senior middle Mary Franz also earned all-MIAC accolades. In six seasons, Hess has coached seven All-Americans, 11 All-Central Region players, 16 All-MIAC athletes and 15 athletes who earned All-MIAC Academic honors.  Hess, the 2009 MIAC Coach of the Year, charted her first career 20-win season in 2012, and led CSB to the second-highest win total in program history, and best since the 2008 Elite Eight season.   She led the Blazers into the 2012 MIAC Tournament Championship match, where they fell in five to champion St. Thomas. The Blazers went 10-1 in the regular season and finished second. Lexi Alm and Taya Kockelman became the first two Blazer All-Americans under Hess guidance in 2012, as each earned Honorable Mention honors.   The Blazers were just as good in 2013, finishing 27-4 overall and 9-2 in the conference. CSB, which was ranked No. 6 in Division III at the end of the season, lost to No. 4 St. Thomas in the MIAC Championship match, but made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In 2014, Hess won her 100th match at CSB while guiding Saint Benedict to a 21-10 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the MIAC, good for third place.   In her six seasons at the helm, Hess has never had a losing season, leading the Blazers to the MIAC Tournament each season and into the NCAA tournament in each of the last five.   During her first year as head coach in 2010, Hess led CSB to an 18-12 overall mark and a 6-5 conference record. In her second season, the Blazers finished 8-3 in the MIAC and 18-13 overall. On Nov. 1, 2011, Hess earned her 100th career coaching victory with a 3-1 win over Gustavus in the first round of the MIAC playoffs.   Hess came to CSB in 2009 from St. Catherine where she was the head coach from 2003-09. She inherited a rebuilding Wildcat program and made great progress in her seven seasons there. During her last two seasons, the Wildcats won more than 10 games for the first time since 1996.    As a collegiate player, Hess achieved success as a four-time All-MIAC honoree at St. Olaf College. She was a three-time member of the All-Region team and in 2001 was selected to the AVCA All-America second team. Hess holds school records in career kills (2,041), career hitting percentage (.352), and hitting percentage in a season (.392). She is in the top 10 in St. Olaf history for single-season hitting percentage in each of her four seasons, and her 573 kills as a sophomore is second in school history. She also still holds the MIAC record for kills in a career.   Hess graduated from St. Olaf in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in social studies education. Prior to coaching at St. Catherine, Hess was an assistant volleyball coach at the University of St. Thomas for one season, in which they won the MIAC Championship.    Along with her head coaching position, Hess is an assistant athletic director at CSB. She is married to Paul Hess, who is employed by QualiChem Inc. based in Salem, Virginia. They have been married for 14 years and have three children - two sons and one daughter.   Athletic Career Hess played four seasons with St. Olaf, earning All-MIAC honors all four years.  She was named All-Region three times, and was selected for AVCA All-America team honors her senior year. Coaching Honors: 2009: MIAC Volleyball Co-Coach of the Year Hess' Milestones 1st Victory - Sept. 6, 2003 UW-Stevens Point 25th Victory - Sept. 27, 2007 Martin Luther 50th Victory - Sept. 12, 2009 Hamline University 75th Victory - Oct. 1, 2010 Wartburg College 100th Victory - Nov. 1, 2011 Gustavus Adolphus College 125th Victory - Oct. 24, 2012 Bethel University 150th Victory - Oct. 19, 2013 Gustavus Adolphus College Nicole Hess Head Volleyball Coach Years at CSB: Seven  As Nicole Hess heads into her seventh season as the head volleyball coach at the College of Saint Benedict in 2016, she is looking to continue to build upon the legacy she has built in her first six seasons with the program. In 2015, Hess guided Saint Benedict to its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. CSB finished in the top three in the MIAC for the fourth straight year, and Saint Benedict made it to the second round of the MIAC postseason tournament for the fifth time under Hess guidance. As well as leading CSB to another solid season, Hess was also inducted into the St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored at a ceremony at her alma mater in September. Saint Benedict finished the year 18-10 overall and 8-3 and in third in the MIAC in 2015. CSB was mentioned in the AVCA Division III poll for seven weeks, making it as high as No. 22 in the nation mid-season. The Blazers picked up three wins against teams receiving votes in Division III, and dropped three extremely close five-set matches against top-25 teams, including a 3-2 loss to No. 3 Christopher Newport early in the season in Boston. Another big win for CSB in 2015 came on Sept. 16, when, for the first time since 2009, Saint Benedict defeated St. Thomas. CSB beat the Tommies 3-1, marking the first win against UST since Oct. 14, 2009. CSB earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, and started postseason play with a 3-2 win over Carleton which beat CSB in the 2014 and 2015 regular seasons in Claire Lynch on Nov. 3. The Blazers fell 3-1 to Bethel in the MIAC semifinals on Nov. 5, but earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and took on Wartburg in a first-round matchup on Nov. 12. Two sets took extra points and the final set came down to the wire, but Wartburg came away with a 3-2 win to end CSBs season. Megan Pekarek, a sophomore setter who transferred into the program at the beginning of the season, earned All-American Honorable Mention honors after leading the MIAC in assists. She also earned All-Region and All-MIAC honors, and became the first CSB athlete to earn MIAC Athlete of the Week honors three times in one season after recording three straight triple-doubles. Senior outside hitter Laura Schmitt earned All-Region Honorable Mention honors as well as All-MIAC honors, and senior middle Mary Franz also earned all-MIAC accolades. In six seasons, Hess has coached seven All-Americans, 11 All-Central Region players, 16 All-MIAC athletes and 15 athletes who earned All-MIAC Academic honors.  Hess, the 2009 MIAC Coach of the Year, charted her first career 20-win season in 2012, and led CSB to the second-highest win total in program history, and best since the 2008 Elite Eight season.   She led the Blazers into the 2012 MIAC Tournament Championship match, where they fell in five to champion St. Thomas. The Blazers went 10-1 in the regular season and finished second. Lexi Alm and Taya Kockelman became the first two Blazer All-Americans under Hess guidance in 2012, as each earned Honorable Mention honors.   The Blazers were just as good in 2013, finishing 27-4 overall and 9-2 in the conference. CSB, which was ranked No. 6 in Division III at the end of the season, lost to No. 4 St. Thomas in the MIAC Championship match, but made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In 2014, Hess won her 100th match at CSB while guiding Saint Benedict to a 21-10 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the MIAC, good for third place.   In her six seasons at the helm, Hess has never had a losing season, leading the Blazers to the MIAC Tournament each season and into the NCAA tournament in each of the last five.   During her first year as head coach in 2010, Hess led CSB to an 18-12 overall mark and a 6-5 conference record. In her second season, the Blazers finished 8-3 in the MIAC and 18-13 overall. On Nov. 1, 2011, Hess earned her 100th career coaching victory with a 3-1 win over Gustavus in the first round of the MIAC playoffs.   Hess came to CSB in 2009 from St. Catherine where she was the head coach from 2003-09. She inherited a rebuilding Wildcat program and made great progress in her seven seasons there. During her last two seasons, the Wildcats won more than 10 games for the first time since 1996.    As a collegiate player, Hess achieved success as a four-time All-MIAC honoree at St. Olaf College. She was a three-time member of the All-Region team and in 2001 was selected to the AVCA All-America second team. Hess holds school records in career kills (2,041), career hitting percentage (.352), and hitting percentage in a season (.392). She is in the top 10 in St. Olaf history for single-season hitting percentage in each of her four seasons, and her 573 kills as a sophomore is second in school history. She also still holds the MIAC record for kills in a career.   Hess graduated from St. Olaf in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in social studies education. Prior to coaching at St. Catherine, Hess was an assistant volleyball coach at the University of St. Thomas for one season, in which they won the MIAC Championship.    Along with her head coaching position, Hess is an assistant athletic director at CSB. She is married to Paul Hess, who is employed by QualiChem Inc. based in Salem, Virginia. They have been married for 14 years and have three children - two sons and one daughter.   Athletic Career Hess played four seasons with St. Olaf, earning All-MIAC honors all four years.  She was named All-Region three times, and was selected for AVCA All-America team honors her senior year. Coaching Honors: 2009: MIAC Volleyball Co-Coach of the Year Hess' Milestones 1st Victory - Sept. 6, 2003 UW-Stevens Point 25th Victory - Sept. 27, 2007 Martin Luther 50th Victory - Sept. 12, 2009 Hamline University 75th Victory - Oct. 1, 2010 Wartburg College 100th Victory - Nov. 1, 2011 Gustavus Adolphus College 125th Victory - Oct. 24, 2012 Bethel University 150th Victory - Oct. 19, 2013 Gustavus Adolphus College

Anderson enters her 13th year with the Blazer volleyball team as an assistant coach in 2016. She provides extensive experience in coaching and playing volleyball at the collegiate level.   In her first 12 years with the program, the Blazers have posted a 263-103 (.718) overall record, with a 99-34 (.744) mark in MIAC play. Anderson, who was inducted into the Two Harbors High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016, was a part of the 2009 MIAC Championship, the 2008 NCAA Elite Eight appearance, three MIAC runner-up teams, and another five teams that finished third in the conference.   Andersons resume has depth in coaching experience. In 2003-04 Anderson was the head coach at Central Cass High School and has coached numerous camps across Minnesota and North Dakota including North Dakota State University, University of Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State.   Anderson was a member of the North Dakota State womens volleyball team from 1999-2002. The four-year letter winner helped guide the Bison to a 29-3 overall record her senior year.   A 2003 graduate of North Dakota State University, Anderson received a Bachelor of Science degree in human performance and fitness, with a minor in business and received a Master of Science degree in sports administration from St. Cloud State University in 2008.   Along with her coaching responsibilities, Anderson serves as assistant campus recreation director at CSB.   Anderson and her husband, Erik have three daughters. Additional Coaching Experience: 2003-04: Head coach at Central Cass High School Camps across Minnesota and North Dakota College Education: 2008: Master's degree in sports administration from St. Cloud State University 2003: Bachelor's degree in human performance and fitness, minor in business from North Dakota State University Athletic Career: 1999-2002: Played on North Dakota State's women's volleyball team -Four-year letter winner -29-3 overall record her senior year Amanda Anderson Assistant Volleyball Coach Years at CSB: 13 - Also serves as the Assistant Campus Recreation Director at CSB Amanda Anderson enters her 13th year with the Blazer volleyball team as an assistant coach in 2016. She provides extensive experience in coaching and playing volleyball at the collegiate level.   In her first 12 years with the program, the Blazers have posted a 263-103 (.718) overall record, with a 99-34 (.744) mark in MIAC play. Anderson, who was inducted into the Two Harbors High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016, was a part of the 2009 MIAC Championship, the 2008 NCAA Elite Eight appearance, three MIAC runner-up teams, and another five teams that finished third in the conference.   Andersons resume has depth in coaching experience. In 2003-04 Anderson was the head coach at Central Cass High School and has coached numerous camps across Minnesota and North Dakota including North Dakota State University, University of Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State.   Anderson was a member of the North Dakota State womens volleyball team from 1999-2002. The four-year letter winner helped guide the Bison to a 29-3 overall record her senior year.   A 2003 graduate of North Dakota State University, Anderson received a Bachelor of Science degree in human performance and fitness, with a minor in business and received a Master of Science degree in sports administration from St. Cloud State University in 2008.   Along with her coaching responsibilities, Anderson serves as assistant campus recreation director at CSB.   Anderson and her husband, Erik have three daughters. Additional Coaching Experience: 2003-04: Head coach at Central Cass High School Camps across Minnesota and North Dakota College Education: 2008: Master's degree in sports administration from St. Cloud State University 2003: Bachelor's degree in human performance and fitness, minor in business from North Dakota State University Athletic Career: 1999-2002: Played on North Dakota State's women's volleyball team -Four-year letter winner -29-3 overall record her senior year

Pieper-Olson begins her fourth full season with the CSB volleyball team in 2016. She will continue to work with the middle hitters and Saint Benedict's offense. Pieper-Olson started working with the CSB volleyball program late in the 2012 season, and was a part of the Blazers run to the NCAA Regional Final. Her first full season was in 2013, and in her first three seasons, CSB has gone 66-25 with three more appearances in the NCAA Tournament. CSB has finished third in the MIAC in each of Pieper-Olsons first three seasons with the team.   At Saint Benedict, Pieper-Olson is the senior director of advancement.