Michigan Technological University Women's Volleyball

Michigan Tech Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Suzanne Sanregret named Cindy Pindral the eighth Head Coach of the volleyball program on Monday (Dec. 2). Pindral returns to the Huskies after being an Assistant Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and Volunteer Coach with the Huskies for seven seasons from 2016 to 2022.   "Cindy was an integral part of the successes our volleyball team has had in recent years," Sanregret said. "Her extensive experience, both as a player and coach at the collegiate and club levels, brings tremendous value to Michigan Tech. We're thrilled to welcome her back, knowing her expertise and dedication will greatly benefit our student-athletes and their growth on and off the court."   "It is an absolute honor to be the next head volleyball coach for this inspiring program," Pindral said. "I am so excited to be back with the team and really looking forward to diving head-first into spring practices and getting on the recruiting trail.   "I would like to thank Dr. Suzanne Sanregret for trusting me with this incredible group of athletes and Matt Jennings for being a mentor and friend during our time together on the sidelines. This decision to return is a no-brainer, and I am so grateful to continue to represent the Huskies!"   During her seven years with the Huskies, the team held a 139-62 overall record. Tech went to four straight NCAA Tournaments from 2017-21 and won a pair of regular-season GLIAC championships in the spring of 2021 and then repeated in the fall of 2021. The 2017 Huskies earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time for the program since 2009. The 2019 squad swept Missouri-St. Louis in the first round of the tournament for the first NCAA win since 1995. The 2021 team also advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal after a five-set victory over Wayne State.   Pindral was involved with nearly all phases of the program, including skill development, recruiting, scouting, practice planning, film breakdown, and team travel. She also served as the lead coach for the Huskies' youth programs, including the Little Huskies Volleyball Club, All-Skills Camps, and position-specific clinics.   As a freshman, Pindral was the starting setter at the University of Florida during the 2008-09 season. She led the team in assists and the Gators to the NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, an SEC championship, and a No. 10 national ranking. The Gators finished 27-4 overall and 18-2 in the SEC.   Pindral then transferred to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and was a three-year starter. She was named the Student-Athlete of the Year for the 2009-10 season and a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2011. Pindral was also named to the 2011 Capital One Division II Academic All-District VII Volleyball Team, leading the Mountain Lions' offense with an average of 9.76 assists per set. She graduated with the sixth-highest assist total (2,151) in school history and the second-highest since the advent of rally scoring and the 25-point set. Her 976 assists in 2011 and 943 assists in 2009 are the two highest assist totals in the 25-point era. She earned a third-team all-RMAC selection in 2011, a second-team selection in 2009, and was named RMAC Setter of the Week twice during her career. Pindral played the 2012 winter season professionally in the Italian Serie C League as the starting setter for Gio Volley in Aprilia, Italy. She was named to the All-Tournament Team and earned the "Best Setter" award at the Gio Volley Tournament that season.   Pindral was inducted into the Pine Creek High School (Colorado Springs, CO) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of the inaugural class. She was a 2007 PrepVolleyball.com honorable mention All-American and was one of 50 finalists for Andi Collins Award for the nation's best senior setter in 2007. She received Class 5A first-team all-state honors from the Denver Post in 2006 and 2007 and first-team all-state accolades from the Rocky Mountain News in 2007. She was also named to both the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado teams as a senior. Her teams won three district titles, a regional championship, two regional runner-up finishes, and the 2006 Metro League crown. She also led Pine Creek to a berth in the Colorado 4A state tournament in 2005, and the 5A state competition in 2006 and 2007.   Pindral holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from UCCS and a Master of Science in Energy and Environmental Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from Michigan Tech. She has been employed as the Department Administrator for Social Sciences at Tech and was also the Manager of Sustainability Projects and Outreach.   Pindral began her coaching career with Colorado Juniors Volleyball Club where she was a head coach, assistant coach, and the club's lead setting coach over three seasons. Most recently, she has also been involved with Keweenaw Volleyball Club as an administrator and coach. She has also worked camps at the University of Texas, the United States Air Force Academy, and UCCS. She is an active member of USA Volleyball, American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), and is IMPACT Certified. 

Mallory Nickelson begins her third season as an Assistant Coach with Michigan Tech Volleyball in 2025. The native of St. Louis, Missouri was named to the position in February 2023 after being a four-year starting libero and setter at Roosevelt University and most recently an assistant coach for two seasons at UW-Stevens Point. In Nickelson's second season in 2024, the Huskies advanced to the GLIAC semifinal for the eighth consecutive season. Five different Huskies were named to All-GLIAC with Tess Hayes and Meg Raabe honored on the First Team, Paige Wagner and Rachel Zurek on the Second Team, and Kaycee Meiners was Honorable Mention. The Huskies earned AVCA Academic Excellence team honors for the 13th straight season. In 2023, the Huskies advanced to the GLIAC semifinal for the seventh consecutive time and were honored with the AVCA Academic Excellence Award for the 12th year in a row. Setter Tess Hayes was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year and to the All-GLIAC Second Team. Kaycee Meiners and Lindy Oujiri were honored on the All-GLIAC First Team. Meg Raabe joined Hayes on the All-GLIAC Second Team, and Rachel Zurek was an Honorable Mention selection.   Nickelson was an assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point under Lyndsay Kooi. The Pointers were 52-16 overall and went to the NCAA Tournament both seasons, advancing in 2022 while also being WIAC Tournament runners-up earlier that season.   As a student-athlete, Nickelson played for former Michigan Tech assistant coach Nic Paquiz at Roosevelt. She was the team captain in 2020-21 and graduated with the second-most assists in school history. She was an all-conference selection in 2019, a three-time academic all-conference team member, and received the 2021 Roosevelt University Presidential Award for Social Justice. Nickelson set the single-match school record for assists with 68 in a five-set win over Indiana South Bend in 2019, earning her NAIA National Player of the week.   Nickelson coached and developed student-athletes at UW-Stevens Point who earned First Team and Honorable Mention All-America honors, the WIAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, and multiple all-conference selections. She assisted in all areas of the Pointers' program and specialized in training defenders and setters while also recruiting, planning team travel, player development, opponent scouting, and academic advising.    Nickelson coached three years at the club level and was the head coach of the 17 National Team at Wisconsin Ice Volleyball Club out of Stevens Point for two seasons. She also spent a season with the 15s group at New Wave Volleyball Club out of Darien, Illinois.   At Roosevelt, Nickelson earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Journalism and Media Studies & English with a minor in Integrated Marketing Communications in December 2020. She finished a Master's of Science from UW-Stevens Point in Community and Organizational Leadership in May 2023 where she worked on programming focused on student-athletes in their final year making the transition out of college sports.