Southeast Missouri State University Women's Volleyball

Yankus is in her sixth season at the helm of the Southeast Missouri State womens volleyball program. Through five seasons as the head coach of the Redhawks, Yankus has compiled an overall record of 73-88 and an Ohio Valley Conference record of 45-39.     Yankus teams have competed at the OVC Championship Tournament all five seasons under her instruction. Yankus has mentored six All-OVC Team selections, two OVC All-Newcomer Team selections, and two All-OVC Tournament Team honorees.     In 2012, her second season at the helm of the Redhawks, Yankus guided the Redhawks to an OVC West Division crown. The Redhawks finished 21-13 overall with a 12-4 record in conference play.  2012s record was the best record by Southeast since the 2007 season. Southeast Missouri was picked third in the preseason poll and finished the season first in the West Division and qualified for the OVC Tournament.     Yankus mentored former Redhawk Emily Coon for three of Coons four years at Southeast. Coon was an All-OVC performer in each of her four seasons at Southeast Missouri. Coon, along with her teammate Colleen Yarber, eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark during their senior season. Fellow teammates Berkley Idel and Julie Shives also reached significant milestones their senior season. Idel, a libero, recorded over 1,500 career digs while Shives, a setter, reached 4,500 assists in her four-year career.     Yankus recruited Missouri native Taylor Masterson to Southeast Missouri after Masterson spent a redshirt season at the University of Alabama. Masterson picked up OVC All-Newcomer Team accolades after a breakout rookie season in 2012. Masterson, a middle blocker, earned All-OVC honors as a junior in 2014. Masterson helped mentor rookie middle blocker Nzingha Clarke in 2014. Clarke followed in Mastersons footsteps en route to OVC All-Newcomer Team honors after leading the league  in blocking as a freshman and All-OVC Team honors as a sophomore.     Academically, Yankus teams have garnered American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Academic Honors each of her five seasons. During the 2013-14 academic year, the Redhawks volleyball team boasted a 3.39 team cumulative GPA. Most notably, former Redhawk Paige Dossey garnered Third Team Capital One Academic All-America status in 2011.     The Redhawks have won a few tournaments under Yankus including tournaments at Iowa and Butler in 2012 and Mississippi State in 2013. In 2012, Southeast defeated Iowa for the first victory over a Big 10 team since 2002 as well as a win over South Florida, the first time Southeast defeated a Big East team since 1998. Southeast also knocked off SEC opponent Mississippi State in 2013. The Redhawks nearly defeated Mississippi State again in 2014 but fell in the final points in the fifth set at the Indiana University Tournament.     Yankus guided the Redhawks to their first OVC Tournament berth since 2008 in the 2011 season, her first year at Southeast.     Yankus came to Southeast after serving as associate head coach for five seasons at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.     Yankus began her time at Southern Illinois in 2006. She served as recruiting coordinator for the Salukis during her time at Southern Illinois. Yankus also served as the coordinator of the teams defense, as well as coach of the outside and rightside hitters where she coached four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference player Jennifer Berwanger.     Yankus was also in charge of scouting, equipment, team travel, and video breakdown and analysis. She also served as manager of home match management at SIU.     Prior to SIU, Yankus spent two seasons at Georgia State in Atlanta serving as the top assistant coach for the Panthers. At Georgia State, Yankus coached the outside hitters and handled team travel, tape exchange and equipment. Yankus also assisted in the recruiting, scouting and practice planning. While at Georgia State, Yankus earned her masters degree in Sports Administration.     Yankus is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she earned her bachelors degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and Human Resource Management.     During her time at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Yankus was a steady performer for the Panthers volleyball team from 1998-2001. During Yankus time she was part of the most winning class in school history going 93-23 in her four seasons with the Panthers. Yankus also excelled in the classroom being named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team in 1999 and 2001.     Yankus is a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin. She attended Catholic Memorial High School and was a standout volleyball player leading her team to a WISAA State Championship her senior season. Yankus was also part of the Milwaukee Sting Club Volleyball Club from 1996-1998.