BLINN VOLLEYBALL COACH LEAVING

Kalie Mader compiled a 73-43 record while guiding athletes on the court and in the classroom

Coach Kalie Mader
Blinn Buccaneers

Kalie Mader accepted the head volleyball coaching position at Missouri Southern State University after leading the Blinn College volleyball program to three regional tournaments and one national tournament appearance in three years.

Mader, who has compiled a 73-43 record in three seasons will officially take over Missouri State University volleyball on Thursday, March. 8.

“My time at Blinn has been such a blessing and I am so thankful for the athletic department and administration for always supporting me,” Mader said. “I feel like I am the lucky one that they named me the Blinn volleyball coach three seasons ago.”

In her first season at Blinn in 2015, Mader became only the second first-year coach in Blinn volleyball history to earn a trip to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. After posting a 31-12 record, the Buccaneers won the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament championship and went on to finish seventh place at the national tournament. Sophomore setter Jordyn Keamo was named an NJCAA All-American under Mader that season.

In 2016, the Buccaneers went 18-22 and earned their second trip to the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament under Mader’s direction. Alexis Kingston, Paola Marie Salas Adorno and Ally Lanik each earned first-team all-conference honors, while Danusia Sipa Borgeaud was named the 2017 James H. Atkinson Cup winner as the Blinn student athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Mader led the Buccaneers to a 24-9 record last season and a 9-1 conference record for Blinn to be named Region XIV conference co-champions. The Buccaneers entered last season’s NJCAA Region XIV Tournament as the No. 1 seed and with a No. 19 national ranking. Adorno became the second NJCAA All-American that Mader coached at Blinn, while Kylee Kaaihue was named the Region XIV all-conference Setter of the Year.

“Kalie represented the Blinn volleyball program and herself with dignity and class,” said Scott Schumacher, athletic director. “I am very excited for her and can speak for the entire athletic department that we are all going to miss her.”

Blinn has earned NJCAA all-academic recognition in each of Mader’s three seasons, and has participated in a variety of community service programs including fundraising for Adam’s Angels Ministry.

“We are in an excellent location to have great student athletes and I had really good players who wanted to do well on the court and in school,” said Mader. “My athletes were the type who wanted to set goals and make them happen and I think that represents the type of kid who is attracted to Blinn College.”

Nine Blinn athletes who played under Mader played at four-year universities this season and two players from this season’s roster have signed with four-year programs.

Missouri Southern competes in the very-competitive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) as well as the NCAA Division II Central Region. In 2017, nine volleyball teams in the region were ranked in the top 25 and the Central Region has produced nine of the last 11 Division II National Champions, while having had a team in the National Championship match in ten of the last 11 years.

“I am excited to have a four-year program and compete with juniors and seniors, and the new challenge being in the NCAA,” Mader said.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com

(Courtesy: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)

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