Volleyball
Coaches
Head Coach Geoff Braun
Geoff Braun has been the head volleyball coach at Fredonia State the past 10 seasons. During his tenure, the team is 217-132 while boasting a .622 win percentage within one of the most competitive conferences in the northeast region. At age 33, Braun is the third youngest NCAA volleyball coach with over 200 wins and one of only 44 coaches nationally to achieve that win total before the age of 40.
Under his tutelage, 25 student-athletes have been named All SUNYAC, including two SUNYAC West Most Valuable Players and three SUNYAC West Rookies of the Year. In the past 10 years, the team has reached the 20-win plateau seven times, and achieved a postseason berth nine times. After the 2008 season, Braun was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and for the third time in his young career. He won the award in 2007 and also in 2003.
The Blue Devils enjoyed their most successful season to date in 2008. The team won the SUNYAC Championship for the first time in the history of the program and finished 29-10, a new school for wins in a season. The Blue Devils achieved a perfect match record in conference play, including the post-season. They were 10-0 through SUNYAC Pool Play and then defeated Cortland and New Paltz in the 2008 SUNYAC Tournament at Dods Hall without losing a set.
The SUNYAC title earned Fredonia State's first bid to the NCAA Tournament. Victories over Haverford and Stevens Tech advanced the Blue Devils to the Round of 16 before they were eliminated. Over the course of the season, the Blue Devils ranked 22nd of over 400 NCAA Division III teams in home attendance.
Awards were bestowed upon five Blue Devils after the 2008 season. Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlin Erdmann was chosen 2008 SUNYAC West Player of the Year. She was the 2007 West Division Rookie of the Year as a freshman. The 2008 Rookie award went to freshman middle blocker Chelsea Senn, while two other teammates were chosen All SUNYAC West Division First Team: senior outside hitter Amy Bertrando and senior setter Alyssa Torpy. In addition, senior outside hitter Leanne Maloney was a Second Team selection. Bertrando was also recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as honorable mention All-Region in the northeast.
Prior to coming to Fredonia State, Braun coached in a variety of settings -- and still does. He has taught the game throughout the state at camps, clinics, and clubs at all levels. He is also a volunteer coach for the Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club and has guided three of his teams to the USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championships. He is the director of the Fredonia State Volleyball Summer Camp, as he continues to foster the growing interest and improvement of volleyball in Western New York's Southern Tier. He has also taught adult volleyball classes in his hometown of Hamburg, N.Y., as part of its Community Education program.
Braun is a 1998 graduate of SUNY Cortland, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education with a concentration in sport management and coaching. As a captain-coach of men's club volleyball at SUNY Cortland, he was a setter on a team that advanced to nationals his sophomore and senior years and finished fifth in the NIRSA Division II club national championship in 1997.
In addition to serving as women's head volleyball coach in the athletic department, he is employed by the Department of Sports Management and Exercise Science as the Director of Recreation.
E-mail Coach Braun
144 Steele Hall
716-673-3687
Assistant Coach Corey Rowell
Corey Rowell enters his second season on the coaching staff after a very successful playing career. As a senior at Frontier High School, Rowell won the New York State Class A championship as the team’s setter and earned All Western New York honors. As a member of the Western team in the Empire State Games, Rowell has earned two gold medals.
His responsibilities within the Blue Devil volleyball program include player development, practice planning, recruiting, and scouting of opponents. He resides in Hamburg, N.Y.