Courtesy of Geneseo Sports Information Department
GENESEO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Mooney announced that Hunter Drews has been named the head women's volleyball coach for the Knights.
Spending the 2016-17 campaign as an assistant coach with the squad, Drews moves into her new role following the departure of Amber Dunn, who spent two seasons with the team before being appointed head coach at Wisconsin-La Crosse last month.
"Hunter rose to the top of a strong pool of applicants this summer and we are excited to have her moving into a new role with the team," said Mooney. "This is a program on the rise and to have someone leading the way that played a big role in getting us to where we are today is a big positive."
"I'm so appreciative to be chosen as next head coach of the Geneseo women's volleyball program," commented Drews. "I'm thankful for the support from my colleagues and I could not be more thrilled about being given the opportunity to continue building this team. I'm confident that, with the fantastic group of student-athletes I've had the privilege to work with, along with the support from my colleagues in the department, there are only great things to come for our team. This is the epitome of 'living the dream' and I couldn't be more excited to get the season started."
Drews was a driving force behind the Knights' resurgence during the 2016 season as the program made its first postseason appearance in five years. She helped mentor a pair of rising sophomores to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Star recognition. Outside hitter Grace Cergollanded second-team honors after leading the league with 421 kills while tying for fourth with 462 digs to finish her rookie campaign as the only player ranked in the top-five in both categories. Sam Mendelsohn capped her first collegiate season with third-team honors after ending up fifth in the SUNYAC with 448 digs as well as sixth with 3.83 digs/set.
With Drews on the sidelines, Geneseo compiled a 17-15 record while clinching the fifth seed for the SUNYAC Tournament. The Knights went on to upset fourth-seeded Fredonia, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-22), in a quarterfinal-round road match before falling at top-seeded and eventual champion Brockport, 3-1 (25-7, 25-15, 26-28, 27-25), in the semifinals.
Drews was a four-year member of the women's volleyball team at Trinity (Conn.), starting every match for the Bantams during her tenure with the program. A two-year captain, she capped her playing career by finishing second on the team in kills (169), kills per set (2.22) and service aces (36) while also ending up third in digs (172) and fourth in digs per set (2.26). A three-time New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Academic Team honoree, she graduated magna cum laude with honors in 2016 with a double major in American studies and psychology.
A native of Clifton Park, N.Y., Drews landed All-New York State honors after captaining Shenendehowa High School to a New York State Section II title.
She currently resides in Brockport, N.Y.
