Completed Event: Women's Golf versus Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational on October 6, 2025 , , 1st (855, +3)
Final
Women's Golf
vs Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational
1st (855, +3)
Ulmer Announces Kansas Volleyball Staff Additions
2/4/2025 1:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas head volleyball coach Matt Ulmer announced the finalization of his inaugural KU coaching staff Tuesday, hiring Erika "Chid" Dillard, Matt Werle and Arica Nassar and retaining current Jayhawk staff members Maggie Bowen and Tori Miller-Hohlios.
Dillard and Nassar both come to Kansas from Oregon, where they coached with Ulmer for seven and two seasons, respectively. Dillard was a part of three Elite Eight squads and two Sweet 16 teams in Eugene, while Nassar's two seasons ended in Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances. Werle arrives in Lawrence after compiling a .623 winning percentage in nine seasons as the head men's volleyball coach at Grand Canyon University.
"I couldn't be more excited for our current and future student-athletes to be surrounded by extremely talented, caring and dedicated coaches," Ulmer said. "This is a group that will do everything they can to help every Jayhawk achieve their goals and realize their full potential. I know we are all excited to start working alongside each other and form the culture within our program, with our players."
// ERIKA DILLARD, ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Dillard is coming off her seventh season with the Oregon volleyball program, and second as the associate head coach after being promoted in January 2022. She joined the program on January 12, 2018, reuniting with Ulmer after previously coaching with him at Long Beach State.
During her time in Eugene, Dillard has helped lead the Ducks to six NCAA Tournament appearances and four second-place league finishes (2018, '20, '22, '23) in the Pac-12. The Ducks advanced to the Elite Eight in 2018, 2022 and 2023 with Dillard on the bench, and added Sweet 16 appearances during the 2021 spring season and the 2024 season.
In working directly with the UO middle blockers, Dillard saw a third-consecutive season with a player hitting .400 higher with Kara McGhee posting a career-high .415 hitting percentage. That figure was second in the Pac-12 and 11th nationally, and ranks second in program history. Previously, Karson Bacon hit .413 in 2021 followed by Kiari Robey hitting .436 in 2022, both under Dillard's tutelage.
Dillard also coached the Ducks to 2.71 blocks per set, which led the Pac-12 and was 12th in the NCAA. The team also led the conference with a .157 opponent hitting percentage. Individually, Bacon (1.31 b/s) and McGhee (1.24 b/s) were fourth and sixth in the Pac-12, respectively.
Dillard joins Ulmer as an AVCA "30 Under 30" honoree, having won this award back in 2014 while coaching at Long Beach State.
Ulmer and Dillard have a long history of working together, having served as assistants together at Long Beach State from 2008 to 2013. Dillard was Ulmer's beach volleyball assistant coach in 2013 when he was the beach head coach, helping to lead the 49ers to the beach national championship.
"I am honored to join the KU Volleyball program," Dillard said. "Throughout my career, it's always been about relationships with people and family culture within a program. I believe this mentality wholeheartedly leads to success. My family and I are excited to start this new chapter here in Lawrence. I'm looking forward to getting into the gym with the student-athletes and making Kansas our home."
// MATT WERLE, ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Werle comes to Kansas from Grand Canyon University, where he spent nine seasons as the head coach of the GCU men's volleyball team, where he went 154-93 in his time at the helm of the program. In 2024, the Lopes made historic strides, landing their first-ever AVCA 1st team All-American and the program's first-ever No. 1 ranking.
Werle was named both MPSF and AVCA Coach of the Year after leading the Lopes to their first MPSF Championship victory and the first program win in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
In 2023, Werle guided GCU to its winningest season and its first NCAA tournament appearance, when a 22-8 mark earned an at-large berth. The Lopes lost in four sets to Final Four qualifier Long Beach State. That squad earned five American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors with outside hitter Jackson Hickman on second team and four Lopes receiving honorable mentions.
The 2022 season was also historic for Werle as he became the first GCU men's volleyball head coach to reach 100 career wins, doing so with a 3-0 sweep over Harvard on March 12, 2022. That was part of a 16-12 season that saw GCU qualify for the MPSF Tournament for the second straight season. Werle became the winningest coach in GCU history back on Jan. 17, 2020, with a straight-sets win over Park, marking his 69th career win.
A native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Werle played two years with the junior national team and was Team USA's starting setter for the 2007 Junior World Championships. He trained with the men's national team for the 2010 season.
"My family and I are incredibly grateful to the players, student body, and administration at Grand Canyon University for their unwavering support over the 13 years I was a part of the men's volleyball program," said Werle. "As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we are thrilled to join the KU family! The promising trajectory of the volleyball program, KU's dedication to athletics, and the high standards of excellence established by alumni and the current team are truly commendable. I am deeply grateful to Matt Ulmer, who has been a mentor to me even before our collegiate coaching careers began. Lastly, I want to thank my wife, Sarah, for her endless support of my career.
"We eagerly anticipate what the future holds."
// ARICA NASSAR, ASSISTANT COACH/RECRUITING
Nassar most recently served with Ulmer and Dillard on the Oregon coaching staff. In her two seasons with the Ducks, Oregon went 53-14 and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2024.
This past season, Nassar coached a trio of AVCA All-Americans in Mimi Colyer (2nd Team), Onye Ofoegbu (3rd Team) and Michelle Ohwobete (Honorable Mention). Colyer and Ofoegbu were both also All-Big Ten 1st Team selections, while Ohwobete earned 2nd Team honors.
In her first season in Eugene, Nassar coached six Ducks, who earned All-America accolades, including Hannah Pukis, who earned 1st Team honors. That team went 29-6 overall and 16-4 in the Pac-12, advancing to the Elite Eight.
Prior to her time at Oregon, Nassar spent five seasons on the Oregon State staff, including the final three (2020-22) as an assistant coach. Over those three seasons, Nassar coached a trio of All-Pac-12 performers in Grace Massey, Kinley Swan and Izzi Szulczewski.
Nassar played collegiately at Oregon State, before playing professionally in Finland and Sweden. She then began her coaching career at UCLA as a volunteer assistant, before moving on to Oregon State.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Kansas as an assistant coach," said Nassar. "I'm excited to work with such a talented group of athletes and staff, and I can't wait to contribute to a program that embodies passion, dedication, and excellence. ROCK CHALK!"
// MAGGIE BOWEN, DIRECTOR OF VOLLEYBALL OPERATIONS
Bowen, a former Kansas volleyball setter, will remain on staff as the director of operations. She rejoined the program during the 2017 season as the director of operations and following a one-year stint as assistant coach in 2018, she returned to her operations responsibilities in 2019.
Bowen (née Anderson) enjoyed a five-year playing career at KU from 2012 to 2016, in which she helped the Jayhawks to 130 victories, a berth in the 2015 final four and the 2016 Big 12 Conference title.
The Lincoln, Nebraska, native originally arrived on campus in 2012 and redshirted during her freshman season as a walk-on. She eventually earned a scholarship and was a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
Anderson graduated in December 2016, with a degree in supply chain management from the School of Business and returned to KU after full-time experience as a corporate recruiter. Bowen is married to fellow Jayhawk Alumni, Casey, a former All-American pole vaulter for KU track & field.
"I'm very excited to be a part of this new chapter of Kansas Volleyball," said Bowen. "I'm grateful for the dedication Coach B has poured into this program and am confident the transition of the legacy to Coach Ulmer will continue to elevate the student athlete experience."
// TORI MILLER-HOHLIOS, TECHNICAL COORDINATOR
Miller-Hohlios, a former KU volleyball student-athlete, was added to the staff in August 2022, as the Technical Coordinator and will stay in that role under Ulmer.
Before returning to Kansas, Miller-Hohlios was serving as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Air Force.
She went to Air Force after a two-year stint at Wichita State and was a graduate assistant on the Shockers staff. In addition to assisting the coaching staff during practice and matches, Miller-Hohlios managed the programs scouting and analytic software, assisted with team travel and served as an assistant director for multiple fundraising programs, including the Shockers' alumni weekend and youth clinics.
Miller-Hohlios also spent nine months as the Director of Operations at her alma mater, where she organized Wichita State's team practices and travel, served as the team's liaison between various departments, coordinated off-season camp programs, and assisted on several special projects.
A native of Derby, Kansas, Miller-Hohlios earned a bachelor's degree in education from Kansas in 2018, before completing her Masters in that specialization from Wichita State in 2021. During her time with the Jayhawks, Miller-Hohlios served as a defensive specialist on the volleyball team. A four-year academic all-conference selection and member of four NCAA Tournament teams, Miller-Hohlios played on the 2016 team that won the Big 12 title and on the 2015 team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
"As a former player and now Technical Coordinator of Kansas Volleyball, I am thrilled to continue the hard work ethic engraved in me by legendary Coach Ray Bechard, and to help transition and assist Coach Matt Ulmer, to be the best Kansas has ever been," said Miller-Hohlios. "Kansas is in a great position for the future and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this journey. Rock Chalk!"
Dillard and Nassar both come to Kansas from Oregon, where they coached with Ulmer for seven and two seasons, respectively. Dillard was a part of three Elite Eight squads and two Sweet 16 teams in Eugene, while Nassar's two seasons ended in Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances. Werle arrives in Lawrence after compiling a .623 winning percentage in nine seasons as the head men's volleyball coach at Grand Canyon University.
"I couldn't be more excited for our current and future student-athletes to be surrounded by extremely talented, caring and dedicated coaches," Ulmer said. "This is a group that will do everything they can to help every Jayhawk achieve their goals and realize their full potential. I know we are all excited to start working alongside each other and form the culture within our program, with our players."
// ERIKA DILLARD, ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Dillard is coming off her seventh season with the Oregon volleyball program, and second as the associate head coach after being promoted in January 2022. She joined the program on January 12, 2018, reuniting with Ulmer after previously coaching with him at Long Beach State.
During her time in Eugene, Dillard has helped lead the Ducks to six NCAA Tournament appearances and four second-place league finishes (2018, '20, '22, '23) in the Pac-12. The Ducks advanced to the Elite Eight in 2018, 2022 and 2023 with Dillard on the bench, and added Sweet 16 appearances during the 2021 spring season and the 2024 season.
In working directly with the UO middle blockers, Dillard saw a third-consecutive season with a player hitting .400 higher with Kara McGhee posting a career-high .415 hitting percentage. That figure was second in the Pac-12 and 11th nationally, and ranks second in program history. Previously, Karson Bacon hit .413 in 2021 followed by Kiari Robey hitting .436 in 2022, both under Dillard's tutelage.
Dillard also coached the Ducks to 2.71 blocks per set, which led the Pac-12 and was 12th in the NCAA. The team also led the conference with a .157 opponent hitting percentage. Individually, Bacon (1.31 b/s) and McGhee (1.24 b/s) were fourth and sixth in the Pac-12, respectively.
Dillard joins Ulmer as an AVCA "30 Under 30" honoree, having won this award back in 2014 while coaching at Long Beach State.
Ulmer and Dillard have a long history of working together, having served as assistants together at Long Beach State from 2008 to 2013. Dillard was Ulmer's beach volleyball assistant coach in 2013 when he was the beach head coach, helping to lead the 49ers to the beach national championship.
"I am honored to join the KU Volleyball program," Dillard said. "Throughout my career, it's always been about relationships with people and family culture within a program. I believe this mentality wholeheartedly leads to success. My family and I are excited to start this new chapter here in Lawrence. I'm looking forward to getting into the gym with the student-athletes and making Kansas our home."
// MATT WERLE, ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Werle comes to Kansas from Grand Canyon University, where he spent nine seasons as the head coach of the GCU men's volleyball team, where he went 154-93 in his time at the helm of the program. In 2024, the Lopes made historic strides, landing their first-ever AVCA 1st team All-American and the program's first-ever No. 1 ranking.
Werle was named both MPSF and AVCA Coach of the Year after leading the Lopes to their first MPSF Championship victory and the first program win in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
In 2023, Werle guided GCU to its winningest season and its first NCAA tournament appearance, when a 22-8 mark earned an at-large berth. The Lopes lost in four sets to Final Four qualifier Long Beach State. That squad earned five American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors with outside hitter Jackson Hickman on second team and four Lopes receiving honorable mentions.
The 2022 season was also historic for Werle as he became the first GCU men's volleyball head coach to reach 100 career wins, doing so with a 3-0 sweep over Harvard on March 12, 2022. That was part of a 16-12 season that saw GCU qualify for the MPSF Tournament for the second straight season. Werle became the winningest coach in GCU history back on Jan. 17, 2020, with a straight-sets win over Park, marking his 69th career win.
A native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Werle played two years with the junior national team and was Team USA's starting setter for the 2007 Junior World Championships. He trained with the men's national team for the 2010 season.
"My family and I are incredibly grateful to the players, student body, and administration at Grand Canyon University for their unwavering support over the 13 years I was a part of the men's volleyball program," said Werle. "As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we are thrilled to join the KU family! The promising trajectory of the volleyball program, KU's dedication to athletics, and the high standards of excellence established by alumni and the current team are truly commendable. I am deeply grateful to Matt Ulmer, who has been a mentor to me even before our collegiate coaching careers began. Lastly, I want to thank my wife, Sarah, for her endless support of my career.
"We eagerly anticipate what the future holds."
// ARICA NASSAR, ASSISTANT COACH/RECRUITING
Nassar most recently served with Ulmer and Dillard on the Oregon coaching staff. In her two seasons with the Ducks, Oregon went 53-14 and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2023 and the Sweet 16 in 2024.
This past season, Nassar coached a trio of AVCA All-Americans in Mimi Colyer (2nd Team), Onye Ofoegbu (3rd Team) and Michelle Ohwobete (Honorable Mention). Colyer and Ofoegbu were both also All-Big Ten 1st Team selections, while Ohwobete earned 2nd Team honors.
In her first season in Eugene, Nassar coached six Ducks, who earned All-America accolades, including Hannah Pukis, who earned 1st Team honors. That team went 29-6 overall and 16-4 in the Pac-12, advancing to the Elite Eight.
Prior to her time at Oregon, Nassar spent five seasons on the Oregon State staff, including the final three (2020-22) as an assistant coach. Over those three seasons, Nassar coached a trio of All-Pac-12 performers in Grace Massey, Kinley Swan and Izzi Szulczewski.
Nassar played collegiately at Oregon State, before playing professionally in Finland and Sweden. She then began her coaching career at UCLA as a volunteer assistant, before moving on to Oregon State.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Kansas as an assistant coach," said Nassar. "I'm excited to work with such a talented group of athletes and staff, and I can't wait to contribute to a program that embodies passion, dedication, and excellence. ROCK CHALK!"
// MAGGIE BOWEN, DIRECTOR OF VOLLEYBALL OPERATIONS
Bowen, a former Kansas volleyball setter, will remain on staff as the director of operations. She rejoined the program during the 2017 season as the director of operations and following a one-year stint as assistant coach in 2018, she returned to her operations responsibilities in 2019.
Bowen (née Anderson) enjoyed a five-year playing career at KU from 2012 to 2016, in which she helped the Jayhawks to 130 victories, a berth in the 2015 final four and the 2016 Big 12 Conference title.
The Lincoln, Nebraska, native originally arrived on campus in 2012 and redshirted during her freshman season as a walk-on. She eventually earned a scholarship and was a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
Anderson graduated in December 2016, with a degree in supply chain management from the School of Business and returned to KU after full-time experience as a corporate recruiter. Bowen is married to fellow Jayhawk Alumni, Casey, a former All-American pole vaulter for KU track & field.
"I'm very excited to be a part of this new chapter of Kansas Volleyball," said Bowen. "I'm grateful for the dedication Coach B has poured into this program and am confident the transition of the legacy to Coach Ulmer will continue to elevate the student athlete experience."
// TORI MILLER-HOHLIOS, TECHNICAL COORDINATOR
Miller-Hohlios, a former KU volleyball student-athlete, was added to the staff in August 2022, as the Technical Coordinator and will stay in that role under Ulmer.
Before returning to Kansas, Miller-Hohlios was serving as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Air Force.
She went to Air Force after a two-year stint at Wichita State and was a graduate assistant on the Shockers staff. In addition to assisting the coaching staff during practice and matches, Miller-Hohlios managed the programs scouting and analytic software, assisted with team travel and served as an assistant director for multiple fundraising programs, including the Shockers' alumni weekend and youth clinics.
Miller-Hohlios also spent nine months as the Director of Operations at her alma mater, where she organized Wichita State's team practices and travel, served as the team's liaison between various departments, coordinated off-season camp programs, and assisted on several special projects.
A native of Derby, Kansas, Miller-Hohlios earned a bachelor's degree in education from Kansas in 2018, before completing her Masters in that specialization from Wichita State in 2021. During her time with the Jayhawks, Miller-Hohlios served as a defensive specialist on the volleyball team. A four-year academic all-conference selection and member of four NCAA Tournament teams, Miller-Hohlios played on the 2016 team that won the Big 12 title and on the 2015 team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
"As a former player and now Technical Coordinator of Kansas Volleyball, I am thrilled to continue the hard work ethic engraved in me by legendary Coach Ray Bechard, and to help transition and assist Coach Matt Ulmer, to be the best Kansas has ever been," said Miller-Hohlios. "Kansas is in a great position for the future and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this journey. Rock Chalk!"
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