Volleyball, Women’s Hockey Add Former All-American Gusties To Coaching Staffs

ST. PETER, Minn. – Two Gustavus women’s athletic teams that competed in their respective NCAA Championships last season have bolstered their coaching staffs with All-American graduates of the College. Alyssa Taylor ‘15 and Kirstin Peterson ’11 have been named assistant coaches for volleyball and women’s hockey, respectively. Taylor was a three-year starting middle hitter for the Gusties and was named All-American in 2015, while Peterson earned All-America honors in 2009, 10, and 11, and was a four-year starting defender.

Taylor

After graduating in the winter of 2015, Taylor spent the past two years at the University of South Carolina, first as the volleyball graduate assistant and director of beach volleyball operations and was later promoted to the director of volleyball operations.

“Our program is very fortunate to have Alyssa back in a coaching role,” Head Coach Rachelle Sherden said. “The student-athletes are ecstatic to have her back. Alyssa brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the game, an extraordinary work ethic and ability to connect with people, and she is a diehard Gustie. Most importantly, she is a good person and upholds the Gustie core values to the utmost degree.”

Taylor was a three-year starter for the Gustavus volleyball team from 2013-15 where she had a decorated career. The Trimont, Minn. native earned Third Team All-America and MIAC Player of the Year her senior season. As a team captain in 2015, Taylor played an important role in the Gusties claiming a program-record 27 consecutive wins, their first MIAC title since 1986, and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. Taylor led the team with 312 kills (3.09 per set), a .341 attack percentage and a 1.14 blocks per set average (115 total). Her .341 attack rate in 2015 is the third best in program history. The Martin County West product finished her three-year career wearing the Black and Gold with 946 kills, which ranks 15th in program history. She also recorded 326 career blocks, ranking 10th in program history, and was a three-time All-Conference performer.

Peterson

A standout defender for the Gusties from 2007-11, Peterson returns to the Black and Gold bench after serving as an assistant coach for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, and as a volunteer assistant this past season.

During her tenure as a player, the Golden Gusties went 91-16-9 overall and 62-5-5 in the MIAC, winning four MIAC championships and taking home four MIAC playoff titles. She recorded a total of 16 goals and 59 assists for 75 points, ranking 28th overall and fourth among defensemen in career points at Gustavus. Peterson, a four-time All-MIAC performer and three-time All-American (2009, 2010, and 2011), broke the program’s “Iron Woman” award in 2011, setting a new games-played mark by skating in all 116 contests over her career.

“Kirstin bleeds Black and Gold, so we are excited to add her to our staff once again,” Head Coach Mike Carroll said. “It will be a pretty seamless transition because not only was she one of the best defensemen in the country during her career, but she also has a few years of coaching experience here at Gustavus and knows the system well.”

As an assistant coach in 2011-12, Peterson helped the Gusties post a 24-4-2 overall record and 16-1-1 mark in the MIAC, winning the conference championship and taking fourth in the NCAA Championships. In the 2012-13 season, the Gusties went 27-2-1 overall and a perfect 18-0 in the league, winning another conference title and once again taking fourth in the national tournament.