ST. PAUL, Minn. - Macalester College volleyball coach Sarah Graves has announced the addition of Sam Sullivan as an assistant coach for this upcoming season. Sullivan brings four years of coaching experience to the Scots, assisting at St. Catherine University since 2015.

"We are really excited to add such a strong coach to our staff," Graves said of her new hire. "Sam's experience in the MIAC with St. Kate's and her club experience with Kokoro has prepared her for helping our team where we are now. Her energy, knowledge, and attention to detail are really going to help continue this program's growing momentum."
 
Sullivan will be Macalester's first full-time assistant volleyball coach. In addition to her volleyball coaching duties, Sullivan will also serve as a Leonard Center Building Supervisor.
 
Graves commented on this growth, saying, "Having someone who is able to work with our students day-to-day is really going to enhance our student experience. With Sam on staff, we will be able to better develop our scholar-athletes."
 
At St. Catherine University, Sullivan assisted with all aspects of the volleyball program, including scouting, recruiting, practice planning, and skill development. She also aided with team fundraising and was in charge of the team's social media accounts.
 
In addition to her time at St. Catherine, Sullivan has club volleyball and camp coaching experience. Since 2015, Sullivan has coached for Kokoro Volleyball Club which is based out of St. Paul. She also has been involved with several volleyball camps, including camps at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Minnesota Elite Camps, and camps at Macalester.
 
Sullivan graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2015, majoring in Exercise Science and playing four years of Division II volleyball in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). During her college career, Sullivan recorded almost 1,300 career assists and over 60 service aces.
 
After earning her undergraduate degree, Sullivan went on to obtain her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University in 2018 while also earning a Strategic Management certificate.
 
As a prep, Sullivan was an All-Conference setter for Woodbury High School, leading her team in both assists and aces during her senior season. She also played club volleyball for Minnesota One and Kokoro.