Pack adds Berg as assistant volleyball coach

Berg's hire made possible via NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant

PUEBLO, Colo., (July 25, 2008) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo volleyball program has hired former Kansas Wesleyan University volleyball standout, Kelli Berg, as the team's assistant volleyball coach, head coach Chris Jonson announced Friday.

Berg was a three-time all-conference selection as a setter at Kansas Wesleyan, an NAIA institution in Salina, Kan.  She was a two-year team captain at Kansas Wesleyan, and was also a two-time academic all-American while competing in basketball at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan.  She obtained her Bachelor's in sport management with a minor in coaching from Kansas Wesleyan in May 2008.

In her role as the top volleyball assistant coach, Berg will assist Jonson in all phases of the volleyball program, including recruiting.  She join a staff that also includes assistant coach, Ramon Arriaga, who will be entering his third season as the ThunderWolves' assistant.

"The addition of Kelli is going to help this team succeed in our mission of becoming the best team we can," Jonson said. "As a former collegiate athlete, she understands the difficulty of being a student-athlete and balancing both athletics and academics.  Also, her recent training and experience in strength and conditioning is really going to help take this team to the next level."

Berg is a unique hire for the ThunderWolves, as her addition was made possible through the NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant, which helps provide funds to Division II institutions to assist in the creation of assistant coaching positions primarily for women and minorities.  The grant will provide supplementary funds for Berg's position for three years.

"The CSU-Pueblo athletics department is proud to be one of 18 recipients nation-wide to receive the NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant," said CSU-Pueblo associate athletic director, Niki Whitaker, who authored the grant proposal on behalf of the volleyball program.  "The supplementary funds allowed our department the opportunity to hire a talented and hard-working person in Kelli Berg.  There is no doubt that with her assistance, the ThunderWolves volleyball program will exceed expectations this year."

The ThunderWolves will begin their season on Aug. 29 at the "CSU-Pueblo Fall Classic," held at Massari Arena, against Angelo State University.  It will be the volleyball team's first game at Massari Arena after spending the last two seasons playing off-campus because of the facility's renovation.