College Volleyball: Huskies name Marci Alofa Peniata as new Assistant Coach
St. Cloud State University’s head volleyball coach Michelle Blaeser and SCSU Athletics Director Dr. Morris Kurtz are pleased to announce the appointment of Malama (Marci) Alofa Peniata as the volleyball assistant coach.
Marci Peniata spent the last three seasons as the second assistant coach for the Ball State University women’s volleyball team. Prior to her tenure at Ball State, Peniata was a four-year member of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s volleyball team.
“I am excited and thrilled that Marci Peniata will be the new assistant volleyball coach at SCSU,” said Blaeser. “Her experience and success she had as a player at the University of Minnesota and her three years as an assistant coach at Division I Ball State University will help bring this Husky program back to the top of the conference.”
In Peniata’s three seasons with the Cardinals, she helped lead the Ball State back court to top-five rankings in the final Mid-American Conference dig rankings each season. In 2007, the Cardinals finished fifth with 14.57 digs per set, while the back court improved two spots in 2008, ranking third with 15.43 digs per set. Peniata recently graduated with her master’s in physical education and sport administration from Ball State in May of 2010.
"I am very excited and eager to join the Husky family,” said Peniata. “I am grateful for this opportunity to work with head coach Michelle Blaeser, the women's volleyball team and the entire SCSU community. I look forward to getting started with the team for a successful 2010 season," added Peniata.
Peniata, who earned her bachelor’s degree in business in 2007, finished her career at Minnesota (2003-06) ranked second on the school’s all-time career digs list at 1,401. After leading the Big Ten with a 5.22 digs-per-game average her senior season, Peniata earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention accolades, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-Big Ten honoree. She was also a four-time Scholar Athlete and garnered the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades three times during her collegiate stint.
Prior to her collegiate career, Peniata was a two-time AAU All-American (2001 & 2002) for the Kaepa Northern Lights Club, while being named an All-American at the 2000 Junior National Championships (16-Open) and picking up the “Best Setter” award at the 2002 National Junior Championships.
During her prep career at Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minn., Peniata was an All-American and All-State player as a junior and senior. During her senior campaign, she led her team to an undefeated (29-0) record, while collecting 31 kills and 28 digs in the team’s state championship victory over Eagan High School. As a junior, she collected a school-record 53 kills in one match.
“I look forward in working with Marci (Peniata) to create an atmosphere and culture of exciting and competitive volleyball at SCSU,” said Blaeser. “I believe that in order to be successful, you need to surround yourself with good people and she is one of them.”
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Peniata is the daughter of Kelly and Patty Peniata. She has nine siblings, with three older sisters and one younger sister who played collegiate volleyball, and five brothers.
St. Cloud State University, an NCAA Division II affiliate, is a member of the always rugged Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State University enrolls over 16,000 students making it the second largest college in the state of Minnesota.
Courtesy: St. Cloud State University
