College Volleyball: Michelle Blaeser named St. Cloud State head volleyball coach
St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Dr. Morris Kurtz has named Michelle Blaeser as the Huskies next head women’s volleyball coach. Blaeser will be introduced at a press conference on Thursday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.
Blaeser, a St. Cloud native, and Technical High School graduate, will join the St. Cloud State Athletics staff on March 4. She brings 20 years of coaching experience, including 18 years at the collegiate level, and ten years as a head coach to the Huskies program. Since 2000, Blaeser has been the head volleyball coach at the College of St. Benedict where she also serves as an assistant athletic director and compliance director.
“We couldn’t be more pleased than to have a person and coach of Michelle’s caliber join our staff,” said Kurtz. “Her student athletes success both on the court and in the classroom exemplify her professionalism and ability to lead young women.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to build the St. Cloud State volleyball program. I am looking forward to taking the Huskies to where we need to be at the conference, regional and national levels,” said Blaeser.
Blaeser just completed her tenth season with the Blazers where she compiled a 187-109 overall won/loss record. The 2009 Blazers posted a 26-6 overall record and a 10-1 mark in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). The Blazers tied for the MIAC regular season title and won the MIAC playoff championship. Blaeser was named the 2009 MIAC Coach of the Year. Prior to the 2009 season, the Blazers had finished second in the league two straight years. St. Ben’s advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II Regional quarterfinals.
Blaeser guided her St. Ben’s program from a 14-win season in 2000 to a 29-win season in 2008. Four times during her tenure with the Blazers, St. Ben’s has advanced to the NCAA tournament and in 2008 reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championships. That same season, the Blazers were ranked fifth in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. In addition, her teams have been ranked in the top 25 of the AVCA poll all ten years of her tenure with the Blazers. She has coached four All-Americans and ten All-Region Players. Her athletes have also done well in the classroom, boasting a 100 percent graduation rate of student-athletes completing their four years of eligibility.
Prior to becoming the head coach, Blaeser was the volleyball assistant coach at St. Ben’s for three seasons. From 1993 to 1996, Blaeser was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has coached the Mankato Junior Olympic team, and was an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams at the University of Minnesota. In 1990 she was the Apollo High School head coach and in 1989 was the assistant volleyball coach at Mankato East High School.
Since 1993, Blaeser has been the owner of Play Hard Sports Camp, Inc., and conducted volleyball camps in the five state area. From 1996 to 2006, she owned and operated the Trailblazers of Central Minnesota, a Junior Olympic volleyball program. She has served as a clinician for High School Coaches Associations.
Blaeser was a four-year starter at Minnesota State from 1985 to 1989. She has a bachelor’s degree from MSU and a master’s in sport management/sport psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Courtesy: St. Cloud State
