Former Flyer All-American Named Director of Volleyball Operations

July 6, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio – Former University of Dayton All-American setter Jessica Yanz has been named the program’s first Director of Volleyball Operations, Head Coach Kelly Sheffield announced on Wednesday.

“I couldn't be happier to add Jess to our staff,” Sheffield said. “She is organized, brings new ideas, and has a work ethic and demeanor that I enjoy being around. Her position is critical to our staff – it lets the coaches coach, recruit, and to focus more attention on our current student-athletes. The Director of Operations position is such an important position, a position that most of the elite programs in the country have added, and I think we found the perfect person for it. The fact that she is already a Flyer is an added bonus. Jess has hit the ground running and most important she takes tremendous pride in her work.”

As Dayton’s first Director of Volleyball Operations, Yanz will oversee all team travel plans, serve as the Summer Camp Director, and will run Dayton volleyball’s youth and coaching clinics. Per NCAA rules, any Director of Operations is not allowed to instruct student-athletes on the court.

In just one season as the Flyers’ setter, Yanz was named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, Atlantic 10 Setter of the Year and the A-10 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player. While pursuing a graduate degree at UD, Yanz helped guide the Flyers to an undefeated conference regular season, an A-10 tournament title and a trip to the Second Round of the NCAA Championship. Under Yanz’s direction in 2010, UD set a program record for team hitting percentage while leading the A-10 in hitting percentage, kills and assists.

The Naperville, Ill., native transferred to Dayton after graduating with a degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she played for two seasons. Yanz began the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Penn State as a member of the 2007 NCAA National Championship team. The Nittany Lions went 66-5 over her two seasons in University Park, Pa.

Yanz will begin her duties with the program effective immediately.