When Elaina Kakatolis walked off Toledo's SeaGate Centre floor last year after the final match of her senior season, she thought her volleyball career was behind her.
She isn't done with volleyball yet. Kakatolis, who graduated in May from Ball State with an accounting degree, will be a graduate assistant for the Northwestern State women's volleyball team the next two seasons.
"I'm really glad and excited I get the chance to get into coaching," Kakatolis said. "I'm not sure if it's what I want to do or not — and I'm not sure what it's going to be like — but it's going to be a great experience."
Northwestern State, a Division I member of the Southland Conference in Natchitoches, La., is coached by former Ball State assistants Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman. The co-head coaches are entering their first season at Northwestern State.
"It seemed like an easy and natural progression for Elaina," Hugh said. "She had expressed some interest, and once we got a firm commitment from the university we offered her the position. We never had anyone else in mind."
Kakatolis knew she didn't want to go into the accounting profession before finishing her degree at Ball State and looked for a way to expand her resume. She admits she isn't quite sure how the opportunity happened, but is pleased it fell into place.
"I didn't know anything about Northwestern State when Hugh went there," Kakatolis said. "The more he and I talked, we found they had a master's program that seemed to be a good fit, and I wanted to get my master's."
Hugh and Stephanie said they are excited about having Kakatolis join their staff after working with her the past three years at Ball State. Kakatolis finished with 745 kills in 90 starts and ranks 14th in program history with 2,203 total attacks, 16th with 227 block assists and 18th with 249 blocks.
"It's encouraging for us. She believes in who we are as coaches and people," Hugh said. "She wouldn't have left the Midwest to come all the way down here if she didn't."
Kakatolis has the benefit of knowing the Hernesmans' system after playing with them three seasons. Kakatolis will also be exposed to the coaching side of volleyball for the first time on the collegiate level.
Kakatolis' responsibilities are still being determined, but she will help organize travel, fundraising, team marketing and recruiting, as well as office work and other side projects.
"This will determine if Elaina wants to continue to get into coaching," Hugh said. "She'll have to love the coaching aspects to get into coaching. She can be a good coach if she wants to be because she understood our system at a very high level and our system is very detailed."
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