University of Louisville Volleyball

Coaching Experience University of Louisville The Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach – 1 st Season (hired January, 2025) University of Louisville Loui...

Former Purdue All-American Jena Otec joined the staff in January of 2026 as an assistant coach for the University of Louisville volleyball program. Otec, who spent three seasons on the staff at Western Kentucky, joins the Cardinals after a stint playing for the Grand Rapids Rise in the MLV (Major League Volleyball).In 2025, Otec helped lead WKU to its 18th NCAA appearance after winning its third straight Conference USA tournament title. The Hilltoppers finished their season with a 27-6 overall record, a 15-1 record in Conference USA play, and their 10th CUSA regular season championship and 11th CUSA tournament championship. Abby Schaefer and Tayler Baron combined for 648 digs under her tutelage. In 2024, her Hilltoppers finished their regular season on a 24-match winning streak, securing the Conference USA Tournament crown and the 19th CUSA championship (11 regular season, nine tournament). The Hilltoppers were led by CUSA Player of the Year Alyssa Cavanaugh, who was named the Tournament MVP. WKU went on to an NCAA appearance, where they fell to Minnesota 3-1 in Lexington, ending the season at 28-7 and 18-0 in the league. In her first season as a collegiate assistant during the 2023 campaign, Otec played a key role in guiding WKU to a 30–5 overall record and a perfect 16–0 conference mark, helping to lead the Hilltoppers to the regular-season championship, conference tournament title, and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Under her guidance, defensive specialists Abby

Kelsey Penebaker was named the director of sports medicine/women's health for the University of Louisville in August 2021. She serves as the Director of Spor...

Liz Dupree is a Senior Performance Coach at the University of Louisville, having begun in June 2023. She previously served as Director of Strength & Conditioning at North Greenville University from 2021 to 2023, and held positions as a Strength & Conditioning Fellow at Furman University and Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Dupree was selected to the NSCA Women's Committee in 2022, spoke at the Furman University Strength & Conditioning Clinic that year, and had her graduate thesis project chosen for presentation at the NSCA National Convention. She holds certifications as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and USA Weightlifting Level 1. Dupree earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from North Greenville University in 2019 and a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2021. She was a 4-year member of the North Greenville University women's basketball team and is a native of Englewood, Tennessee.

Matt Pence joined the University of Louisville Athletics Department in August 2021. He serves as Associate Director of Academic Services and is responsible for overseeing academic support for the rowing, women’s golf, and women's soccer teams. Matt came to UofL from Miami University, where he served as an Academic Coordinator working with field hockey, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s track & field and cross country. He began his career in athletic academics as an intern for the Center for Athletic Academic Services (CAAS) at the University of Memphis. As a native of Dayton, Ohio, Pence earned his Bachelor of Science in Education (2014) from Bowling Green State University and Master of Arts in Sports Management (2016) from Wright State University. Matt is an active member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals.

Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach Dan Meske added assistant coach Parker Mikesch to his Cardinals’ coaching staff in February of 2025. In his first ...

Assistant Director of Media Relations/Creative Communications MEDIA CONTACT – Cross Country, Track & Field, Volleyball, Swim & Dive

Sarah Drury Petkovic was promoted to Chief of Staff for the University of Louisville in August of 2025 after 14 years as the director of operations. In her new role as chief of staff, Petkovic will focus on the development of current student-athletes, including personal and player development as well as leadership skills. A native of Louisville and an alumna of UofL, she will use her connections to strengthen the profile of Cardinal volleyball by collaborating with coaches, alumni, as well as the local and national volleyball community. In addition, she will manage the program’s revenue share helm alumni and donor relations for the program as well as assume the role of general manager. Petkovic, a former standout volleyball player for the Cardinals and a USA National Team member, spent the last 14 years as the director of operations for UofL. She began her career as a Cardinal as a walk-on student-athlete. She not only earned an athletic scholarship her last two years but went on to become a member of the USA National Team for five years, becoming UofL’s Cinderella story. On the court, she began as a defensive specialist prior to the implementation of the libero position. She was widely regarded as the best passers and defensive players in the league. She was a team captain and set the school’s single season dig record with 534. She also set the school record for digs in a match with 39 versus Cincinnati. She was a member of the 2002 All-Midwest Region team and the 2002 All-C

Todd Chamberlain, a University of Louisville assistant volleyball coach since January of 2018, was elevated to associate head coach of the Cardinals’ staff in February of 2025. In his first season as associate head coach, Chamberlain helped lead UofL to a 26-7 record. The Cardinals bowed out of their 34th NCAA appearance with 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12 loss to eventual NCAA Champion Texas A&M in the Regional Semifinal in Lincoln. The Cardinal lost Third Team All-American Cara Cresse, a first round MLV draft choice, and Molly Wilson to graduation but return the rest of the starters from the 2025 season. Chicoine received AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and was joined by setter Nayelis Cabello. The trio of Chicoine, Cabello and Cresse, along with opposite hitter Kalyssa Blackshear were named AVCA First Team All-South Region. Blackshear and Payton Petersen received All-ACC Second Team honors, and Blackshear was selected ACC Freshman of the Year and was added to the All-ACC Freshman Team. Louisville finished 2025 ranked first in the nation in total blocks (386.5) and second in blocks per set (3.09). The Cards’ defense held opponents to a .173 hitting percentage on the season, good for second in the ACC and 18th in the country. Cresse finished first in the conference in both total blocks (179) and blocks per set (1.46), with Hannah Sherman just behind her in third, logging 174 total blocks and 1.44 blocks per set. Cabello quarterbacked UofL to a .270 hitting percentage,