ABOUT SARAH CHLEBANA

Assistant Coach • First Season

Sarah Chlebana enters her first season as an assistant coach with the Long Island University volleyball program.

Chlebana comes to Brooklyn after a season as an assistant coach for the Belgian semi-professional team Volleybalclub Oudegem. Prior to her stint in Belgium, she served as an assistant at Syracuse for two seasons. Chlebana helped lead the Orange to back-to-back Big East conference tournament appearances for the first time since 1999. She coached three all-conference players and the first All-America selection in Syracuse history. Chlebana also spent a season as an assistant at Belmont, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

“Sarah’s experience, energy, attitude and passion for the game made her an outstanding candidate for the position and she has had some outstanding experiences both as a player and coach,” head coach Toby Rens said. “As a player she played for one of the most respected programs in the country and as a coach she’s had three great situations in Belgium, Syracuse, and Belmont. Her experiences will help her make a great contribution to Long Island University and our volleyball program. We have a great group of student-athletes and Sarah has the ability to help take them to another level.”

Chlebana was a four-year starter at Cal State-Sacramento, captaining her team as a senior. Chlebana earned All-Big Sky Conference honors twice and led her team to four regular season conference championships and three conference tournament championships. She also appeared in the NCAA Tournament in each of her seasons at Cal State-Sacramento.

Chlebana graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in 2002, with a minor in mathematics.

ABOUT KATRINA ENGLISH

Director of Volleyball Operations • First Season

Katrina English, a former three-time RRAC All-Conference selection at NAIA Houston Baptist University, begins her first season as Blackbirds’ director of volleyball operations.

English played three years at Houston Baptist and helped lead the squad to a National Runner-Up finish in the NAIA Tournament in 2002. Also a three-year captain, English was named to the NAIA All-Region team in 2004. Prior to playing at Houston Baptist, the outside hitter played one year at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas.

Following her playing career, English was the coaching coordinator and assistant director of the Sugarland Select Volleyball Club in Sugarland, Texas for three years. The Sugarland Select squad were the Silver champions in the Lone Star Qualifier 15 Club in 2004 and were the Silver A champions at the Cross Court 17 Open in 2006.

She also served as head coach of the varsity volleyball team at Giddings High School in Giddings, Texas for one year in 2005 before moving on to Lyndon B. Johnson High School for a season.

English completed her bachelors degree in english and psychology from Houston Baptist in 2005.