Concordia names Shepp head volleyball coach

• Reprints

Shepp

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:17AM

Concordia University Chicago announces the appointment of Alison Shepp as head coach for the volleyball team. Shepp succeeds Kathy Gebhardt who coached the Cougar women the past nine seasons.

“I am very excited for this opportunity,” said Shepp. “I thank the administration for entrusting to me the responsibility for the Concordia volleyball program.”

A native of Schaumburg, Shepp comes to Concordia after serving as director of operations for the volleyball program at Northwestern University in Evanston. In her time at Northwestern, the 2011 Wildcats enjoyed their best start in 14 years, winning their first five matches, and recorded wins over three top-25 teams including second-ranked University of Nebraska.

Shepp is an accomplished coach at the club level and has been involved in several volleyball camps. Her experience includes three years with Sports Performance Volleyball Club in Aurora, where she coached 14 young women who went on to play NCAA Division I and Division II volleyball. In addition, Shepp coached her girls 18 and under club team to the AAU National Championship.

Shepp attended Boston College where she played four years with the Eagles’ volleyball team as a middle blocker. She recorded 761 kills, 51 solo blocks and 146 block assists over 326 career games. Shepp’s career highlights include a team-leading .335 hitting percentage in 2003, which ranked fifth in the Big East Conference and two Big East Rookie of the Week honors.

While Concordia will be Shepp’s first experience in a Division III setting, she can draw comparisons to her own collegiate experience.

“I was drawn to Boston College because it was a slightly smaller, private, religiously-affiliated school,” said Shepp. “I see those same qualities in Concordia along with its adherence to the Division III philosophy of the student-athlete, and I hope that potential volleyball recruits will consider Concordia an attractive option.”

A recipient of Boston College’s Athletic Director’s Award for Academic Achievement and member of the Eagles’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Shepp places a high priority on scholastic success and the complete college experience.