Colorado University Athletics
Sanders Named Assistant Volleyball Coach
January 26, 2016 | Volleyball
BOULDER — Colorado native Evan Sanders is returning to her home state and will serve as the second assistant coach for the University of Colorado volleyball team, head coach Jesse Mahoney announced on Tuesday.
“We are very excited to welcome Evan to the Colorado volleyball staff,” Mahoney said. “Our goal was to hire a coach who could mentor and train the setting position at a high level and be an outstanding role-model for our student-athletes. Our players will benefit from Evan's passion, enthusiasm and her competitive spirit as we continue to develop our program here at the University of Colorado.”
“I want to start off by thanking Jesse Mahoney, [CU Athletic Director] Rick George and [CU Senior Associate AD] Ceal Barry for this incredible opportunity,” Sanders said. “To be named an assistant coach for the program I grew up admiring is an absolute dream come true. This school has so much to offer and Boulder is an amazing place to be. I believe this volleyball program has what it takes to compete at the highest level. I am excited to get in the gym and start working with our student-athletes. The future is bright for CU volleyball and there is truly no place I'd rather be.”
Sanders comes to Colorado after serving one season as a volunteer assistant at the University of Texas. The Longhorns were the NCAA runner-up and finished the season with a 30-3 overall record. UT also won the Big 12 Conference with a 15-1 mark.
Prior to her year at Texas, Sanders played professional volleyball around the world, including Albi, France, Markopoulos, Greece and in the Professional Volleyball League for the Florida Wave.
During her collegiate career, Sanders spent time at Colorado State and the University of Washington. She played her senior season at UW, helping the Huskies to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Sanders played in all 32 matches and started in 21. She led the team with 794 assists and averaged 7.78 assists per set, which ranked 10th in the Pac-12.
Sanders played three seasons at CSU (2008-10) while Mahoney was an associate head coach. The Rams advanced to three NCAA Tournaments and won three Mountain West Championships in that time. She was selected to the All-Mountain West team twice (2009 and '10) and was an academic all-conference honoree (2010).
In the spring of 2010, Sanders made the U.S. National A2 Team as one of four setters on the select 24-player roster. She competed on the USA Blue squad that won the gold medal at the 2010 Volleyball Open National Championships in Phoenix.
The Lafayette, Colo., native graduated from Centaurus High School in 2008 where she lettered in volleyball, basketball and track. Sanders was a three-year captain and a four-year letterwinner on the volleyball team. During her senior year, she was named All-Colorado and to the Denver Post 4A First Team. Sanders was the Skyline Conference Player of the Year her senior, sophomore and freshman years and was an all-conference selection all four years. As a freshman, she was named a Volleyball Magazine Fab-50 Freshman.
