Pioneer

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Amber Holloway-Cook Women's volleyball head coach Doug Carlson said he has high hopes for the team in the upcoming years and is certain they will make it to the playoffs this season.

After five years as head coach of the Lady Raiders volleyball team, Paige Ellertson elected to step down. She submitted her resignation during winter break.

Her replacement will be Pierce's HEC director and former Tacoma Community College volleyball coach Doug Carlson.

Carlson has an extensive resume, including five years as the head coach at TCC, three years as head coach at St. Martin's College and five years at the high school level.

Altogether, the new head coach has more than 20 years of volleyball coaching experience.

Ellertson, a highly regarded coach, had an exceptional departing season, finishing 23-14 overall and 8-4 in the conference, making it to the play-offs while giving birth to her first baby.

Under her watch, the lady Raiders went 102-73 (58 percent) overall, and finished in third place for three consecutive seasons.

While her husband, Clint Tisserand, serves in Iraq, Ellertson said she wants to spend more time with family before moving to Highland Falls, N.Y., where Tisserand will be teaching at West Point Academy upon completion of his tour of duty.

"Coach Ellertson has done a great job preparing [the team], and we wish her the best," Carlson said. "We will continue her traditions of hard work and will compete at the highest level."

Spring practice and tryouts for the team will be held in April and May for six weeks, at which point they will meet to shake off the rust and practice timing, endurance and teamwork.

Carlson said he has high expectations for the coming years.

"We will definitely make the playoffs again and compete for the Western Conference championship this year," he said.

Several players are returning from last year's team, including second team all-star Alex Brasseaux, fellow week seven player of the week Lauren Komarzec, week eight defensive player of the week Chelsea Olivas, Oregon import Emily Wilson and former Stadium teammates Nissa McCormack and Brittany Jansen.

"If two or three of our players can step up and play at an all-star level, we could compete for the NWAACC championship," Carlson said. "We have a great team with veteran leadership."

Accompanied by an outstanding recruiting class, the Raiders are poised to do well, Carlson said.

"The NWAACC championship is definitely on our agenda, but first the West, then the championship," he said.

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