March 19, 2008

PITTSBURGH--After serving as a Pitt assistant volleyball coach, Alija Pittenger has been named the head volleyball coach at Fairfield University. Pittenger will look to extend the success of the Stags', who were the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Regular Season Co-Champions this past season.

"I am just excited that I get to start my head coaching career at a school with such a great tradition," Pittenger said. "Fairfield is a great program that knows how to win and I look to continue that streak."

In her last five seasons at Pitt, Pittenger has helped guide the Panthers to a Big East conference title and two NCAA tournament appearances. During her time as assistant coach, Pitt accumulated a 100-55 overall record and had two Big East Players of the Year, a two-time Libero of the Year, a Rookie of the Year, and several AVCA All-Northeast Region selections.

"I am so happy for Alija," head coach Chris Beerman said. "She has been a great assistant for me for five years and is a tremendous coach. She is completely prepared for this move and will do an incredible job at Fairfield."

This past season, Pitt went 15-16 (8-6 Big East), with players earning conference and regional honors. Two players that Pittenger helped recruit and worked with were Diana Andreyko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Meagan Dooley (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West).

Andreyko was named to the All-Big East first team for the third consecutive year and also became the all-time kills record holder, with 1,822 in her career. Additionally, Dooley was named to the 2007 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District team.

Prior to coaching at Pitt, Pittenger was a coach at the University of Southern Indiana for the 2002 season. As an assistant coach, Pittenger helped guide the Screaming Eagles to a Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament championship.

Before her assistant coaching position at Southern Indiana, Pittenger was an undergraduate assistant coach at her alma mater Michigan. As a player, she helped the Wolverines to its first top 25 national ranking in 2000 and was the team leader in digs.

Pittenger graduated from Michigan in December 2001 with a bachelor's degree in movement science.