Erin Kretzschmar enters her fourth season as an assistant coach with The Citadel volleyball team.
The Bulldogs were chosen as the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference, with Ali Ruffin and Belle Hogan receiving preseason honors.
Kretzschmar and the Bulldogs faced the No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,607 in Lincoln, Nebraska, marking the highest away attendance the Bulldogs have ever played in.
The Bulldogs secured the No. 5 seed in the 2024 Southern Conference Tournament. They clinched a thrilling five-set match against Samford in the first round. The Citadel was eliminated in the semifinals by Mercer.
In her second season, Kretzschmar helped the Bulldogs collect the first ever first regular season conference title in program history.
The Citadel achieved numerous records during the 2023 season, with 27 wins surpassing the old record of 14. The Bulldogs also achieved the longest winning streak in a season with 23 straight matches. They set records with the most kills in a season (1,616), kills per set (13.69), 1,490 assists, and 2,038 digs.
Under the guidance of Kretzschmar, middle blockers Gina DeLancey and Maddy Cardneas were named to the All-SoCon Second Team. Cardenas finished the season with 233 kills, 16 block solos, and 48 block assists. Cardenas finished second in the conference with a hitting percentage of .365. She was selected for the 2023 Jacksonville Invitational All-Tournament Team and the 2023 Buccaneer All-Tournament Team.
DeLancey finished the season with a career-high 159 kills with a .304 attack percentage. The native from Arlington, Virginia, recorded a career-high for kills in a match with 16 against Chattanooga and a career-high in blocks in a match with ten against UNCG. DeLancey was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career during the season.
“I’m really excited to add Erin to the program,” head coach Dave Zelenock said. “As someone who is from the area she knows a lot about The Citadel and what it takes to succeed here. Her experience as a player and a coach will be a great addition as we move forward growing the program like we have every year.”
Kretzschmar joins the program after having spent time coaching volleyball collegiately and playing professionally. She spent the 2021 season as an assistant at Bucknell after previously working as an education coach at the Primrose School of Mount Pleasant.
In 2018 and 2019, Kretzschmar played for the KK Tel Aviv professional team in Israel, where she was a starting middle blocker. She helped lead the team to a fourth-place finish in the Israeli Premier League, as well as an Israeli Cup semifinal finish.
Prior to her professional stretch, Kretzschmar served as a graduate assistant coach for the Converse College volleyball program while she earned a master's degree in teaching. In the role, Kretzschmar assisted with recruiting, travel planning, individual and team practices, and scouting.
Kretzschmar put together a standout collegiate career during her time at Limestone, starting all four seasons and being named captain during her junior year. She was twice named All-Conference Carolinas Second Team and All-Tournament Team, and was a three-time selection as the Limestone Offensive Player of the Year.
Following her final collegiate season, she served as a student assistant coach for the Limestone men’s volleyball team.
The Charleston native earned her bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Limestone in 2016. Kretzschmar and her husband, Bruno, have a girl, Charlotte.
