Nike Volleyball Camp at Hy-Vee Arena

Camp Coaches

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  Nils Nielsen

  Camp Director

  Nils Nielsen is the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Baker University.

  View Nils's Bio
  

  Nils Nielsen

  Camp Director

  For 2024-25, Nils Nielsen enters his third year as the head volleyball coach for Baker University after joining the Wildcats in March of 2022.

  In 2023, Nielsen and the Wildcats finished with a 9-18 overall record to match their most wins in a season since 2019. He had four players earn all-conference honors with Kierra Hipple, Reese Kehl, Meredith Brown and Kylie Murray all landing on the postseason list.

  In his first season at Baker, Nielsen coached an All-Conference player in Taylor Kile who was selected to the third team.

  Nielsen played collegiate volleyball at Cal State Northridge from 2000-05, where he was named to the AVCA All-American Second Team in 2005. Nielsen then became a member of the U.S. Men's National Team from 2006-10. After his tenure with Team USA, Nielsen was a professional volleyball player until 2015.

  Throughout his career, Nielsen coached multiple club teams in southern California and was a member of the USA Volleyball coaching staff at the 2014 and 2015 Pan American games, where he helped Team USA to a silver medal in 2014.

  Nielsen then served as a volunteer assistant coach for UCLA's men's volleyball program. After coaching KC Power's 17-1 team until March of 2020, Nielsen joined the women's volleyball staff at the University of Kansas in September of 2020, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach.

  Nielsen is married to Kaitlin Nielsen, former Associate Head Coach of the University of Kansas and now Hudl Volleyball Account Executive. The couple has two daughters.

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  Kaitlin Nielsen

  Co-Camp Director

  Kaitlin Nielsen was formerly the Associate Head Coach of the University of Kansas.

  View Kaitlin Nielsen's Bio
  

  Kaitlin Nielsen

  Co-Camp Director

  Kaitlin Nielsen was formerly the Associate Head Coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawk volleyball team from 2018-2024. While at Kansas, Nielsen has coached 12 All-Big 12 selections, 5 All-Big 12 Rookie Team selections, 1 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and 9 AVCA All-Region honorees. The Jayhawks also made four NCAA Tournament appearances including three 2nd round finishes and one Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2021.

  Prior to Kansas, Nielsen spent six seasons at UCLA, helping the Bruins compile a record of 123-67. She mentored 18 All-American award winners, 16 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region honorees and 24 All-Pac 12 awardees. The Bruins also reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in four-straight campaigns, which included a 2016 NCAA Regional Final appearance.

  Nielsen also served as an inaurgal UCLA Beach Volleyball in 2013. In that season a pair of UCLA doubles teams reached the AVCA National Championships and one Bruin became the program’s first All-American. In 2014 the UCLA Beach team made a team appearence at the Beach Championships.

  An up-and-coming coach, the UCLA graduate received the 2016 AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award, which recognizes coaching talent at all levels of the sport for those under 30-years old.

  A standout attacker in her playing time at UCLA (2005-09), Nielsen (then Kaitlin Sather) appeared in 132 matches and 448 sets, producing 1,501 kills, 1,153 digs, 99 service aces and 279 blocks.

  As a freshman in 2005, Sather was named to the All-Pac-10 Freshman team, while in her sophomore campaign she helped UCLA earn an appearance in the NCAA National Semifinals.

  In 2007, Sather was again recognized by the league, earning All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention, while also earning All-Region accolades. UCLA nearly reached the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive season, but fell one match short.

  After a one-year redshirt campaign in 2008 due to shoulder surgery, she returned for her senior and arguably most impressive season for UCLA, finishing with AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region and All-Pac-10 Conference accolades.

  Sather concluded her career ranked 12th on UCLA’s all-time kills list, ninth in kills per set (3.35), fourth in total attacks (4,287), 11th in digs and tied for 10th in sets played. She is only the 12th Bruin to record at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Sather graduated from UCLA with a degree in history and a minor in education in 2009.

  Following her time at UCLA, the Santa Rosa, California, native began her professional career in 2010 on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour. She appeared in 22 events, which included the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, National Volleyball League, USA Volleyball IDQ and Wide Open Beach Volleyball, while also appearing in two FIVB and three NORCECA events.

  Nielsen is married to former U.S. National Team member Nils Nielsen and the couple has two daughters.

  THE NIELSEN FILE
  Alma Mater: UCLA, 2009 & Missouri (Master of Education), 2023
  Hometown: Santa Rosa, Calif.
  Husband: Nils Nielsen

  COACHING EXPERIENCE
  2023-Present, Kansas, Associate Head Coach – Technical Advisor
  2019-23, Kansas, Assistant Coach
  2014-18, UCLA, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
  2013-2014, UCLA, Beach Volleyball Assistant Coach
  2013-14, UCLA, Volunteer Coach

  PLAYING EXPERIENCE
  2010-2014: Professional Beach Volleyball Player and Member of USA Volleyball Elite National Team Member for international tournaments
  2011: Member of the USA Volleyball Indoor National Training Team
  2010: Professional Athlete in the Liga Superior de Puerto Rico
  2006-09: UCLA