Nike Volleyball Camp at Saint Vincent College

Susan has served as the head coach of the Bearcat volleyball team since its inception in 1985.

As a coach — educator — Susan believes in educating and guiding students by providing a positive environment for excelling academically . . . athletically . . . and socially . . . to maximize their potential as valuable members of society. And it works.

During her tenure at Saint Vincent, Coach Hozak has helped guide her team to 617 wins in program history. Coach Hozak claimed her 600th career victory at La Roche on Sept. 27, 2016. Entering the 2018 season, Coach Hozak ranks in the top 15 of active Division III coaches in all-time wins (617).

A 1983 graduate of Waynesburg College, Hozak received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration during her undergraduate studies. Susan later earned a Masters Degree in Education from Saint Vincent.

Her volleyball playing began at Norwin High School, where she was a member of three state championship teams. As a three-time All-District setter at Waynesburg, Susan was on teams which won three district championships, competing in three NAIA National Championship Tournaments.

Coach Hozak's personal honors have included: 2005 and 2003 American Mideast Conference North Division Coach of the Year, 1994 NAIA/AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year, 1994 Keystone-Empire Conference Coach of the Year, NAIA District 18 Coach of the Year: 1990-92-93, and KECC Coach of the Year in 1994.

In recent years, Susan's Lady Bearcat team won two consecutive ECAC Division II Championships, in 2006 and 2007, while the Lady Bearcats reached the ECAC Division-III semifinals in 2009 and the finals in 2010.

Susan also serves as Senior Woman Administrator and Associate Athletic Director at Saint Vincent. She is also currently a member of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Committee. She is also the chair of the Division III Women's Volleyball Great Lakes Regional Advisory Committee.

Kate McCauley was named Head Men's Volleyball Coach at Saint Vincent College in 2021. McCauley joined the staff as an Assistant to the Athletic Director in August of 2018. The position is fully funded through the NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Grant, which funds full-time, entry-level athletics administrative positions for two academic years.

McCauley is no stranger to Saint Vincent, as she earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology with an addiction specialist certification in May of 2015.

During her time at SVC as an undergrad, she was a four-year student-athlete for the Bearcat volleyball team. She served as a team captain during her senior year and was listed on the PAC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

She also worked as a student secretary for the athletic department all four years as an undergrad and served as Athletic Administration & Operations Intern during the summer of 2014.

Aside from Saint Vincent, she has held volleyball coaching positions at Greensburg Central Catholic High School and Gateway High School. During the 2016 season, McCauley helped guide GCC to a Section Championship, a WPIAL Championship and the PIAA State Championship. McCauley also works with the Westmoreland Elite Junior Olympic Volleyball Club and the Auberle 412 Youth Zone.

Prior to missing the playoffs in 2009, Waynesburg made it to the postseason following the 2008 campaign. That year, the Jackets earned an 11-20 overall record and a 6-8 mark in PAC action. As the fifth seed in the tourney, Waynesburg picked up a 3-1 upset victory over number-four Thiel on the Tomcats’ home court.

It was the first win in the conference tourney for Waynesburg since 2005. The Jackets then went on and played well against the eventual champs from Westminster during a 3-1 loss.

Individually, Benkowski enjoyed a first for her time at Waynesburg as senior outside hitter Laurie Lindner was named PAC Player of the Year. It was the first time Benkowski had coached a player to the prestigious honor. Lindner joined three of her teammates on the 2008 All-PAC squad.

After a rough start to her first season (2005) at Waynesburg that had the team four games below .500, Benkowski guided the Yellow Jackets to 13-consecutive victories.

Waynesburg went on to finish the season at 21-13 overall with an 11-1 mark in conference play and an appearance in the PAC Championship match.

For her efforts, Benkowski earned PAC Coach of the Year honors.

The Waynesburg volleyball team has also consistently held a strong presence on the annual Fall PAC Academic Honor Roll and 2009 was no different. The Jacket volleyball team featured nine players on the list, which tied for the second most honorees in the conference.

Sara Brushi is the former Head Volleyball Coach at Connellsville High School, where she also teaches English.

Prior to her arrival at Waynesburg University, she served as the head coach at Uniontown High School in 2013. During her one and only season with the Red Raiders, Bruschi led her squad to a 10-0 undefeated section record and a spot in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.

Her experience also includes three years as the head coach at Connellsville High School. Bruschi coached the Falcons from 2008 to 2010 and led the Blue and White to the WPIAL playoffs during her first year on the job.

In between her stays at the two Fayette County high schools, Bruschi returned to her alma mater of Saint Vincent College to spend the 2012 campaign as a volunteer assistant with the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC)-rival Bearcats.

Bruschi graduated from Saint Vincent in 2006 with a degree in English/Communications Education. She played her high school ball at Connellsville, which she graduated from in 2002 and earned All-Fayette County laurels while excelling with the Falcons.

Prior to her time on the bench, she wore the green and gold of SVC from 2002 to 2005. During Bruschi’s senior season (2005), the Bearcats won a conference title and the standout middle hitter served as a team captain. She also ranked in the NAIA top 15 rankings for blocks as both a junior and senior.

Along with her scholastic coaching background, Bruschi served on the coaching staffs for both the Penn Highlands Volleyball Club (2009-2011 and 2014) and the Pitt Elite Volleyball Club (2012-2013). She also has seven years of experience working in the Junior Olympic club ranks.

Bruschi resides in Connellsville with her husband Josh. She also teaches eighth grade English at Connellsville Junior High School.

Samantha Kelly joined the Saint Vincent College women's volleyball coaching staff as a graduate assistant in July 2022.

A native of Irwin, Pennsylvania, Kelly graduated from Westminster College in May 2022 with a degree in Political Science and a double minor in Spanish and International Studies.

Kelly was a four-year standout for the Westminster volleyball team (two-year captain), earning PAC All-Conference honors in three of those seasons. She earned First Team All-PAC during her junior and senior seasons, while picking up an All-PAC Honorable Mention honor during her sophomore campaign. She was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District during her senior season.

In Kelly’s four-year career at Westminster, she compiled 2,293 assists, 101 kills and 120 service aces. During her senior campaign, Kelly led the PAC with 1,008 assists and 58 service aces.

Kelly served as the volleyball representative for Westminster's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years serving as the SAAC secretary during her junior year when Westminster's SAAC teamed with the Special Olympics to keep children active during the pandemic through workout videos.

She recently completed internships with Congressman Mike Doyle’s office and PA Superior Court Judge Cheryl Allen. Kelly also worked as an Equipment Desk Attendant at Carnegie Mellon University and was a middle school volleyball coach at her alma mater, Penn-Trafford High School.

During her time on the Bearcat coaching staff, Kelly will be enrolled in graduate school at Saint Vincent, pursuing a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.