In 10 seasons as the leader of the Yale volleyball program, Erin Appleman has established herself as one of the most accomplished volleyball coaches in Ivy League history.  

Appleman has guided the Bulldogs to five Ivy League Championships (2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) , four NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2008, 2011, 2012), three 20-plus win seasons (2005, 2008, 2009) and became the first coach in conference history to win an NCAA match -- a feat she has accomplished twice (2004 and 2008). Appleman earned AVCA Regional Coach of the Year following the 2004 season. 

A national champion prior to arriving at Yale, Appleman spent eight years as an assistant at Penn State.  Appleman assisted legendary head coach Russ Rose and helped lead the Nittany Lions to the 1999 National Championship and five Final Fours.

Appleman has built a winning tradition at Yale.  At the helm of the Bulldogs, Appleman has produced the best winning percentage -- .728 -- in program history with an overall record of 182-68.  

Under Appleman, the Bulldogs have the best record in the Ivy League over the last 10 seasons.  She has a conference record of 112-28 and a winning percentage of .800.

The Bulldogs have ranked among the nation’s dig leaders under Appleman.  In 2010, the Bulldogs led the nation and at that time amassed the second-highest digs per set average (19.34) in NCAA history since it to the 25-point scoring format.  Yale surpassed that mark in 2012 with a 19.72 average.

In 2012, the Bulldogs won their third straight Ivy League Championship and became the second team in conference history to complete a 14-0 conference season.   Yale’s 2012 season also marked the winningest four-year stretch in Ivy League volleyball history with a 49-7 mark.  

The Bulldogs have also established a formidable home court advantage within the conference.  Entering the 2013 season, Yale has won 25 straight Ivy League home matches and has not lost to a conference team in New Haven since October 2009. 

Ivy League Regular Season Records During Appleman’s Tenure at Yale  (2003-2012)

Yale - 112-28

Princeton - 103-37

Penn - 91-49

Cornell - 73-67

The Bulldogs have finished in first or second place in each of the last nine Ivy League seasons, and have won at least 10 matches in each year.  Appleman won her 100th Ivy League match on Sept. 28, 2012 at Cornell. 

Outside of the Ivy League, Appleman has led the Bulldogs against challenging non-conference schedules that include perennial national powers and nationally ranked teams.  Under Appleman, the Bulldogs have competed against some of the top programs in the country -- including Penn State, USC, Stanford, California, and Florida.

Appleman has also brought the national competition to New Haven. During Appleman’s tenure, Yale has hosted Penn State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Northwestern, Utah and Colorado.  

The Bulldogs hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 2004.  A sold-out John J. Lee Amphitheater watched the Bulldogs defeat Albany, 3-1, for the first NCAA Tournament victory for an Ivy League school before falling to Minnesota in the second round.

Appleman’s Yale teams have made numerous trips to the West Coast, most recently in 2012 for the University of San Diego Tournament.  Yale has also played at tournaments hosted by Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton.  

With Appleman at the helm, Yale has also excelled individually.  Since 2003, the Yale program has produced three Ivy League Player of the Year selections, four Ivy League Rookies of the Year, 20 All-Ivy First Team awards and 40 total All-Ivy honorees.   

In 2012, Kendall Polan became the first Yale player to win back-to-back Ivy League Player of the Year awards, and only the sixth player in conference history to win the award twice.  That same season, Kelly Johnson became the third straight Bulldog to win Ivy League Rookie of the Year, following Mollie Rogers (2011) and Polan (2010). 

Yale’s Individual Honors Under Appleman (2003-2012)

Two Ivy League Player of the Years

• Cat Dailey, 2008
• Kendall Polan, 2011, 2012

Four Ivy League Rookies of the Year

• Alexis Crusey, 2006
• Kendall Polan, 2010
• Mollie Rogers, 2011
• Kelly Johnson, 2012

First Team All-Ivy Selections

• Jacqueline Becker, 2004, 2005
• Shannon Farrell, 2004, 2005, 2006
• Renee Lopes, 2005
• Alexis Crusey, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Cat Dailey, 2008, 2009
• Ally Mendenhall, 2008
• Bridget Hearst, 2010
• Kendall Polan, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Mollie Rogers, 2011, 2012
• Kelly Johnson, 2012

Second Team All-Ivy

• Jacqueline Becker, 2003
• Jana Freeman, 2003
• Ally Mendenhall, 2006, 2007
• Kelly Ozurovich, 2007, 2010
• Bridget Hearst, 2009
• Haley Wessels, 2010
• Allie Frappier, 2011
• Erica Reetz, 2011
• Haley Wessels, 2012
• Maddie Rudnick, 2012

Honorable Mention All-Ivy

• Renee Lopes, 2004
• Kristen Wilk, 2005
• Kali Nelson, 2007
• Kelly Ozurovich, 2008, 2009
• Kerry Clavadetschaer, 2009
• Erica Reetz, 2010
• Taylor Cramm, 2011

“Yale is a tremendous place to coach because of the personal makeup of our players -- the student-athletes on our team know what it means to compete and set high goals or else they wouldn’t be here,” Appleman said. “Our players are dedicated and committed to each other and, because they love this institution, I have no doubt we will play to our potential and improve as a team every single year.”

In 2011, Appleman guided the Bulldogs to their second straight Ivy League title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Yale won 18 games and had the league's Player (Kendall Polan) and Rookie (Mollie Rogers) of the Year.  The Bulldogs’ season culminated with a NCAA Tournament first-round match in Los Angeles, Calif., against then No.1-ranked USC.  Hundreds of Yale supporters cheered on the Bulldogs against the Trojans.  

In 2010, the Bulldogs finished with a 12-2 conference mark and tied for first place in the Ivy League standings.  At one point during the season, the Bulldogs won 10 straight Ivy matches and forced a one-match playoff against Penn.  Despite dropping a five-setter to Penn, five Yale players earned all-Ivy status, including Kendall Polan, who earned conference rookie of the year honors.

Appleman led Yale to a 21-4 mark in 2009, the best record in program history and the first time the Bulldogs posted back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1995-96. The 2009 Yale team produced five All-Ivy players, including first team honorees Alexis Crusey and Cat Dailey, en route to claiming second place in the Ivy League at 11-3.

In 2008, the Bulldogs went 21-6 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  Cat Dailey became Yale’s first Ivy Player of the Year since 1997 to help lead Yale to a conference title and an Ivy mark of 13-1.  The Bulldogs defeated Ohio in the first round of the NCAAs before falling to Penn State in the second.

“Our volleyball team is surrounded by loyal supporters throughout the campus -- the chemistry between the athletic and academic departments is positive, and our administrative staff encourages our players and coaches to maintain high standards,” she said. “Volleyball at Yale plays a vital role in the development of the total person, and we continually emphasize to our players the importance of positive energy, pride and commitment.”

Prior to Yale, Appleman spent eight years as an assistant coach at Penn State. During her tenure, the Nittany Lions reached the NCAA Final Four five times (1993-94, 1997-99) and won five Big Ten championships. In addition, she served as an assistant coach for the USA Junior and Youth National Team from 1994-94. Prior to Penn State, Appleman served as an assistant coach at Cal State-Northridge and the University of San Diego.

Appleman is a 1990 graduate of San Diego State, where she served as volleyball captain and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1989. Despite playing just two seasons for the Aztecs, she currently sits fourth on the university’s all-time list with 3,144 career assists. Before transferring to San Diego State, she competed for two years at United States International University. In addition, she was a member of the Asics Tiger Junior Volleyball Club for six years and was selected as MVP at the Junior National Tournament in 1985, when her team won the title.

Her husband, Christian Appleman, is the assistant coach for the Yale men’s tennis team and the director of tennis operations at the university’s Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center. They have two children: Justin, 12, and Emma, 10.

Erin Appleman's All-Time Records vs. Opponents

Kevin Laseau has completed nine seasons on Erin Appleman's staff and the Bulldogs have won five Ivy League titles. 

Yale is 156-60 (.722) during Laseau’s tenure, and has won at least 10 Ivy League matches in all nine of his seasons in New Haven.

In 2012, Yale became the second Ivy League school to go undefeated in a 14-match regular season schedule.  For the second straight season, the Bulldogs featured the Ivy League Player of the Year (Kendall Polan) and Rookie of the Year (Kelly Johnson).  

Yale won its second straight Ivy League crown in 2011, had the Ivy League Player (Kendall Polan) and Rookie (Mollie Rogers) of the Year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

During 2010, the Bulldogs finished 12-2 in the Ivy League, won 10 straight confernce matches at one point and tied for first in the confernce standings.  Laseau helped coach five all-Ivy student-athletes that year. 

In 2009, Laseau helped lead the Bulldogs to the best record in program history at 21-4.

Laseau was on the sidelines for the Bulldogs’ 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2011 Ivy League Championships, along with its two NCAA Championship First Round victories.

Laseau was promoted to associate head coach at Yale in 2008.    

Laseau came to the Elm City with over 20 years of national club coaching experience, which includes a National Junior Championship and three bronze medals in the 16-open division with the prestigious Munciana (Ind.) Volleyball club.

As an assistant coach, Laseau helped guide the Munciana 16-open squad to a national title in 1997, a bronze medal in 1999, and a second-place finish at the AAU Nationals in 1989. Laseau became head coach in 2000 and led the team to back-to-back bronze medals in 2000 and 2001. In addition, he coached in all but one Junior Olympics tournament from 1987-2003.

Laseau, who has worked at volleyball camps at Ball State, Purdue and Nebraska, spent one season as an assistant varsity coach at Muncie Burris High School (Ind.), which was ranked first in the state most of that season.

In 2003, Laseau wrote for PrepVolleyball.com, the Internet's only junior volleyball website, and served as a radio color commentator for Purdue volleyball matches.

A 1992 graduate of Ball State, Laseau played four seasons in the backcourt for Don Shondell and the Volleycards, who won back-to-back MIVA Championships during that time.

Don Gleason is in his first year as Yale volleyball assistant coach.

Gleason served as assistant volleyball coach at Division III Medaille College (N.Y.) for both the men’s and women’s programs during the 2011-12 school year.  At Medaille, Gleason specialized in setter training for both the men's and women's teams, as well as player recruitment for the women’s team. 

“Don brings tremendous passion for volleyball and technical knowledge of the game,” Yale head coach Erin Appleman said.  “He will be an valuable asset to our team.”

In addition, Gleason has worked with individual position players as an assistant coach for two club teams in Upstate New York -- Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Paradigm Volleyball Club (Rochester, N.Y.).  

Gleason earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Gleason graduated with his master’s degree in 2011, and was the coach and captain of the school’s men’s club volleyball team