WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head volleyball coach Sally Kus has opted to resign from her position today, as announced by Interim Director of Athletics Bill Maher.

Kus was announced as the eighth head coach in UB volleyball history on November 29, 2001, replacing Nadine Lilavois who resigned after three seasons with the Bulls. She took over the position on a part-time basis while also serving as the Health and Physical Education Peer Coordinator at Sweet Home Middle School.

"As the volleyball program continues to grow at UB, it has become clear to me that a critical component of the program's future success is the need for a full-time coach," said Kus. "I am grateful to the University for offering this opportunity to continue coaching on a full-time basis, but at this point in my life, I am not ready to make that kind of commitment. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at UB, laud this administration for their full support of this program, and look forward to what I am certain will be the future success of the program. With 12 talented freshmen and sophomores who got experience on the court this season, I have no doubt that the foundation for future success is in place."

"We are disappointed to lose such a tremendous coach who has developed a national reputation with her volleyball success in the Western New York community," said Maher. "We are grateful for her contributions to our program and will begin searching immediately for a replacement to build upon what Sally has started toward our goal of becoming a championship Mid-American Conference program."

Inheriting a team that had just 30 overall wins and four conference wins since joining the MAC in 1998, Kus guided her program to nine wins in her first season in 2002.

In her second season in 2003, Kus led the Bulls to double digits (11) in the win column for the first time since 1999 and to five MAC wins, which are the most the Bulls have recorded in a season since joining the conference. Kus also saw one of her recruits, Nikki Morzenti, earn Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team honors in 2003, just UB's second All-Conference selection since the Bulls joined the MAC in 1998. After finishing 11-20 overall and 5-11 in the conference in 2003, the Bulls struggled through a 2004 season that ended with an 8-22 overall record and a 1-15 conference mark. In three years at UB, her teams posted a 28-65 overall record and a 7-43 mark in the MAC.

Kus, a veteran coach at the collegiate, high school and club levels and perhaps the most recognized name associated with the sport of volleyball among the Western New York community, came to UB after four successful seasons at Daemen College, an NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) institution, where she compiled a 92-54 overall record and was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

Prior to taking over the head coaching reins at Daemen, Kus transformed the Sweet Home High School girls' volleyball program into a national powerhouse during a 23-year tenure, during which time her teams compiled a 794-29 overall record and were named the "Best Prep Program Ever in the History of the Sport" by Volleyball Magazine. The Panthers were ranked nationally in the Top 20 in the USA Today poll from 1984 to 1995, and they earned a No. 1 ranking in 1991. She is also a member of the National Volleyball Hall of Fame and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame as well as a National CADRE Clinician with USA Volleyball.