July 22, 2008
Kristin Fiorillo was the first member that first-year head coach Kelly Sheffield added to his coaching staff when he came to UD this spring. The official online home of Flyer athletics, www.DaytonFlyers.com sat down with Fiorillo to learn more about her thoughts on Dayton volleyball heading into the start of the 2008 season.
Fiorillo was the top assistant coach at NCAA Division III SUNY New Paltz during the 2007 season as she helped to guide the Hawks to a 27-12 overall record and an 8-2 mark in SUNYAC play. The squad advanced to the semifinals of their conference tournament on the strength of the SUNYAC East Division Player of the Year, one First Team selection and two Second Team picks.
A former walk-on for Sheffield at Albany, Fiorillo became a team captain and the starting libero by her final season in 2006. She was selected by her teammates as the Most Improved Player on the team as a sophomore and finished her career seventh in program history in digs. The Great Danes won two America East Conference Championships and made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances during her time on campus. Albany also was a three-time America East Regular Season Champion and compiled a 43-9 conference record over Fiorillo's four-year span on the team.
Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you first become interested in volleyball? How did you get started in coaching? What have been some of your favorite stops along the way?
Both of my parents are physical education teachers and coaches at the high school level. Needless to say they always wanted my brother, sister and I to be really involved in sports. It was a family "rule" that we had to participate in three sports a year. So when seventh grade rolled around I needed a fall sport to play. I of course copied my little sister and decided to try out for volleyball. It probably wasn't the best choice for me. I was terrible!! One of the coaches had to BEG the other to not cut me. Thankfully I was given a chance and from then on I fell in love with the game (and luckily improved quite a bit!). I started coaching when I was a student-athlete at Albany with North Country Albany Juniors Volleyball Club. I began helping as early as my freshman year and by my senior year had my own team. I had always just done it for fun and a little extra money and never really thought about coaching as a career until May of my senior year in college. I had my end of year meeting with Coach Sheffield and he asked me if I had ever thought about coaching as a career. I said no...thought about it...and realized I couldn't picture myself doing anything else. Since I only have one collegiate season under my belt, I'd have to say some of my favorite moments so far have come from coaching club teams. I've absolutely enjoyed watching players grow not only as athletes but as people as well.
When did you first meet Coach Sheffield? What made you want to coach with him?
I played for Kelly at Albany, so I first met him my senior year of high school. I was not what one would really consider a shoe-in for a Division I volleyball player at that time. I walked on at Albany and ended up as the libero, team captain and a scholarship player by my senior year. I absolutely believe I would not have ended up where I did if Kelly had not been my coach. He pushed me to become a player and person I would have never thought I could become. I have first hand experience of how well he develops his players not only as athletes but as young women. I wanted to coach with him so I could learn how to have that effect on people, and so he could continue to have that effect on me.
What has been your biggest success story in your volleyball coaching career?
I tend to find that I enjoy the small daily triumphs the most with coaching...like seeing players finish a really tough drill. But I would say my biggest success story came in my first season of collegiate coaching at SUNY New Paltz. Our head coach, Matt Giufre and his wife decided that the beginning of November (you know, the championship time of the volleyball season...) would be a good time to be nine months pregnant with their first child. I was the only full time assistant so if Molly (the baby) decided it was time for her to introduce herself to the world, I was on deck as head coach. I have a feeling Molly is going to enjoy dramatic situations when she grows up because she decided to give us all a false alarm in the middle of one of our home matches. Our AD creeped up behind our bench and tried to whisper calmly to us that Matt needed to head to the hospital. "Uh.. Matt. You, um, need to go." So there I was a `head coach' at the ripe old age of 23. We ended up winning the match he left and then winning the following match later that day as well. I consider it my biggest success more so because of how well our team stayed composed in his absence and with all the excitement more so than the actual wins.
Why Dayton? What made you interested in coming to UD?
Family is huge with me. My parents are first The coolest 50 year olds I know and also My idols. My sister is the most independent 21 year old woman, and my brother is the funniest person and most talented athlete in my family. My fiancé is definitely one of the most driven people I've ever met. Leaving a support system like that behind in New York State was not, and still isn't easy. As soon as I met the people I would be working with here at UD my worries about leaving my family diminished almost completely. People here genuinely care about you as a person. When I came to campus for the first time I immediately noticed what a special of a place this truly is, and that I could find everything I would be missing in my family in my co-workers and the athletes. Dayton attracted me because of how dedicated everyone here (administration, support staff, fellow coaches) is to helping one another accomplish their dreams and goals whether they are academic, athletic or personal.
What is your role with the team? What are your main responsibilities on the court? Off the court?
Off the court I am our recruiting coordinator and in charge of all our community service projects. I also assist in team travel and summer camps. On the court I will be assisting Kelly and Matt in all of our skill training.
Do you have any expectations for Dayton volleyball in 2008?
These young women are tremendous. They are focused on what they want out of their athletic and academic careers and they work hard to accomplish those goals. I would expect that this team will continue to be very successful on the court and in the classroom as they have been in the past. I would also expect that it is going to be A LOT of fun getting to see the Dayton Flyer fans this season!
What are some of your interests away from volleyball?
One of my biggest interests is probably food. My fiancé is a Chef so I'm a little spoiled in that department! I love to travel and see new places and experience different cultures. I really enjoy just hanging out with my family, especially when we go camping. I like doing anything outdoors. Some of my favorite outdoor activities are hiking, snowboarding and surfing although I'm definitely still learning the last two!
