New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team is bringing in Melissa Lussier and Dakota Pruiss as their new assistant coaches for the upcoming 2022 season.  
 
After earning the fourth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament last year with a SUNYAC semifinal appearance, Lussier and Pruiss are looking to use their experience as former student-athletes and coaches to help the program improve for the chance to win a SUNYAC Championship this coming fall.  
 
Lussier graduated from Oswego State in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a minor in psychology and athletic coaching, while also starring on the women's volleyball team from 2017-2020. Due to COVID-19, she wasn't able to compete during her senior season but in what was her final stint with the Lakers in 2019, she led her team with 330.5 points across 99 sets while also being named Third Team All-SUNYAC and team MVP.
 
Lussier excelled in the classroom as well, earning a spot on the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. 
 
Pruiss, meanwhile, returns to the Hawks after five years as the head coach at Alfred University.
 
Pruiss originally graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 2014 with a master's in administration in mathematics, while starring on the Bears women's volleyball team for four seasons from 2010-2013. She finished her collegiate career recording 575 kills, 81 assists, 70 aces, 642 digs and 80 blocks. 

After graduating from SUNY Potsdam, Pruiss joined the SUNY New Paltz coaching staff as an assistant for four seasons from 2014-2017, helping the program to a SUNYAC Championship in her first year with the Hawks. In 2017, Pruiss went on to Alfred University to become the head coach of the women's volleyball team. Pruiss led the Saxons to three conference championship tournament appearances and coached seven of her student-athletes to Empire 8 All-Conference honors.
 
The Hawks begin their 2022 campaign Sept. 2 on the road at the Kean University tri-match. To read more on their full fall slate, click here.

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