Caitlyn Jansen joined Berry's volleyball program as a graduate assistant coach during the summer of 2012, and she was promoted to become Berry Volleyball's first full time assistant in August, 2013. She also earned her MBA from Berry College in 2014.
She has helped the Vikings sweep the Southern Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles for the past two years. The 2013 team earned Berry's first NCAA tournament bid where BC defeated Washington & Lee, 3-0, in the first round before falling to regional host Emory, 3-1.
Jansen coordinates Berry's defense, which made huge strides this season, as they increased the number of blocks per set during conference play from 1.78 in 2013 to 2.06 this season. Overall, the number of blocks per set increased from 1.51 in 2013 to 1.72. Berry held their conference opponents to a .144 hitting percentage in the 2014 season, while hitting a .205 themselves.
"Caitlyn brings a tremendous amount of experience for a coach her age," Head Coach Mika Robinson said. "As a player, she was a big part of turning the Christopher Newport program into a national power and, as a coach, she was part of a team that made it all the way to the national championship match.
"Caitlyn comes with a great skill set, but her poise and character were also a big attraction during the hiring process," Robinson said. "Our goal is to develop a program that is consistently competitive at the national level, and I am confident that Caitlyn will help us accomplish that goal."
Jansen played at Christopher Newport from 2007-2010, earning USA South Conference Player of the Year as a junior, the same year she was named a third-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. As a senior, Jansen was a second-team All-American.
A first team All-Conference and All-South Region selection in each of her final two years as a player, Jansen was the USA South Tournament MVP and the Most Outstanding Player at the New York Regional Tournament in 2009.
As a senior, Jansen was named to the USA South All-Tournament team, and was the Most Outstanding Player at the Newport News Regional Tournament. She also earned first team Virginia DII/DIII All-Stat honors.
During her career at Christopher Newport (2007-2010), Jansen tallied a career record of 140-24 (.853) and helped her team to an undefeated USA South Conference four-year record of 72-0. In 2010, she set the CNU team record for the highest single season attack percentage (.417).
Jansen also owns program records for a career attack percentage (.347) and block assists in a match (11).
Upon graduating from Christopher Newport, Jansen became an assistant coach for at her alma mater in 2011. With Jansen on the sidelines, CNU recorded a 38-5 overall record on the way to an NCAA Division III national runner-up finish in 2011. That season saw Christopher Newport win its fifth straight conference championship, third straight regional championship, and make its first ever appearance in the national championship match.
Jansen was not only a great athlete, but she was also a solid student at CNU, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing upon graduation in May of 2011. As a freshman at CNU, Caitlyn was named the team's Academic MVP and also received recognition to the USA South All-Academic Team. Again, in 2010, she was named to the USA South All-Academic Team. She was an NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee and the Female Recipient of the Don Scalf Award, presented to the USA South Conference Student-Athlete of the Year in 2010-11.
