Ben Kaszeta is named LSSU volleyball coach

SAULT STE. MARIE – Former Huron Valley Volleyball Club coach and Eastern Michigan University volunteer assistant Ben Kaszeta has been named head volleyball coach at Lake Superior State.

Kaszeta, who ran his first spring-league practice with the Lakers on Sunday, replaces 16-year head coach Mark Engle, who retired in February. Kaszeta is a high-energy coach who has head coaching experience with elite players of various ages.

“I am very much a defensive-minded coach,” Kaszeta said. “I believe that defense wins matches. A good, disciplined team will prevail.”

Kaszeta, who is originally from St. Clair Shores, Mich., was a volunteer assistant at EMU last season and was the Mott Community College head coach from 2007-09. His club experience includes the USA Volleyball Lakeshore Region High Performance team (2009-10), Huron Valley (2008-11), Michigan Elite (2004-08) and Oxford Heat (1998-05). He was the head coach of the Huron Valley 17 National Team for four years. He also coached volleyball and swimming at several high schools.

Several Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools, including LSSU, have players that have been coached by Kaszeta, who is a 2010 graduate of EMU.

“There are teams within this league that are within reach, and to start with the simple parts of the game I hope to be more competitive in those matches,” Kaszeta said. “In the long run, I can see the Lake State program competing for a GLIAC title. With a few of the right parts and a small change in the culture, the sky is the limit for this program.”

Kaszeta was instrumental in a successful turnaround at MCC and was responsible for scouting and coaching the defense at EMU.

“I helped the serve receive and made small adjustments to our defense to better prepare a game plan against our opponents,” he said. “I helped with scouting of opponents and all other aspects of practice every day.”

LSSU also hires a new DII trainer

Lake Superior State also hired former Marshall University graduate assistant Kris Veverka, A.T.C., as its new athletic trainer for Division II sports. Veverka joined the LSSU staff in January. She has a B.S. in athletic training and clinic management from Bowling Green State and a M.S. in sport administration with a minor in business from Marshall.