HILLSBORO, Kan. – Sara McAllister has been named as the new volleyball coach for Tabor College, replacing Amy Ratzlaff, who has taken a full-time faculty position.
“I am excited to see Sara take over the Tabor Volleyball program,” Ratzlaff said. “Her love and knowledge of the game combined with her love for Tabor volleyball will continue to build a program of excellence.”
For the past 13 years, McAllister has been involved with the Choice Premier Volleyball Club in Fort Collins, Colo. She has been the club director since 2013, and has served on its board of directors since 2008.
Prior to her work with Choice Premier, McAllister was the head coach of the 14 and 15 age groups of the Heartland Volleyball Club.
“What prompted me to look at this opportunity with Tabor is the commitment to excellence that the school and volleyball program have had for a long time,” McAllister said. “I played for Amy while I attended Tabor, therefore the program has always held a special place in my heart.”
Rusty Allen, vice president of athletics for Tabor College, believes McAllister is the right choice for this next phase of Bluejay volleyball.
“We are looking forward to the leadership Coach McAllister will bring to our volleyball program,” Allen said. “She competed at Tabor at a time when we were establishing a tradition of excellence. She has applied those valuable lessons in the professional coaching and administrative roles she has been given over the years. Coach McAllister has an outstanding knowledge of the game, as well as a very strong network for recruiting. What excites us the most is her Christian character and her desire to use excellence in competition as a platform for Christian ministry.”
McAllister is keenly familiar with Tabor College, as she was the Freshman of the Year in the KCAC in 2000. She went on to earn First Team honors in each of the three proceeding seasons, capping off her career with Setter of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
“Coming back to Tabor is very exciting,” McAllister said. “The thing that excites me the most is the chance to work with the players in the volleyball program. Getting the chance to help young women grow in Christ and become the best they can be, on and off the court, is an amazing opportunity.”
McAllister graduated from Tabor College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and sports management and a minor in coaching.