In her first two seasons at Northwestern State, Alicia Roth has proven herself to be a valuable, versatile commodity.
Thanks to her work with the NSU setters and defensive specialists, Roth was promoted to associate head coach in February.
In her second season, Roth helped guide Channing Burleson through a position change that resulted in Burleson recording the third-highest, single-season dig total in school history. In Burleson’s first season as a libero, she notched 572 digs.
Burleson finished the season ranked 51st nationally in digs and 67th nationally in digs per set (4.77).
She also became the second NSU player since Roth arrived to finish the season ranked nationally in a statistical category. In Roth’s first season, Natalie Jaeger ranked sixth nationally in aces per set (0.50).
Roth, who also is the team’s recruiting coordinator, joined the NSU staff after two seasons as a graduate assistant at Campbell University and a standout career at Samford University.
“I was looking for somebody with setting experience and with experience on the back row,” head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “She’s going to be in charge of our defenders, ball control and setting. She was a libero and has had extensive experience working with setters. Alicia brings a lot of energy to our program. She’s very personable and has a very welcoming personality.”
Despite having been in Natchitoches for less than two months, Roth took control of coordinating August’s Digfest, the largest fundraiser of the year for the NSU volleyball program.
While at Campbell, Roth took on many responsibilities often assumed by full-time assistant coaches. Roth was the Camels’ defensive trainer and travel coordinator while she earned a master’s degree in education.
Additionally, Roth worked summer camps and handled Campbell volleyball’s social media presence.
Prior to her graduate assistantship, Roth was a four-year letterwinner at Samford University where she was named team captain in her senior season of 2012.
Roth appeared in 92 matches in her four years as a Bulldog, mainly as a defensive specialist. She recorded single-match career-highs of 11 digs three times and delivered the match-clinching point on an ace against Southeastern Conference foe Alabama on Oct. 30, 2011.
Roth’s coaching career began before college, as she created the Oakland Elite Volleyball Club in Oakland, Mich., while she was a student at Lake Orion High School.
Roth owns five years of experience coaching at the local and national levels with Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy.
