SAN ANTONIO — St. Mary's University Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Kristine Pelky as the new Head Coach for the Volleyball program. With extensive experience and a proven track record in collegiate volleyball, Pelky becomes the 12th Head Coach in the history of St. Mary's Volleyball.
Executive Director of Athletics
Robert Coleman expressed enthusiasm for the new addition, stating, "I am excited to welcome Kristine to the St. Mary's family to lead our Volleyball program. We had some very strong candidates, and Kristine stood out with her knowledge, high standards, and enthusiasm. She will provide the leadership in continuing the upward trend of our program and we look forward to supporting her goals as a head coach."
Pelky (née Fisch) joins St. Mary's after serving as the Interim Head Coach at Winona State, where she has been part of the coaching staff since 2019. Her coaching journey at Winona State began as an Assistant Coach, a role she held until 2025 before stepping into the interim head position. During her tenure, Pelky was instrumental in guiding the team to significant achievements, including a program-best 28-5 record in 2021. Under her leadership, Winona State led the NSIC in digs (17.41 per set) and kills (14.01 per set) that same year.
Pelky's tenure at Winona State was marked by consistent team performance and academic excellence. The team reached the Regional Tournament in 2021 and made three appearances in the NSIC Tournament. Additionally, the team maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher over the last five seasons and earned Team Academic awards for five consecutive years. Pelky's focus on player development was evident as she coached 10 NSIC All-Conference selections, nine NSIC Player of the Week honorees, and three All-American selections, including Megan Flom and Bre Maloney.
"I am incredibly honored to join St. Mary's University as head coach of the Rattler Volleyball program," Pelky said. "I would like to thank Rob Coleman and the rest of the administration for this opportunity. I'm honored by the faith they've put in me to lead this team, and I appreciate all the support I've received from the St. Mary's community. I can't wait to get started working with our student-athletes, building a strong team culture, and competing at the highest level."
Before her time at Winona State, Pelky gained valuable experience as the Head Coach at Capital Volleyball Academy in Madison, WI, and as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Sioux Falls. She also served as a Head Coach at the Sanford Sports Academy in Sioux Falls, SD. Pelky's collegiate career was at the University of Sioux Falls, where she played from 2009 to 2012.
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Pelky holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History & Secondary Education and a Master of Business Administration Degree, both from the University of Sioux Falls. She is married to Drew Pelky, and they have two children, Michael (4) and Natalie (2).
The Rattler Volleyball team is coming off a 15-13 season and a quarterfinal appearance in the LSC Tournament. With Pelky at the helm, the program is set to build on its recent successes.
Kristine Pelky will officially begin her role as Head Volleyball Coach on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. St. Mary's University looks forward to Pelky's leadership and contributions to the Rattler Volleyball program.
