The University of Akron Athletics
Volleyball Finalizes Coaching Staff
April 10 | Women's Volleyball
University of Akron head volleyball coach Ron
Arenz announced that Cass Dixon and Aline
DosSantos have been hired as assistant coaches Thursday, thus
finalizing his first full staff at UA. Dixon joins the Zips family
after serving the same role at Ashland University, while DosSantos
will remain in the Mid-American Conference after having last worked
on the staff at Central Michigan.
"I'm excited about the enthusiasm and talent Cass and Aline bring
to our program," Arenz said. "In addition to being effective
coaches and great people, they will serve as positive role models
for our student-athletes throughout their college careers."
As an assistant coach at Ashland, Dixon helped oversee a program
that reached new heights in 2006 and qualified for the NCAA
Tournament in 2007. With a record of 23-10, the Eagles claimed the
first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference volleyball title in
school history and advanced to the NCAA DII Elite Eight two years
ago. Last season, Ashland went 26-6, matching the fourth-most win
total in school history before falling in five games at the NCAA
Regionals.
"I am very excited about joining the University of Akron and the
volleyball program," Dixon said. "I believe that Coach Arenz has
the vision and knowledge to turn the program around and I am
looking forward to being a part of that."
Prior to her time at Ashland, Dixon was the head volleyball coach
at Walsh University from 1999-2004 where her record was 163-43
(.791). She guided the Cavaliers to two American Mideast Conference
South Division season titles and the school's first AMC and NAIA
Region IX tournament titles (2001-03) and qualified for the NAIA
Elite Eight in 2003.
During her stay at Walsh, the Cavaliers had six players receive AMC
Scholar-Athlete awards and NAIA Academic All-America status. A
total of 12 different players earned 22 all-conference, all-region
and All-America honors. Walsh had the AMC freshman of the year
once, the AMC setter of the year three times and the AMC and NAIA
Region IX player of the year twice. Dixon also coached the school's
first-ever NAIA second team All-America (twice). Dixon was the
region's coach of the year twice.
Dixon is also a Junior Olympic volleyball coach with the Cleveland
Volleyball Company. She has served as both a head coach and
assistant coach at the 16-, 17- and 18-year-old age levels. The
Cleveland Volleyball Company is one of the top clubs in the Ohio
Valley region.
Dixon's background also includes stints as an assistant volleyball
coach at Kent State (2005) and Cleveland State (1997-98). She
played collegiately with the Vikings, where she was a team captain,
the team's most valuable player and most outstanding athlete twice.
She was also a GTE Academic all-region selection.
"As a head and assistant coach at the collegiate and junior levels,
Cass possesses deep ties in the state of Ohio and she will be able
to draw the quality recruits we strive to bring to our program,"
Arenz said. "With her ability to connect with people on many
levels, she will bring out the very best in our
student-athletes."
As a graduate assistant at CMU, DosSantos helped spur the Chippewas
to the biggest turnaround season in MAC history and seventh-best in
NCAA history in 2006 when Central Michigan posted a record of
17-13; a 12.5-game reversal from the previous year. The improvement
continued in 2007 as the Chips notched their first 20-win season
(22-10) in 22 years and second winning season in the MAC (10-6)
since 1996.
"Passion and motivation are only a few words that describe Aline,"
Arenz said. "Her work ethic and international experience will be
relied upon immediately. Having learned this game in her home
country of Brazil, her insight to our development will be critical
as we make our moves towards winning championships in the MAC."
DosSantos enjoyed a brief, record-setting career as a player at
Marist College prior to joining the CMU staff. The two-year
letterwinner, whose career was cut short due to an injury, left the
school with a host of records including three career and four
single-season milestones. She served as a student assistant coach
her final two years.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Akron staff," DosSantos said. "I
want to thank Coach Arenz and the school's administration for the
opportunity to be a part of the program and for the support during
this transition time. I look forward to joining the team and to
start building a winning tradition at Akron."
As of 2007, her two-year totals of 708 kills and 2,039 attacks both
rank fifth in Marist's career records and she sits seventh in
career digs with 550. She also set the team's single-season mark
for kills (436) and attacks (1,231) during her sophomore season.
She was named to the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic
team as a sophomore and was elected team captain prior to her
sophomore and junior seasons.
DosSantos served as a teaching assistant in 2005-06 at Staples High
School in New York. She was also the varsity assistant coach of the
boys' and girls' volleyball teams and led the boys to the 2006
FCIAC championship title.
The Sao Paulo, Brazil native graduated from Marist in 2005 with a
bachelor of arts degree in communication. She was named to the
Dean's List all four years and earned the Marist College
President's Academic Achievement Award in 2005.
The Zips will conclude their spring schedule this weekend at
Michigan State where it will face off against Grand Valley State,
Central Michigan and the host Spartans.
