NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara volleyball head coach Ren Cefra has announced the addition of Kathi Kobayashi to his staff as an assistant coach.

"I am extremely excited to add Kathi to the Niagara volleyball family," said Cefra. "She is very familiar with the MAAC after having a successful playing career at Siena.  She will bring great energy to our gym and is a great role model for our student-athletes on the team. We are happy to welcome Kathi to the Ridge."

Since 2011, Kobayashi has been the head coach for the intermediate junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams at Punahou School in Hawaii. As the head coach, she planned and implemented practices, collaborated with her assistant coach for practice and game strategies and maintained ongoing communication with her players and their parents. At the Punahou School, Kobayashi has also been an assistant teacher for kindergarten, first grade and second grade since 2012.

Kobayashi served as an assistant coach for Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Club from 2011-14 and also spent time coaching with Rainbows Volleyball Club, Na Keiki Mau Loa Volleyball Club and Hana Hou Volleyball Club.

Kobayashi played collegiate volleyball at Siena from 2005-08 and was a libero. She helped the Saints to four straight MAAC Championships. Kobayashi is third in the Siena record book in career digs with 1,428 and ranks seventh in career digs per set with 3.37.

Kobayashi graduated from Siena in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in English and earned her master's degree in elementary education from the University of Southern California in 2012.

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