MSUB Volleyball Coach Pa’ulasi Matavao Resigns (11/17/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Citing personal and family reasons, Pa’ulasi Matavao has announced his resignation as the Montana State University-Billings head volleyball coach.  MSU Billings Athletic Director Dr. Gary Gray said the search for Matavao’s replacement will begin immediately.

“We will certainly miss Coach P and all the wonderful things he has accomplished in our volleyball program,” said Gray.  “He has indeed left his mark on the 23-year old volleyball program by recruiting outstanding young women.  The past three seasons particularly have been quite amazing, particularly this last season’s qualification for the NCAA tournament.  We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.  He will be greatly missed.”

Matavao spent seven years at the helm of a Yellowjacket program that had never posted a winning season before his arrival in 2000.  He leaves as the all-time leader in school history for career wins and career winning percentage.

Matavao’s 99-97 career record at MSU Billings is the only winning record of the nine coaches the school has had since reinstating volleyball in 1984.  The Yellowjackets posted three-straight winning seasons in the last three years, the first three winning seasons in school history.  Matavao’s Yellowjackets also went 15-15 in 2001.  Prior to that, MSUB’s only non-losing season was a 15-15 mark in 1997.

Two weeks ago the Jackets won their first conference championship in school history by sweeping both matches in the Heartland Conference Championship Tournament.  That conference crown earned MSUB a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.  The No. 5-seeded Yellowjackets upset No. 4 Western New Mexico in the opening round of the regional tournament before falling to top-seeded West Texas A&M in the regional semifinals.

MSU Billings will move from the Heartland Conference to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference next year.  The Jackets’ new coach will have to replace four seniors, but MSUB will return eight players from this year’s NCAA Tournament team, including three starters.

“It’s been a good seven years,” said Matavao.  “I am very proud of what the kids were able to do.  I just want to thank all those who were involved with the program, and I wish the program and the kids all the best in the future.”