Cairn University Athletics

Cairn University alumna Whitney Seidel '17 completed her eighth year leading Cairn's Women's Volleyball program to a perennial postseason contender. 

Entering into the 2024 season, Seidel became tied for the longest tenured head coach in program history with with program-founding coach Kevin Skaer (1994-2001) and went on to reach 80 career wins, which is tied for the third most in program history with her former coach Ben Fuller (2011-2014). During the season, Seidel led the program to their fourth straight second-round postseason appearance in a newly reconstructed conference field of 17, completing one of the best all-around statistical seasons in program history, as the team finished top three in program history in hitting percentage, assists per set, blocks per set, and digs per set. In the expanded field, the Highlanders finished with a 7-3 conference record and a first-round postseason win. Once again a nationally-ranked defense, the Highlanders finished 21^st in the NCAA Division III in digs per set and 7^th in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (beating the previous season's mark of 9th); the team’s 19.0 digs per set average stands as the best mark in program history.

Four Highlanders were named to United East all-conference teams in 2024, including first-team recognition for Caroline Conrad and Hendryl Peabody, as well as second team nod for Olivia Zepp, who with Conrad, were named All-Conference for four consecutive seasons, the first student-athletes in the program to be named All-Conference for their entire careers. At the conclusion of the season, Seidel was honored with an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) 30 Under Thirty award, naming her among the best young coaches in the country. She becomes the first coach in program history to be named to a national 30 Under Thirty list, and only the second coach in the history of Cairn Athletics history to be honored with national attention by their coaches' association (Jason O’Connell, 2019).

Under Seidel's tutelage, three Highlanders were named to the Cairn University 2010's All-Decade Team (Haley Sheehan, Lyntia Gwess, Liz White), 18 players have earned, with five players on eight occasions,  All-Conference First Team recognition (Lyntia Gwess - 2019 (CSAC), Allison Barnes - 2021/2022 (CSAC), Caroline Conrad – 2022, 2024 (CSAC/UEC), Olivia Zepp - 2023 (UEC), Hendryl Peabody - 2023, 2024 (UEC)). Seidel has also emphasized success in the classroom as well as on the court, as her program has received the AVCA Team Academic Award for six consecutive seasons (2018-2023), which requires teams to maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average. She has had three players named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (Caroline Conrad - 2023,2024, Olivia Zepp - 2023, 2024, and Georgianna Thorpe -  2024) with two national finalists in 2024 (Conrad, Thorpe).

Joining a new conference in 2023, Seidel saw her team continue to have success, now competing in the United East Conference, securing the program's third straight double-digit win season, second consecutive season at least 5 games over .500, and a third-straight conference semifinals appearance. For the second season in a row, Seidel coached her squad as a nationally-ranked defensive powerhouse, finishing in the top 50 in the NCAA Division III in digs per set and 9th in the nation in opponent hitting percentage. Three players earned United East All-Conference recognition, including the program's first-ever First Team setter (Olivia Zepp).

The Highlanders continued to build on their success in 2022, winning 18 matches and making it back to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Semifinals. Seidel led the Highlanders to the longest win-streak to start a season in program history (seven matches) and garnered their best CSAC playoff seeding since 2013 (No. 3). The 2022 squad set multiple program records, including putting together a nationally-ranked defensive performance, finishing 15th in the NCAA in digs per set and 4th in the NCAA in opponent hitting percentage. Under Seidel's guidance, a program-record six team members earned All-CSAC recognition, including Cairn's first-ever CSAC Player of the Year (Allison Barnes). For her efforts, Seidel was named the program's first-ever CSAC Coach of the Year. 

The women's volleyball program had its most successful season in eight years in 2021, winning 12 matches and qualifying for the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament for the first time since 2014. In the CSAC Tournament, the Highlanders won their CSAC quarterfinal matchup against Saint Elizabeth, marking their first CSAC playoff victory since 2012 and their first CSAC semifinals appearance since 2013. Seidel had four players garner All-CSAC recognition in 2021, the most since 2009, including Cairn's first-ever All-CSAC First Team middle blocker (Allison Barnes).

Over the course of her coaching career at Cairn, Seidel has grown in influence over and involvement in the regional volleyball community. She currently serves as the sport chair for the volleyball coaches in the United East conference, a position she has held since 2021. She has also served on NCAA Regional Advisory committees for Region IV in both men's and women's volleyball, as well as an AVCA Regional All-American committee voting member for Region IV. At Cairn, Seidel serves as a senior leader within the athletic department, as the department's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and assistant athletic director overseeing compliance, academic excellence, retention, and game day operations.

During her playing career, Seidel was a four-year starter as a middle blocker for Cairn, as well as being a two-time Team Most Valuable Player (2015-16) and receiving the Highlander Award in 2014. Known for her presence in the middle, Seidel ranks fourth in program history in career solo blocks and led the Highlanders in kills, blocks, and service aces in each of her final two seasons. Seidel was also named to the Cairn Athletics 2010's All-Decade Team. 

After her time at Cairn, Seidel took her career overseas and played for the University of Oxford for one season. At Oxford, Seidel was the starting right side hitter on the No. 7 nationally ranked team as Oxford made an appearance in the UK Volleyball BUCS National Tournament.

In high school, Seidel was a three-sport athlete at Upper Bucks Christian School (Sellersville, PA) in volleyball, basketball, and soccer, with several all-conference and all-tournament team selections in both volleyball and basketball.

Seidel graduated from Cairn in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in English and obtained her master's degree in Education from her alma mater in 2021.
 

Year	Record	Accolades
2024	16-7	United East Quarterfinal Appearance, AVCA 30 Under Thirty, 4 All-Conference Players
2023	15-10	United East Divisional Semifinal Appearance, 3 All-Conference Players
2022	18-6	CSAC Semifinal Appearance, Conference Player of the Year, Conference Coach of the Year
2021	12-14	CSAC Semifinal Appearance
2020	0-0	*No competition due to COVID
2019	5-20
2018	7-17
2017	7-18
Total (8 Seasons*)	80-92 (.465)

Updated 12/2024