Camp Director

Samantha Birkicht

In her first year as head coach she led the Pioneers to their first season of .500 or better since 2014, her last year as an assistant. She began her coaching career 7-0 giving the program their best start to a season since 2004. Senior Allison Jensen earned her third All-WIAC selection and collected her 1,000^th career kill. Senior Allie Carter became just the sixth Pioneer to reach 3,000 career assists and the first since Ali Sikic.

In her first year as assistant coach, the Pioneers continued a string of eight-consecutive berths to the WIAC Tournament, where they went on to finish fourth. Senior Briana Kaiser became only the second player in program history to earn multiple All-American honors from the AVCA. Senior Ali Sikic wrapped up her career with honorable mention AVCA all-region recognition, first team all-WIAC accolades and as the program's all-time assist leader with 5,487 assists. Sikic also was selected as the Judy Kruckman WIAC Scholar-Athlete for volleyball. Sophomores Stephanie Kirchner and Emily Kaiser were named first team and honorable mention all-WIAC, respectively. Birkicht returned to UW-Platteville in the fall of 2011 after turning around the volleyball program in the Forrest Valley School District. She guided a program from a below .500 mark to the conference title in 2010. She also directed the Freeport Fusion Volleyball Program for the last six years, serving as the site director and facility manager as well as the head coach. In 2007, she led Aquin Catholic High School in Freeport to its first conference title in 16 years.

Birkicht graduated from UW-Platteville, where she was recognized on the High Honors Dean’s List. She has her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. Birkicht earned her master’s degree from Emporia State University and also has an associate of arts degree from Highland Community College.