Katie Kaysinger is in her 14th as an assistant coach at Portland State in 2015 and her 18th year overall as part of the volleyball program. Kaysinger came to the Park Blocks in 1998 from Portland’s Central Catholic High School as a setter.
The majority of Kaysinger’s on-court time is spent with the liberos and defensive specialists. She is also a key player behind the scenes, coordinating video, practice times, logistics, and recruiting. During the offseason, she assists with camps and coaching clinics as well as coaching club teams in the area.
In 2014, under Kaysinger’s guidance, libero Kasimira “Kasi” Clark set the Portland State all-time record for career digs after she finished her career with 1,851.
In 2013, Kaysinger guided libero Kasi Clark to her second consecutive Big Sky Libero of the Year honor. Clark was named an All-Big Sky honorable mention after posting 545 digs, second most in the big sky. In 2012, Kaysinger helped Clark to one of the best single-season performances in Portland State history. Clark set the PSU all-time single-season digs record with 635 to lead the Big Sky Conference. Clark was named the conference’s Libero of the Year and was an All-Big Sky honorable mention.
In 2011, Kaysinger helped guide lone senior defensive specialis/libero Nicole Bateham to a career year. Bateham played in every set of the 2011 campaign accounting for 532 digs, which is the most individual digs in a single season since the Vikings went to the Division I ranks in 1996. Her digs per set average of 4.59 was the third best mark over the same time frame.
In 2010, Kaysinger coached senior defensive specialist/libero Diana Villalpando to a career season. Villalpando averaged a career-best 3.75 digs per set, more than 1.6 dps better than she had averaged during any of her first three years. Villalpando finished the season ranked eighth in the Big Sky Conference and the Vikings came in third in digs among the nine league members. Additionally, junior defensive specialist/libero Nicole Bateham was having a breakout season as well, averaging 4.36 dps through the first six matches of 2010, before suffering an injury.
Prior to working with the defensive specialists and liberos, Kaysinger coached the Viking setters and played a big part in helping develop Nique Fradella (2006-09) into an All-Big Sky performer. Under Kaysinger’s tutelage, Fradella become Portland State’s first four-time all-conference honoree, was named the 2009 Big Sky MVP and won five league player of the week honors, the most ever of any PSU player. Upon her graduation, Fradella ranked second all-time at PSU and fifth all-time in the Big Sky in assists with 4,817.
Kaysinger also coached Rachel Stevens and Stephanie Lavigne, two former Portland State setters, to impressive seasons. Stevens collected a 2004 Big Sky Conference high 1,475 assists and averaged 12.72 per game. Lavigne was named second team All-Big Sky in 2005 after tallying 1,316 assists and finished her career second on Portland State’s all-time career assists list with 3,821.
After her playing days, Kaysinger stayed on campus and joined the staff of her former head coach, Jeff Mozzochi. In her first season as an assistant, Kaysinger helped the Vikings improve their win total from four to 10. Over the next several years, Kaysinger was instrumental in restoring the Vikings to prominence as PSU won 14 matches in both 2003 and 2004, before breaking through for 21 victories in 2005. Over the past four seasons under Head Coach Michael Seemann, Kaysinger has been a part of three conference regular season titles, two conference tournament championships and two trips to the NCAA tournament. Portland State has gone 163-95, 88-48 Big Sky in Kaysinger’s nine seasons as an assistant coach.
As a player, Kaysinger worked her way into the Viking record book tallying 1,561 assists during her career, which ranked as the 10th-best mark in school history at the time. She also tied a three-game match record with 54 assists in a match at Cal State Northridge in 1999. In addition, she also tied the number two mark in Viking history with six service aces in a five-game match.
Kaysinger is a 2002 graduate of Portland State with a degree in biology. She is married to former Vikings football player Jake Opheikens. Katie and Jake enjoy sailing and scuba in their free time.
