Volleyball

Chris Kilmer enters his third season as head coach of the Saint Michael's College volleyball program in 2010. He has guided the team to a 20-33 record in his first two seasons, just the second coach in the program's 31-year history to record at least 20 wins in his or her first two seasons with the team.

He led the Purple Knights to a 12-14 record in 2008, matching the most wins in a season for the program since 1995. Among the program's wins in 2008 was a five-set victory versus the College of Saint Rose, the first win against the Golden Knights in program history.

In 2009, Kilmer's squad compiled an 8-19 record, despite often starting five first-years.

Kilmer was an assistant coach with the Saint Michael's volleyball program for three years prior to his promotion. He helped lead Saint Michael's to an 11-win season in 2006, the second-most wins for the program since 1995.

Kilmer, a 1999 graduate of Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University) with a bachelor of arts degree in English writing, was a four-year member of the Panthers' volleyball team, and also served as an assistant coach for the women's team. Kilmer captained the squad and was the club's president from 1997-99, and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1999.

Kilmer spent five years with the Lakes Region Junior Olympic Volleyball Club, based in Meredith, N.H. He most recently served as the head coach of Lake Region's 16-and-Under regional team.

A native of Essex Junction, Vt., Kilmer was a founding member of the Essex High School volleyball club. His coaching experience also includes stops at Moultonborough (N.H.) Academy and Plymouth (N.H.) Regional High School. He currently works at Secure Financial Services in Mallett's Bay.

Kilmer's Year-By-Year Results

Kelly Garthwait, a four-year member and former captain of the Saint Michael’s College volleyball program, returns to the program for her first season as an assistant coach in 2010.

Garthwait, a libero and defensive specialist for the Purple Knights, graduated magna cum laude in May with degrees in psychology and elementary education. She was a member of the Psi Chi and Kappa Delta Pi national honor societies, and also in the psychology and education honors programs while at Saint Michael’s. She earned multiple Dean’s List honors, and was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection as a senior. She also was an NE-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection several times.

On the court, Garthwait played in all 384 games for the Purple Knights from 2006-09. As a senior captain in 2009, she led the squad with 338 digs, and was second on the team with 30 service aces. She was second on the team in assists as a sophomore, and second on the squad in service aces as a freshman. She also helped the program win 38 matches in her four-year career, the best four-year total since the Class of 1998 won 43 matches from 1994-97.

Garthwait, originally from Cheshire, Conn., currently lives in Burlington. She is a substitute elementary school teacher.

Ali Jones, a standout volleyball student-athlete at Lake Superior State University, joins the Saint Michael's College volleyball program for her first season as an assistant coach in 2010.

Jones, who graduated from Lake Superior in 2009 with a degree in pre-pharmacy, played three seasons of volleyball for the Lakers from 2006-08. In her final season, she led the squad with 194 kills (2.55 kills per game) and 27 service aces. She was also second on the squad in both digs and blocks.

In 2007, Jones finished second on the team with 23 aces, and third with 232 kills. In her first season in 2006, she was second for the Lakers with 190 kills.

A native of Fruitport, Mich., Jones was a star volleyball player at Ravenna High School, as she helped lead the team to three district titles, two regional championships, and a state semifinal appearance in 2003-04.

Currently, Jones is enrolled in the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduate program, with their Vermont campus located in Colchester, Vt.