LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Volleyball is bolstering its coaching staff heading into the 2026 season.
 
Head Coach Tyler Kanelos has announced the addition of Assistant Coach Emma Shepherd. 
 
Shepherd joins the Saints after spending the 2025 season as an Assistant Coach for NCAA Division III Otterbein.
 
"I could not be more excited to add Emma to our coaching staff," said coach Kanelos. "Emma's personality along with her volleyball IQ and leadership qualities make her the perfect choice for this position."
 
Shepherd comes to Siena fresh off a tremendous 2025 campaign on the sidelines for Otterbein. The Cardinals (24-6) spent the entire season ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA DIII Top 25 Poll, and were ranked as high as #15 in the nation. Working closely with the team's pin hitters, she helped Otterbein qualify for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
 
"I am extremely excited to get started here at Siena," Shepherd said. "I'm looking forward to building relationships, as well as contributing to the growth of our competitive play and overall culture!"
 
An Ohio native with dual Canadian-American citizenship, Shepherd first took her talents as a player to the University of Windsor of Canadian U-Sports and the Ontario University Athletics league. There she earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2021 and the All-Conference Team in 2022.  
 
Shepherd then transferred to the University of Charleston, where she played under Kanelos.

Shepherd blossomed into one the top players in the Mountain East Conference over her two seasons in West Virginia, earning All-Conference honors in both 2023 and 2024. 
 
In the 2024 campaign, she earned 1st Team All-MEC honors on her way to earning an AVCA All-Atlantic Region selection. One of the top servers in the nation, Shepherd tallied 133 aces in two seasons, the second most in NCAA Division II over the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined. As a team captain, she also helped lead Charleston to a 49-18 record (.721).

Shepherd earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Charleston and is currently completing her Master's degree in Sport Performance Psychology.