Kevin Rivas is entering his third season as the head women's volleyball coach in 2021. Rivas was appointed head coach of the women's volleyball program in the summer of 2019 after serving as an assistant with the men's and women's programs for four seasons.
In his first season as head coach, Rivas led the Knights to a 17-14 overall record with a 7-1 mark in conference matches, culminating in earning the second seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. Rivas earned his first career collegiate coaching win in the season-opener against SUNY Geneseo on August 30. Following the regular season, the Knights went on to defeat third-seeded Messiah at home in the semifinals to advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship at top-ranked Stevenson, but saw their season come to an end in a 3-1 defeat. The Knights had five All-MAC Commonwealth selections at season's end, highlighted by first-team picks Maddie Sehrt and Shannon Ryan. Sehrt was also named an Academic All-MAC honoree.
During his time as an assistant with the Knights, Rivas helped both the men's and women's programs rise to the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference. The women's team has won at least 22 matches in each of the last two seasons, finishing as the MAC Commonwealth runner-up each year. Seven different players have earned a total of 10 all-conference citations during Rivas' time as an assistant, includingÂ
Emily Eng, who became the program's first-ever All-American in 2018. In three seasons with the men's team, Rivas helped the Knights improve their win total each season, including a 26-11 record in 2019 and the program's first-ever MAC title and NCAA Appearance.
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Rivas began his professional volleyball career in Barcelona, Spain for Volei Mundet Liga II in 2009 and in Lima,Peru for Deportiva Wanka Division I in 2010 as a setter and libero, leading his Deportiva Wanka squad to a second-place finish in the league.
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Rivas earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Juniata College in 2011 and currently lives in Philadelphia with his wife Dr. Abby Syverson and daughter, Nellie.
Updated: 08/16/21
