RAPID CITY - When the St. Thomas More volleyball team takes to the court this fall, it will do so with a new head coach.

The Cavaliers have named Brandon Kandolin as its new head volleyball coach, the school announced on Tuesday. Kandolin has been at More for nine years, seven years as the Cavaliers girls basketball coach. Kandolin has compiled a 94-61 record with the girls basketball program.

He led the Cavaliers to the 2007-2008 Black Hills Conference title with a 14-0 record and has coached the Lady Cavs to four district championships.

"I think I'm excited because I know the majority of the girls since they play basketball for me," Kandolin said. "There are a lot of younger girls on the roster with not a lot of varsity experience. But it is a group of athletic girls and I am excited from that aspect."

Kandolin will be taking over the volleyball program that made its first-ever appearance in the 2007 state volleyball tournament. Kandolin will be assisted by Angela Estes, a former National American University player. Estes played for the Mavericks from 2002 until 2005 and was the Libero for the 2002 NAIA national volleyball champions. Also on the staff will be former Cavs assistant Ashley Rans Barlow, who will serve as the junior varsity head coach and Jim Stephens will handle the ninth-grade coaching position.

"I hope that I can gain all the knowledge possible to lay a good foundation for a program," Kandolin said. "I think I have excellent assistant coaches in Angela, Ashley and Jim. So I have plenty of help to give this program a good foundation."

St. Thomas More activities director Craig Nowotny said he believes Kandolin's experience on the basketball court will prove valuable with the volleyball team.

"Brandon has provided stability and strong leadership to the Lady Cavs Basketball team and I expect to see the same with the volleyball program," Nowotny said. "Most of our girls play both volleyball and basketball so it was a nice fit for Brandon to step into the volleyball program."

Kandolin replaces Shelly Wolfe who was named the new head coach at Rapid City Central earlier this month. Wolfe was the head coach at St. Thomas More from 2005 until 2007, leading the Cavaliers to a fourth-place finish at the state Class A volleyball tournament last fall.

"Shelley Wolfe did a great job with the nine seniors she had on the team last year making it to state," Kandolin said. "I'm hoping to continue that."

Kandolin will be taking over the volleyball program that made its first-ever appearance in the 2007 state volleyball tournament.

Kandolin will be assisted by Angela Estes, a former National American University player. Estes played for the Mavericks from 2002 until 2005 and was the libero for the 2002 NAIA national volleyball champions. Also on the staff will be former Cavs assistant Ashley Rans Barlow, who will serve as the junior varsity head coach and Jim Stephens will handle the ninth-grade coaching position.

"I hope that I can gain all the knowledge possible to lay a good foundation for a program," Kandolin said. "I think I have excellent assistant coaches in Angela, Ashley and Jim. So I have plenty of help to give this program a good foundation."

St. Thomas More activities director Craig Nowotny said he believes Kandolin's experience on the basketball court will prove valuable with the volleyball team.

"Brandon has provided stability and strong leadership to the Lady Cavs basketball team and I expect to see the same with the volleyball program," Nowotny said. "Most of our girls play both volleyball and basketball so it was a nice fit for Brandon to step into the volleyball program."

Kandolin replaces Shelly Wolfe who was named the new head coach at Rapid City Central earlier this month. Wolfe was the head coach at St. Thomas More from 2005 until 2007, leading the Cavaliers to a fourth-place finish at the state Class A volleyball tournament last fall.

"Shelley Wolfe did a great job with the nine seniors she had on the team last year making it to state," Kandolin said. "I'm hoping to continue that."