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Coaches
- Head Coach - Heidi Cartisser
- Assistant Coach - Erin Mellinger
- Director of Volleyball Operations - Delphine (Babes) Kalulu
Head Coach - Heidi Cartisser
Heidi Cartisser begins her second season at the College of Southern Idaho. In her first season, Cartisser led the Golden Eagles to a 28-14 overall record and a second-place finish in Region 18 play. The former Golden Eagle, who played at CSI from 1991-1993, graduated from Albertson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995.
Her coaching career began at Treasure Valley CC in Ontario, Ore. Cartisser coached the Chukars from 1995-2000. At that time, TVCC was a member of the Scenic West Athletic Conference. In 1997, Cartisser led TVCC to the regional playoffs for the first time in 19 years.
After coaching at Treasure Valley, Cartisser took the head coaching job at Chicago State University. CSU competes in the Mid-Continent Conference. In her first year at Chicago State, the team won more matches than the previous seven years combined and won its first conference match in school history. In her second season, the team improved statistically in almost every category and won more conference matches than the previous year.
In 2003, Chicago State finished fourth in the conference, posting the highest conference finish ever in school history. In her last season there, CSU finished with the most wins ever by the Division I school.
Cartisser moved back to the Magic Valley area in the spring of 2005 with her family. Her husband Jim assisted at the College of Southern Idaho in the fall of 2005, helping the Golden Eagles to their eighth national championship.
Cartisser and her husband Jim have four children - Cody, Canyon, Cason and Cailey.
Assistant Coach - Erin Mellinger
Erin brings the experience of a coach and player to the Golden Eagle volleyball program. She grew up in New Plymouth, Idaho before competing at Treasure Valley for two years under Coach Cartisser. Erin then played one season at Lewis Clark State College in 1999 as a defensive specialist, where she helped her team advance to the NAIA national tournament.
In her final year of eligibility, Erin transferred to Chicago State University, where she reunited with Coach Cartisser. In 2002, Erin was an assistant coach at the University of Great Falls. In May 2003, she was named the head coach at Independence CC in Kansas, where she compiled a 22-12 record her first year and a second-place finish in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference. In 2004, the team finished the season 40-9 and won the conference, region and district titles, qualifying for the NJCAA National Tournament. She coached two All-Americans.
From there, Erin took over duties at Lewis Clark State College as the head coach. Now Erin will join Heidi for third time, this time as an assistant coach for CSI.
Erin is married to Gary. They are expecting their first child this year.
"We're excited to have Erin on the staff," Cartisser said. "She's very comfortable with my system and knows how I like to run our program. She has a lot to offer with her experience in playing at the junior college level and coaching at the junior college level."
Director of Volleyball Operations - Delphine (Babes) Kalulu
In her second season at CSI, Babes brings playing experience and an enthusiam for the game of volleyball to the court. A family affair, Babes follows in the footsteps of her sister All-American Aneli Cubi-Otineru who played for CSI in 2005 and helped lead the Golden Eagles to a national championship. Another sister, Kawena Cubi-Otineru played for CSI last season.
Babes began her volleyball career, playing club ball for the Kamehameha club team in Hawaii in seventh grade. She continued to compete for that team for five years. A standout at University of Hawaii Lab High School, Babes led them to four state championships. In 1986, Babes competed on the 16U Junior National team, earning all-tournament honors.
Babes played one year at the University of Hawaii, ranking sixth all time since 1985 in service aces per game. In 65 games, she recorded 26 aces. The 35-year-old has four children - Darren, Daylen, Darian and Del.