University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball
Kasey, Laura
Laura Kasey (née Benzing) finished her sixth year with the Gopher Volleyball program in 2021, including her fourth year as associate head coach.
Kasey helped Minnesota to the 2015 and 2018 Big Ten championships and three NCAA Final Four appearances. Working primarily with the middle blockers, Kasey helped Hannah Tapp and Paige Tapp to All-America honors, while Hannah was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015.
Regan Pittman became a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection under Kasey's watch as well. She ranks in the top-10 all-time at Minnesota in total blocks, solo blocks and block assists. She also set the single-game program record for total blocks in a game when she tallied 14 against Nebraska on Feb. 19, 2021. Pittman led Minnesota to three Sweet 16's and a Final Four during her time on campus.
Under Kasey's guidance, Minnesota had three middle blockers who garnered awards in 2016. Hannah Tapp was named an All-Big Ten selection and a Second Team AVCA All-American. Molly Lohman was a Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention, while Paige Tapp was an Academic All-American and All-Big Ten honorable mention. As a whole, the Gopher blockers averaged 2.71 blocks per set in 2016. In 2018, Regan Pittman was named a Second Team All-American and All-Big Ten selection, while Taylor Morgan received All-America honorable mention.
Prior to her Minnesota tenure, Kasey had extensive Big Ten experience as the recruiting coordinator for Ohio State University during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. As a part of the Buckeye staff, Kasey helped OSU to a NCAA Sweet 16 finish in 2014 and a sixth-place finish in the Big Ten standings. Recruiting and guiding the OSU middle blockers, Kasey coached Taylor Sandbothe, who received 2014 AVCA All-America and All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades and was an All-Big Ten Freshman honoree in 2013. In her last year with OSU, Kasey's recruiting class ranked in the top 25 in Volleyball Magazine. In 2013, she helped Ohio State to 18 overall wins.
Kasey was the recruiting coordinator at Oregon State, a position she held from 2007-12. In her role, she helped produce a nationally-recognized 2009 recruiting class and brought in the program's first Fab 50 recruit. On the court, Kasey instructed the middles as the Beavers finished second in the Pac-10 in blocks per set in 2010. Under Kasey's tutelage, three freshman middle blockers were named freshman all-conference selections, while Arica Nassar was named an All-Pac 12 honorable mention honors her freshman year.
A standout student-athlete in her own right, Kasey played collegiately at Bradley from 1998-2001 and earned a pair of First Team All-Missouri Valley honors. Following her college career, she went on to play professionally in the German Bundesliga for four years before retiring in 2006.
Kasey graduated magna cum laude from Bradley in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in pre-law. A native of Sparta, Wis., Kasey also completed a six-month stint with Club West Volleyball in Temecula, Calif., directing coaches and coaching U14 and U16 groups.
She and her husband, Dan, have two sons, Louis and Ray, and four pets. They reside in Minneapolis.
Kasey helped Minnesota to the 2015 and 2018 Big Ten championships and three NCAA Final Four appearances. Working primarily with the middle blockers, Kasey helped Hannah Tapp and Paige Tapp to All-America honors, while Hannah was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015.
Regan Pittman became a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection under Kasey's watch as well. She ranks in the top-10 all-time at Minnesota in total blocks, solo blocks and block assists. She also set the single-game program record for total blocks in a game when she tallied 14 against Nebraska on Feb. 19, 2021. Pittman led Minnesota to three Sweet 16's and a Final Four during her time on campus.
Under Kasey's guidance, Minnesota had three middle blockers who garnered awards in 2016. Hannah Tapp was named an All-Big Ten selection and a Second Team AVCA All-American. Molly Lohman was a Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention, while Paige Tapp was an Academic All-American and All-Big Ten honorable mention. As a whole, the Gopher blockers averaged 2.71 blocks per set in 2016. In 2018, Regan Pittman was named a Second Team All-American and All-Big Ten selection, while Taylor Morgan received All-America honorable mention.
Prior to her Minnesota tenure, Kasey had extensive Big Ten experience as the recruiting coordinator for Ohio State University during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. As a part of the Buckeye staff, Kasey helped OSU to a NCAA Sweet 16 finish in 2014 and a sixth-place finish in the Big Ten standings. Recruiting and guiding the OSU middle blockers, Kasey coached Taylor Sandbothe, who received 2014 AVCA All-America and All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades and was an All-Big Ten Freshman honoree in 2013. In her last year with OSU, Kasey's recruiting class ranked in the top 25 in Volleyball Magazine. In 2013, she helped Ohio State to 18 overall wins.
Kasey was the recruiting coordinator at Oregon State, a position she held from 2007-12. In her role, she helped produce a nationally-recognized 2009 recruiting class and brought in the program's first Fab 50 recruit. On the court, Kasey instructed the middles as the Beavers finished second in the Pac-10 in blocks per set in 2010. Under Kasey's tutelage, three freshman middle blockers were named freshman all-conference selections, while Arica Nassar was named an All-Pac 12 honorable mention honors her freshman year.
A standout student-athlete in her own right, Kasey played collegiately at Bradley from 1998-2001 and earned a pair of First Team All-Missouri Valley honors. Following her college career, she went on to play professionally in the German Bundesliga for four years before retiring in 2006.
Kasey graduated magna cum laude from Bradley in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in pre-law. A native of Sparta, Wis., Kasey also completed a six-month stint with Club West Volleyball in Temecula, Calif., directing coaches and coaching U14 and U16 groups.
She and her husband, Dan, have two sons, Louis and Ray, and four pets. They reside in Minneapolis.
Cinematic Recap: Diet Coke Classic
Wednesday, September 17
Highlights: Gophers 3, SDSU 1
Sunday, September 14
Highlights: Gophers 3, Dayton 0
Saturday, September 13
Highlights: Gophers 3, South Florida 0
Friday, September 12
