NEW ULM, Minn. – The Martin Luther College volleyball team will be under new leadership next fall, with Emma Holzhueter taking over as head coach. Holzhueter will take over the program after Rebecca Cox served as head coach for the last 13 seasons.
 
Holzhueter worked as an assistant under Cox the last five seasons, helping the Knights to a fourth-place finish in 2021 with a 9-5 UMAC record and a return to the UMAC Postseason Tournament.
 
Holzhueter joined the program as an assistant coach prior to the 2017 season after working as an assistant at Bethany Lutheran College during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
 
With her experience over the last five seasons, Holzhueter is looking forward to her new opportunity.
 
"I am very excited for this next opportunity to serve the MLC volleyball program in a new way," she said. "It is encouraging to step into the head coaching role in a program that I already know so well, and it will be wonderful to start with so many returners next fall."
 
Holzhueter is also thankful for the last five seasons with the program working as an assistant under Cox.
 
"I am grateful to have had Becky so warmly welcome me into the program five seasons ago as her assistant and for her to provide me with so many opportunities for growth as a coach," Holzhueter said. "She put so much of herself into the program for the last 13 years and I am thankful for all she has shown me during our years together."
 
In 13 seasons as head coach of the program, Cox finished with a record of 153-218 and led the Knights to nine trips to the UMAC Postseason Tournament. She is a two-time UMAC Coach of the Year (2011 and 2021) and coached 18 First Team All-UMAC performers.
 
Cox's program also excelled in the classroom, where the Knights finished with the highest team grade point average in the UMAC 10 straight years from 2011-20, and also received academic honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for each of her first 12 seasons.
 
"We want to thank Rebecca Cox for everything that she has given the volleyball program over the last 13 years. She poured everything she could into the program on and off the court." MLC Director of Athletics Jim Unke said.
 
"We are also excited for Emma for this opportunity," Unke added, "and we look forward to seeing what she can do for our volleyball program moving forward."
 
In addition to her role as volleyball coach, Holzhueter is also an assistant coach for the track and field program and the Fitness Center Manager on the MLC campus.