Head coach CJ Werneke has announced the addition of Ganna “Anna” Khrystenko as an assistant coach of the Rutgers women’s volleyball program. Khrystenko garners extensive volleyball knowledge following five years on the Ukrainian National Team and over a decade as a professional player in her country.
“I am very excited to be adding Anna as a part of our coaching staff,” said Werneke. “It’s not often that you find a coach with her level of international playing and coaching experience along with NCAA coaching experience. It’s a great combination.
“She has been able to coach NCAA All Americans while helping Florida State reach the NCAA tournament the past three years. Anna will have a tremendous impact on our blocking system in coaching our middles and right side players.”
Khrystenko joins the Scarlet Knights following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Florida State. She assisted most notably with international recruiting while coaching her expertise of blocking. During her time with the Seminoles, FSU finished as three-time runner-ups in the Atlantic Coast Conference and advanced to two Sweet Sixteen’s across a total of three tournament appearances.
In addition to three top 20 rankings in the AVCA Final Poll, Khrystenko coached two All-American and All-Conference middles in Sarah Burrington and Kiara Wright. In just her first season on staff, Burrington earned AVCA All-America honorable mention accolades and All-ACC First Team while Wright finished with All-ACC Second Team honors.
In 2015, Florida State’s front row finished with 370 blocks and ranked fifth in the NCAA in blocks per set (3.03). It marked the third straight season the Seminoles had at least 500 assisted blocks, posting 634 on the season.
The native of Ukraine played five seasons on the Ukrainian National Team (2002-2006), competing in a pair of Junior World Championships and European Championships.
Khrystenko went on to play professionally in her country from 1995-2008. While picking up four Ukrainian Championship titles (2001-2004), Khrystenko collected multiple honors as `Best Blocker’ and `Best Scorer’ along the way. She is a also a four-time winner of the Ukrainian Cup (1996, 2001-2003) and earned the honor of `Best Server’ after a third-place finish at the 2002 European Top Teams Cup.
Following her success as a player, Khrystenko entered the world of coaching as a manager of the Ukrainain Girls’ team in 2008 before being elevated to an assistant coach of the Ukrainain Junior Women’s team in 2009. Khrystenko was responsible for selecting players and coaches for the teams while also advancing volleyball development in her country.
Khrystenko served as a Chairman of the Athletic Commission for the Ukrainian Volleyball Federation and a member of the Executive Committee and National Olympic Committee.
“From a recruiting standpoint she has international contacts all over the world from her 15 year playing and coaching career in Europe. This will allow us to have a global recruiting reach in addition to our recruiting here in the US. This will give us the ability to recruit the best players not only here but in the world,” said Werneke.
Khrystenko earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Tavrian University of Business Law in 2000. She also earned an L.L.B. Degree in Civil Law and an L.L.M. in Civil and Commercial Law from the National Law Academy.
Khrystenko is married to Alexander Khrystenko and the couple have a six-year old son, Ivan.
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News courtesy of Rutgers Athletics.
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