EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball head coach Tricia Melfy has announced the hiring of Amber Rieger as assistant coach ahead of the 2022 season. Rieger joins the Warrior volleyball program that captured the top seed in the PSAC East last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

"We are honored and excited to have Amber join our ESU Warrior Volleyball program," said Melfy. "Amber brings a great deal of knowledge and experience that our program will benefit from. She also lead her Juniata team to a national championship while earning the DIII player of the year honors twice.  Amber's competitive nature and commitment to excellence will enhance our program and we are proud to welcome her to ESU!"

Rieger, a standout volleyball player at Juniata College from 2005-08, comes aboard ESU's coaching staff after most recently serving as the Children's Ministry Director at the Lititz Trinity E.C. Church.

During her playing career, Rieger was the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Women's Volleyball National Player of the year in 2007 & 2008, a four-time AVCA All-American selection (3x First Team, 1x Second Team), the AVCA National Freshman of the Year in 2005 and a three-time finalist for the Honda Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. In her senior season, Rieger was honored as the Academic All-America of the Year in the College Division and to the First Team after posting a 3.55 GPA as a communications major.

The two-time Landmark Conference Player of the Year (2007-08) helped Juniata capture the DIII National Championship in 2006 and finished her career as an Eagle with 1,734 kills (442 matches), which still ranks fourth all-time in program history.  

Rieger comes to the Poconos with experience as the head girls' volleyball coach at Conestoga Valley High School (2009-2010) as well as at the club level with Norlanco Volleyball (2009-2010).

The Ephrata, Pa. native graduated from Juniata with a degree in communications with a secondary emphasis in English. Rieger also had the opportunity to intern in the Eagles' marketing department during the spring semester of her senior year.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to be a part of the ESU community," said Rieger. "I look forward to working with Coach Melfy and the team, and I'm very grateful to be able to share my passion for the game."