PITTSBURGH - Duquesne head volleyball coach Steve Opperman has announced that Ryan Sweitzer has been named assistant coach.

Sweitzer comes to be Bluff after spending the last five seasons at Eastern Illinois from 2010 to 2014. This past year, the Panthers advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference semifinals for the first time in 10 years. The year prior, Sweitzer helped the Panthers to the most overall wins (18) since 2005 and conference wins (12) since 2005. In addition to leading EIU to 70 wins, he coached seven players that were OVC All-Conference a total of 12 times.

Prior to his arrival in Charleston, Sweitzer was a standout player at Penn State from 2006-09. A member of the 2008 NCAA National Championship team, Sweitzer was a four-time letter winner while being named First-Team All-Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in 2008 and Second-Team All-EIVA in 2009. Sweitzer led PSU to a 100-22 (.819) record and an impressive 46-2 (.958) in EIVA play. He finished with a .303 career hitting percentage, where he recorded a career-high 346 kills his senior season and finished with 104 digs, 37 aces and 416 points, which were all single-season highs for the Lancaster, Pa. native.

Sweitzer also played overseas as a member of Falkenbergs Volleybollklubb which plays in Falkenberg, Sweden. During his time with Falkenbergs, he was a candidate for Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, while leading them to the Grand Prix Championship.

"Ryan's enthusiasm, relentless work ethic and knowledge of the game will help our program immediately," said Opperman. "I am excited about what Ryan will bring to our program and to challenge our student-athletes to get better every day."