SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame volleyball program has added Jenna Orner to the coach staff as an assistant coach, head coach Salima Rockwell announced Wednesday. Orner comes to South Bend following associate head coach stints at Charlotte and Middle Tennessee State.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jenna to Notre Dame Volleyball,” Rockwell said. “She brings a tremendous work ethic, great volleyball knowledge and a genuine passion for helping student athletes grow on and off the court. I know our team will benefit greatly and I’m excited to have her join our staff as we continue to build our program.”
Orner spent last season as the associate head coach for Charlotte, helping guide the 49ers to 17 wins, the most in a season since 2017, as well as eight conference wins, the most since 2021. The Niners 10-game win streak during that time, including winning 14 of 15 matches, was the best stretch in program history. Their 12 win increase from 2024 was tied for the fifth best turnaround in the NCAA a season ago.
Prior to Charlotte, Orner spent eight seasons on the Middle Tennessee State staff, including the final two as an associate head coach. She served as both the recruiting coordinator and the Conference USA representative of the AVCA Assistant Coach Committee.
In 2023, Orner assisted the Blue Raiders to their first 20 win season since 2011 and their second appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in program history. MTSU recorded 11 Conference USA wins that season, the most since joining the conference in 2013. They posted their best hitting percentage in program history (.303) and five Blue Raiders were named to All-Conference teams with the help of Orner.
Before her time at Middle Tennessee State, Orner was a graduate assistant at VCU during the 2016 season. The Rams went 19-14 that season and made it to the Atlantic 10 Conference semifinals.
A 2015 graduate of Coastal Carolina, Orner served as a volunteer assistant during the 2015 campaign, helping the Chants to an NCAA Tournament appearance, before later being named director of volleyball operations.
A native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Orner played libero for three seasons at Coastal Carolina and was named to the Big South All-Tournament Team twice. As a senior in 2014, Orner averaged 4.69 digs per set, leading the Chanticleers to the Big South Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.