The winningest coach in Minnesota State University Moorhead history, Tammy Blake is in her 24th season as the Dragon head volleyball coach in 2018.
In 23 previous seasons, Blake is 368-361, and has led the Dragons to winning records 13 times. She enters the 2015 as the longest-tenured head volleyball coach in the NSIC.
During her run, MSU Moorhead advanced to the NCAA Division II Regional tournament play in 2000, 2004 and 2005 and claimed a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship in 2000. She is the only coach to marshal the Dragons to the NCAA Division II post-season playoffs. Blake became the first and lone MSUM head coach to reach the 300-win plateau in 2011.
Despite battling injuries, MSUM fought to an 11-17 in the rugged NSIC. Junior hitter Kaitlin VanWinkle was named to the All-NSIC first team to pace MSUM.
The 2013 campaign saw the Dragons battle through injuries to go 15-13 overall and claim the title at the Winona State tournament. Five of the Dragons' losses came in five sets. Sophomores Amber Krenske and Kaitlin VanWinkle earned All-NSIC second team honors.
In 2012, MSUM earned two wins over nationally-ranked foes (Eckerd and Rollins) on its way to a 17-12 mark. Playing in arguably the toughest Division II conference in the nation (NSIC), the Dragons finished with a 9-11 mark in conference play. MSUM opened the year 9-1 and finished the season with a five-match winning streak.
Senior Katy Ness had an outstanding senior season in 2012, earning Daktronics First-Team All-American honors. Ness was the Northern Sun Conference Libero of the Year after leading the conference this season with 6.31 digs per set, ranking sixth in NCAA Division II. Ness finished her career Dragon career with 2,164 digs, ranking second all-time; she became just the second Dragon player to surpass the 2,000-dig milestone for her career. She was a seven-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Week and tied the single-match school record with 43 digs in a match against Northern State in October.
Dragon volleyball players also shined in the classroom in 2012, as 11 players were named to the NSIC All-Academic team for the fall season.
The crowning jewel of her stay at MSUM was a remarkable 28-4 finish in 2000 that included a school record 17-match win streak, the return of the NSIC title to MSU Moorhead and a first ever appearance at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Championships. It also earned Blake Regional Coach of the Year honors.
Blake was appointed the fifth head volleyball coach in Dragon history in 1995 replacing Becky Schulze. She joined MSUM after four years as head coach at Vermillion High School in Vermillion, S.D. Â Her 1992-93 edition placed 11th on the final South Dakota High School poll.
She faced a major challenge in her first season at MSUM, including the upgrade from the NAIA to the powerful NCAA Division II, but Blake and the rebuilt Dragons posted a second place finish in the NSIC, the first of three straight league runner-up finishes.
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Blake directed a Division II-leading defense in 2011 while averaging 19.88 digs per game. All-NSIC player Ness led the defensive game as her 6.03 digs per game set her at No. 8 in the country. Ness was one of three All-NSIC honorees for the Dragons on the season.
A 1989 graduate of the University of South Dakota, Blake was installed as the Coyotes’ starting setter midway through her freshman year. A four-time letterwinner, she led the North Central Conference in serve aces as a junior and was elected captain as a senior. Blake also started for four years for the softball Coyotes.
Blake graduated from USD with a major in Physical Education/Health. Following her career at South Dakota, she spent two seasons at South Dakota State University as an assistant coach in volleyball and softball and earned a Master’s Degree.
A native of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa, Blake graduated from Sgt. Bluff-Luton High School in 1984. A four-sport letterwinner, she was a three-year regular in volleyball at outside hitter. A two-time Iowa All-State and a three-time All-War Eagle Conference selection, Blake was voted Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior.
An honorable mention Iowa 1A All-State choice, Blake exited as the Warriors' all-time basketball scoring leader with 1,802 points. A three-time all-league basketball and softball pick, she earned Most Valuable Player honors in both basketball (three times) and softball (twice). A starting pitcher in softball, Blake was a two-time all-state softball honoree as well.
