June 6, 2006

USA Field Hockey National Squad member Alexandra Kyser has been appointed as an assistant coach for the Virginia field hockey program, as announced by UVa head coach Michele Madison. Kyser, an All-American at Michigan State for Madison, joins her former head coach on the sidelines in Charlottesville after assisting her in East Lansing during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

"Kyser is a bright young coach who was an integral part of our success on the field as a player and was able to maintain that on the sidelines as a coach," said Madison. "I am thrilled that she has agreed to help me here at Virginia and we look forward to many great seasons ahead. As a current player, she will be able to combine an innovative coaching style with her on-field perspective that will allow us to reach the student-athletes in a more complete way."

The Columbus, Ohio, native was named to the USA Field Hockey National Squad in Jan. 2005. She has spent the past seven months training on and off with team. She also received an open tryout for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

"I am excited to be in Charlottesville and have the opportunity to work with Michele again," said Kyser. "I have learned from her as I have played for her and as she has mentored me on the sidelines. Virginia is a phenomenal place to play hockey and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead."

Kyser served as MSU's volunteer assistant coach in 2004, while she finished her degree in communications with a concentration in mass media. She has additional coaching experience as she has worked at both the Northeastern and Michigan State Field Hockey Camps, working to motivate, train and develop players from the ages of 10 to 18.

A four-year letterwinner (2001-03) and two-time team captain (2002-03), she still ranks ninth on MSU's all-time career goals chart with 29. Kyser, who started 89 of 90 career games, helped lead MSU to a four-year combined record of 67-23, two Big Ten Co-Championships (2001, 2003), two straight Big Ten Tournament titles (2002, 2003), two NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearances (2001, 2003) and the NCAA Final Four (2002).

As a senior defender in 2003, she earned All-America First-Team honors to become the first Spartan in school history to receive the distinction. She scored 17 goals and added nine assists for 43 points en route to earning All-Big Ten First-Team honors along with All-Region First-Team accolades. She holds down the No. 7 spot on State's single-season list for goals (17) and points (43). Kyser was selected the Big Ten Tournament MVP after leading the Spartans to their second-straight Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2003.

During her junior year (2002), she started all 26 games and recorded four goals and three assists for 11 points. She was a member of a defensive unit that allowed only 24 goals on the season and set a school record with 10 shutouts. She was selected to the NCAA All-Final Four Team after helping lead MSU to its first-ever Final Four appearance.

Kyser was selected as the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 after anchoring a defense that allowed only 31 goals on the season. She tallied 10 points on four goals and two assists while starting all 22 games. As a rookie in 2000, she started all 20 contests and scored four goals and received the team's Rookie of the Year award.

As a student-athlete, she served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years. In addition, she volunteered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters as a fundraiser and participated with the Pen Pal Program with local elementary schools.