RAPID CITY, S.D. ---  Head Coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka and the South Dakota Mines volleyball program have promoted from within to fill their vacant assistant coaching position.

Annika Stephens, who has been part of the volleyball program as an assistant for the last two seasons has been officially announced as the newest full-time member of the South Dakota Mines staff. She has begun working in this role. 

"I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Annika Stephens to our first assistant position," said Torvi Prochazka. Coach Stephens has helped elevate our program over the past two years, and I am so excited to see what levels she will help us reach next in a bigger capacity. Her passion for the game and roots in the Black Hills make her a perfect fit for what we are trying to accomplish in Hardrocker Volleyball. I have no doubt she will help Hardrocker Volleyball reach a new height of competitive excellence and championship culture."

In the past two years as a volunteer, Stephens has helped with various aspects of the volleyball program, including but not limited to, recruiting, administrative duties, practice planning, scouting, and training, and helped run and direct the South Dakota Mines volleyball camps during the summer of 2021.

Since 2018, Stephens has coached on the local club scene with the Black Hills Juniors. During her time there she has led the age 15 teams, including schedule tournaments, practice, coordinated travel, marketing, budgeting as well as community outreach.

Stephens is a local who graduated from Rapid City Central and was a member of the Dakota State University volleyball team from 2012-2016 and graduated with her bachelor's degree in business administration.
Stephens also has connections to South Dakota Mines as her father, Jim was a track and field coach at the institution from 2012-2014 and 2016-2018.

"I am excited to be named the full-time assistant volleyball coach," said Stephens. "Thank you to coach Torvi Prochazka for giving me this opportunity. After two years with the program, I'm excited to help lead this program to new heights."

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.