Stetson University Athletics

Kristina Hernandez has established Stetson Beach Volleyball as one of the nation's premier programs during her tenure in DeLand… An eight-time ASUN Conference champion, five-time ASUN Coach of the Year and the third-winningest beach volleyball coach in NCAA history, Hernandez enters her 14th season as head coach of the Hatters. Hernandez owns a 294-136 career beach volleyball record at Stetson… Under her leadership, the Hatters have captured eight ASUN Championships, made five NCAA Championship appearances and consistently competed among the nation's top-ranked programs. Stetson returned to the top of the ASUN in 2026 as Hernandez guided the Hatters to a 27-10 record, the program's eighth conference championship and its fifth NCAA Championship appearance… The Hatters earned the No. 12 seed in the NCAA Championship while Hernandez was named ASUN Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career. Stetson dominated its run through the ASUN Championship, winning 16 consecutive sets without dropping one on the way to the title… The season also included the 300th victory in Stetson Beach Volleyball program history. Marta Carro and Maria Ozaeta became the eighth pair in program history to earn ASUN Pair of the Year honors and were named AVCA Second Team All-Americans… Freshman EJ Cudmore earned ASUN Freshman of the Year recognition. Carro, Ozaeta, Cudmore and Julia Radelczuk were named First Team All-ASUN… Cudmore, Zoe Flueckiger and Anniina Muukka earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors… Carro and Ozaeta were also selected to the ASUN All-Tournament Team, while Madeline Camp and Cayla Sutton were named ASUN Pair of the Tournament. Hernandez took over Stetson's beach volleyball program in 2014 and immediately led the Hatters to an 18-win season, the program's first ASUN Championship and an appearance in the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship. What followed was a sustained run of conference and national success… Stetson captured ASUN Championships in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2026 while becoming a consistent presence in the national rankings. The Hatters have made NCAA Championship appearances in 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2026… Hernandez has also coached numerous AVCA All-Americans, ASUN Pairs of the Year, ASUN Scholar-Athletes of the Year, All-ASUN selections, All-Freshman selections and AVCA Top Flight Award recipients. Hernandez guided Stetson to its first NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship appearance in 2016 after the Hatters earned an at-large berth and the No. 8 seed… Stetson finished the season 28-9 and ranked No. 8 nationally after spending the entire year inside the top 10. The Hatters returned to the NCAA Championship in 2019 following their second consecutive 30-win season… In Gulf Shores, Stetson made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to win a dual at the NCAA Championship, upsetting No. 1 seed and two-time defending national champion USC, 3-1. The victory marked Stetson's first NCAA Championship dual win and its first victory over the nation's No. 1-ranked team… The Hatters finished the season ranked No. 6 nationally, matching the highest final ranking in program history. Stetson returned to the NCAA Championship in 2022 as the No. 14 seed and again in 2023 as the No. 15 seed… Hernandez led the Hatters back to the national championship stage in 2026, when Stetson earned the No. 12 seed following its eighth ASUN Championship. Hernandez led the Hatters to their first ASUN Championship during her inaugural beach season in 2014 before repeating as champions in 2015… Stetson added three consecutive tournament championships from 2017-19, returned to the top of the conference with back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and captured its eighth championship in 2026. Her success has earned Hernandez five ASUN Coach of the Year awards, receiving the honor in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2026. The Hatters also captured five consecutive ASUN regular-season championships from 2015-19… During that run, Stetson went unbeaten in ASUN play in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Individual success has accompanied Stetson's team accomplishments throughout Hernandez's tenure… Her student-athletes have earned numerous AVCA All-America honors, ASUN Pair of the Year awards, ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, All-Conference selections, All-Freshman honors and AVCA Top Flight Awards. In 2026, Marta Carro and Maria Ozaeta were named AVCA Second Team All-Americans and ASUN Pair of the Year… EJ Cudmore earned ASUN Freshman of the Year recognition… Carro, Ozaeta, Cudmore and Julia Radelczuk earned First Team All-ASUN honors. In 2025, Carro and Radelczuk earned First Team All-ASUN honors, ASUN All-Tournament recognition and AVCA Top Flight Awards… Julia Czurylo earned Second Team All-ASUN honors, while Grace Goudy, Radelczuk and Carro were selected to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. In 2023, Karin Zolnercikova and Shae Henson earned AVCA All-America honors… Carolina Ferraris and Anete Namike were named ASUN Pair of the Year and received an AVCA Top Flight Award. Previous standouts under Hernandez include Vendy Strakova, Sara Putt, Darby Dunn, Sammee Thomas, Sunniva Helland-Hansen, Carly Perales, Ana Costa, Kylie Neuschaeferova, Kristin Lind and numerous other nationally and conference-recognized student-athletes. Hernandez earned her 200th career beach volleyball victory during the 2023 season… The milestone came during another championship campaign in which Stetson earned the No. 1 seed in the ASUN Championship, captured its seventh conference title and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive season. Three years later, the program celebrated its 300th all-time victory during the 2026 season as Hernandez led the Hatters to another ASUN title and NCAA Championship berth. In 2025, Stetson finished 25-11 and advanced to the final of the ASUN Championship while earning four victories over Top 20 opponents… Marta Carro and Julia Radelczuk earned AVCA Top Flight Awards, First Team All-ASUN honors and spots on the ASUN All-Tournament Team… Julia Czurylo was named Second Team All-ASUN, while Grace Goudy, Radelczuk and Carro earned ASUN All-Freshman honors… Vanessa Hurnikova was selected to the ASUN All-Academic Team. The 2024 Hatters finished 22-12 and advanced to the ASUN Championship final… Shae Henson and Tori Clement earned First Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Tournament honors while twice being selected ASUN Pair of the Week… Klea Sirois earned ASUN All-Academic Team recognition. In 2023, Stetson finished 22-15, earned three victories over Top 20 opponents, captured its seventh ASUN Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive season… The Hatters earned the No. 15 seed and finished No. 16 in the final AVCA Poll. Hernandez originally came to Stetson to lead the indoor volleyball program before also taking over the emerging beach program… In three seasons leading Stetson's indoor team, she guided the Hatters to 31 victories and back-to-back appearances in the ASUN quarterfinals. Her 2014 indoor squad finished 16-13 and placed third in the ASUN standings… Stetson began that season 5-1 for the first time in program history and later won five consecutive matches during conference play. Stetson eventually separated the indoor and beach volleyball programs, allowing Hernandez to focus exclusively on the continued growth of beach volleyball. Prior to Stetson, Hernandez spent six seasons as head coach at Hofstra University, recording 93 victories… Led the Pride to the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance after posting 21 victories, the program's most since 2006. Hernandez also guided Hofstra to CAA semifinal appearances in 2008 and 2013… During her tenure, 12 student-athletes earned All-Conference honors and more than 30 received conference academic recognition… Outside hitter Kelsie Wills earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors in 2012. Her success earned national recognition in 2009 when Hernandez was selected to the AVCA's Thirty Under 30 list, recognizing the nation's top up-and-coming coaches under the age of 30. Before Hofstra, Hernandez spent four seasons as head coach at Loyola University Maryland… Recorded 49 victories while doubling the Greyhounds' win total during her first season and eventually leading the program to its first 20-win campaign in 25 years. In 2007, Loyola advanced to the conference semifinals and finished among the top three in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for the first time since 1997… During her tenure, one student-athlete earned MAAC Setter of the Year, another was named MAAC Rookie of the Year and three earned postseason All-Conference honors. Hernandez has extensive experience with USA Volleyball, serving in numerous coaching and development roles throughout her career… In 2007, she served as lead coach at a high-performance tryout camp and head coach of the Youth National A2 Team… Served as an assistant coach with the USA Youth A2 program in 2008 and 2012 and with the Women's Junior A2 squad in 2009. In 2010, Hernandez served as head coach of the Women's Junior Continental Team… Served as associate head coach of the Select A2 program in 2013 and 2014. Hernandez holds USA Beach Impact and USA BCAP II certifications… Has also served as a USA Beach CAP Cadre member and member of the AVCA Beach Volleyball Head Coaches Committee… Previously interned with USA Volleyball in Colorado Springs, Colo., working with its beach volleyball, disabled, grassroots and education programs. Hernandez's coaching career includes head coaching stops at Stetson, Hofstra and Loyola Maryland along with extensive experience with USA Volleyball… Began her collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Saint Mary's following her playing career. Her success at Stetson has established Hernandez among the winningest coaches in NCAA beach volleyball history while helping transform the Hatters into a nationally recognized program. A native of McAllen, Texas, Hernandez played collegiately at North Carolina A&T as a setter… Was named the team's Rookie of the Year as a freshman and earned All-Conference honors in three of her four seasons with the Aggies. Graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina A&T in 2003 with a degree in physical education and a minor in biology… Following her collegiate career, became a volunteer assistant at Saint Mary's before beginning her full-time collegiate coaching career. Hernandez is married to Jonathan Adams… They have a daughter, Paloma, and a son, Sawyer.