Texas State volleyball welcomed Tori Plugge in January 2020 and will manage the outside hitters and passing game in addition to her recruiting responsibilities.
Plugge's second season in San Marcos was highlighted by the continued high-level productivity from outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald, who opened the fall portion of Texas State's 2021 season by being named the Sun Belt Conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Fitzgerald capped the season by being named the program's first-ever Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year after posting 11 double-doubles (kills, digs) in 16 regular-season conference matches. Fitzgerald, a two-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week during the fall 2021 season, led the Sun Belt with 4.66 points per set in conference-only matches.
Another student-athlete who excelled under Plugge's teachings was first-year Bobcat Jada Gardner, who transferred to Texas State from Maryland following the conclusion of the Maroon and Gold's spring schedule in 2021. Gardner was selected to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after being credited with 154 kills (3.35/set) in conference-only matches. And both of Texas State's Sun Belt All-Tournament representatives (Gardner, Caitlan Buettner) in November 2021 were coached by Plugge.
In her inaugural season with the Bobcats, Plugge helped the team achieve a 31-9 overall record, including a 15-1 Sun Belt Conference mark. Texas State secured the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they picked up the program’s second victory all-time in the tournament with a 3-1 win over Utah Valley.
Plugge, who was honored as a 2020-21 AVCA Thirty under 30 recipient, helped the team lead the NCAA with 31 wins in the 2020-21 season, but the Bobcats also led the country with 1,927 kills, led by Fitzgerald who had 3.45 kills per set and a .305 hitting percentage. Fitzgerald’s 483 total kills rank No. 6 in the program’s single-season record book and became the 17th Bobcat in program history to reach 1,000 career kills. Fitzgerald received multiple laurels, including being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team, AVCA Southwest Region selection, and a VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention. Outside hitter Lauren Teske also had a breakout 2020-21 season as she was an All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team selection.
Plugge joined the Texas State staff after three seasons at Ole Miss as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Plugge worked primarily with the defensive specialists and passers. Last season, the team tallied 14 straight victories, tying the longest win streak in program history, including a 6-0 start in SEC play and their first win against a ranked opponent since 2010 when they upset No. 22 Missouri in four sets. That year she coached senior libero Nicole Purcell to a single-season record of 555 digs and Purcell led the SEC in both digs and digs per set. In her inaugural season at Ole Miss, the team captured the NIVC Championship, equaled the most wins in the rally era (22) and set numerous team and individual records. Plugge also coached libero Caroline Adams who achieved 1,000 career digs and finished her career ranked second in the program in all-time digs.
Prior to Ole Miss, Plugge was an assistant coach at Arkansas State from 2015-16. In 2015 Plugge helped the Red Wolves reach a 28-2 record, including a perfect 16-0 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. They went on to win the conference tournament championship that year and secured the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1999. The following year the team went 25-9 and 15-1 in conference play and reached the conference tournament championship match for the second consecutive year. In 2015 Plugge helped then-freshman outside hitter Carlisa May earn Honorable Mention All-American honors from the AVAC in addition to numerous awards including Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-Sun Belt, AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year, and Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP. She also led outside hitter Darby Graff to All-Sun Belt Second Team honors and AVCA Southwest All-Region Honorable Mention accolades.
Plugge began her coaching career in 2014 as a volunteer assistant at Texas A&M, her alma mater. Working under Laurie Corbelli, Plugge helped Texas A&M to an overall 21-9 and 13-5 SEC record and an appearance to the NCAA Tournament.
As a player from 2009-12, Plugge finished her career with 1,480 digs, the second most in school history and the most in the rally scoring era. In her senior year, Plugge helped lead the team to a 25-6 record, including a 16-4 mark in the SEC and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was a libero her first two years before moving back to the outside before her junior year (2011) and helped the team to a 23-8 record and a NCAA Tournament second round appearance. As a freshman in 2009, Plugge started at libero in all but the first four matches and had an immediate impact as she helped guide the Aggies to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Plugge graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management with a minor in Communications and Coaching. She also has a Master’s of Education in Sports Administration from Arkansas State in 2016. Plugge played one professional season for SCU Emlichheim in Emlichheim, Germany before beginning her coaching career.
