NAMPA, Idaho - Northwest Nazarene volleyball head coach Doug English has announced the hiring of Alli Rust to serve as the Nighthawks' top assistant coach.

"I am so honored and excited to join the NNU volleyball coaching staff," said Rust. "It is truly a privilege to be part of a program that values excellence, faith, and unity. I'm looking forward to pouring into this team, growing alongside the athletes, and contributing to a culture that fosters competing at a high level. Go Nighthawks!"

Rust joins the Nighthawks after serving as the head coach of the Centennial High School varsity program in Boise for two seasons. She is also a coach with the Idaho ONE Volleyball Club, and led the Idaho ONE 17 Elite team to win the club's first national championship in 2024.

"We are so lucky to have Alli join our staff," said English. "She has played volleyball at a very high level in college and has been leading programs and high-level club teams since she finished her playing career. She cares about the people her athletes become, she has a desire to learn, and she is fun to be around. I am excited to work alongside her and see how she can elevate our program like she has elevated every other program she has been a part of."

Alli began her collegiate volleyball career at Pepperdine University, where she played from 2017 to 2020, earning spots on the WCC All-Freshman Team and WCC All-Academic teams, with two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2021, Alli transferred to Boise State University as a graduate student, joining the Broncos' women's volleyball team. She played a key role in leading BSU to its first-ever Mountain West Tournament Championship, earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Alli was born and raised in Boise, and graduated from Centennial High School in 2017. During her high school years, she was a four-year varsity middle blocker and earned multiple All-Southern Idaho Conference honors. She played for a number of volleyball clubs in the valley, helping her teams secure a Boise Bid Championship and a 19th-place finish at the 2016 USAV Junior Olympics.