Former University of St. Francis volleyball player Erica Gustafson begins her first season as an assistant coach on the USF staff. 

Her previous coaching experience includes a stint with the UNO volleyball club in Joliet.

Gustafson completed her career (2001-05) as the Saints' all-time leader in assists with 5,521. She was a four-time All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference first-team selection and was twice (2002 and '04) named to the NAIA Region VII first team. She was named the CCAC Freshman of the Year in 2002.

She redshirted her freshman season in 2001 and came back in 2002 to quarterback the Saints to their most recent visit to the NAIA Championship Tournament. The Saints finished in a tie for 11^th at that tourney at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif., and posted an overall 35-9 season record. In her four seasons as the starting setter, she led the Saints to an overall record of 112-57 (.663).

Gustafson came to USF after a stellar high school career at Downers Grove South where she helped the Mustangs capture the 1999 Illinois state title in her junior season and a third-place title in her senior season in 2000.

Gustafson is single and resides in Joliet.