Bio

Janelle Katz (pronounced KAH-tz) completed her eighth as Concordia Wisconsin's Women's Volleyball head coach in 2020. During her eight seasons, the Falcons won back-to-back undefeated conference regular-season titles 2016 and 2017 along with 2019 and 2020, along with two NACC Tournament Championships. The program has won 159 matches and posted a 76-13 (.854) record in conference play during her tenure.

The program has been dominant during her time as mentor, finishing no worse than third since the 2014 season. They have also compiled a 68-14 (.829) record on their home court inside the R. John Buuck Field House. She guided the Falcons to a program-record 28 victories (28-3), which included a 14-1 record at home and an 11-0 record in league play to win the NACC regular season during the 2017 season. They would go on to win the NACC Tournament Championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second-straight year.

During her time as the Falcon leader, she has coached 25 All-NACC performers, including Kaily (Moegenburg) Erdan who was AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA All-Midwest Region and 2017 NACC Player of the Year; Ashley Jehlicka who earned AVCA All-Midwest Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2014.

Katz was also named Co-NACC Coach of the Year in 2014 and NACC Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

The 2019 squad ended the season setting the single-season record for service aces per set (2.10) and had the second-most service aces (237) in a year. The 2018 season featured a high-powered offense that smashed 1,429 kills, which is the second-most in a season in program history. The Falcons have advanced to the NACC Tournament Championship match four-consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).

During the 2017 season, the Falcons put together a 10-match and 14-match winning streaks. They also set program single-season records for kills per set (12.8) and assists per set (11.56), while ranking second in the NACC for kills per set, hitting percentage (.207), block assists (346) and blocks per set (1.97). During the season they won 22 of their 31 matches by a 3-0 score.

Katz was promoted to full-time head coach on March 12, 2013, as announced by Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill, after a season as the graduate assistant.

She served as the graduate assistant coach during the 2012 season helping the Falcons improve in numerous statistical categories. She coached alongside Joe Cawley, the program's winningest coach, who was the program's leader for 13 seasons. During her time as an assistant last season, the Falcons total kills, total assists, total digs and total blocks all improved. 

Katz's athletic bloodlines run deep as her father, Jeff, was the football head coach at CUW for 18 seasons winning a program-best 120 games and her older sisters played volleyball collegiately, Jessica at CUW and Jamie at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

She came to CUW after an illustrious four-year playing career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The All-Big Ten setter brings an enormous amount of knowledge and talent to the Falcons coaching staff after finishing as one of the best setters in UW history.

During her time with the Badgers she was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Academic Team, earned the BTC Sportsmanship Award and numerous all-tournament team accolades. Katz finished her career sixth on the all-time UW list with 3,447 assists, seventh in digs per set (7.68) and total digs (1,131). She is also one of four Badgers to ever record a triple-double after finishing with 13 kills, 10 digs and 15 assists against the University of Michigan (Nov. 8, 2008).

The Menomonee Falls High School graduate was the Gatorade Player of the Year for Wisconsin in 2007 and was one of the top nationally-ranked volleyball players. The 6-foot-1 student-athlete was a WIAA Scholar-Athlete, and was the Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year twice, among her various accolades. She was also the GMC Player of the Year for basketball and broke the school record for total points.

Gabrielsen earned a Bachelor's Degree in human development and family studies from UW-Madison and her Master's Degree in counseling foundations from CUW. The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, native is the daughter of Jeff and Jill. She has three older sisters, Jessica, Jolene and Jamie.

She is married to Eric and the two have two children, Charlie and Gabriella.