ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University volleyball head coach Andrea Beaty-Cain has announced the addition of Matthew Breitbarth as assistant coach and the promotion of Anna Bair to assistant coach ahead of the 2026 season.
 
Breitbarth arrives at Saint Louis after serving as assistant coach and director of operations at the University of North Dakota from 2024-25. In that role, he led the Fighting Hawks' offensive training, coordinated recruiting efforts, managed team travel and operations, and conducted individual player development sessions.
 
"Matt is a tremendous addition to our program and embodies the qualities we value in our staff," Beaty-Cain said. "He brings a high-level volleyball mind, an incredible passion for teaching, and a relentless work ethic. His expertise in offensive systems and setter development will have an immediate impact on our athletes, and his strong midwest connections will continue to strengthen our ability to attract top talent from the surrounding areas."
 
During his time at North Dakota, Breitbarth helped guide Paige Barber to multiple Summit League Peak Offensive Player of the Week honors. Barber finished her career ranked seventh in program history in career kills and fourth in single-season kills.
 
Prior to North Dakota, Breitbarth spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Rhode Island. He served as the Rams' lead recruiter and was responsible for scouting, film breakdown, player development and summer camp operations. He also held assistant coaching positions at Chicago State and Northern Iowa.
 
At Chicago State, Breitbarth helped the Cougars post a 17-11 record and earn the program's first appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. He also assisted in the development of Yanlis Feliz, who earned AVCA All-America honorable mention recognition and was named WAC Player of the Year.
 
"I'd like to thank Andrea for the incredible opportunity to join the Billiken family," Breitbarth said. "I'm truly grateful for the support of my family, friends and the many coaches I've had the privilege of learning from and working alongside throughout my career. I'm excited for this next chapter and can't wait to get to work. Roll Bills!"
 
Breitbarth earned both his bachelor's degree in advertising and master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a player and coach with Illinois men's club volleyball, he helped lead the program to its first national championship in 2021 and earned first-team All-America honors as a setter.
 
While at Illinois, Breitbarth also served as a practice player for the women's volleyball program from 2017-20. He worked with teams that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017, the NCAA Final Four in 2018 and the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019.
 
Anna Bair enters her second season with the Billikens after joining the program in August 2025. During her first year on staff, she assisted with practice planning, scouting preparation, team travel operations and student-athlete development.
 
"Anna has been an integral part of our program, and this promotion reflects the impact she has made on our student-athletes and staff every day," Beaty-Cain said. "The passion she brings to serving and developing our women is evident in everything she does, and she brings an unmatched energy to our team. Her leadership and commitment continue to elevate our program, and we are thrilled to see her influence continue to grow as we move into the upcoming season."
 
Before arriving at Saint Louis, Bair served as an assistant volleyball coach and teaching assistant at Regents School of Oxford and coached with Oxford Volleyball Club. She worked with athletes at the middle school, junior varsity, varsity and club levels while helping develop practice plans, game strategies and player development programs.
 
A standout player at Ole Miss, Bair was a five-year member of the Rebels volleyball program from 2019-23. She earned AVCA South All-Region honors and finished her career ranked fifth in school history and third in the rally-scoring era for career kills. Bair also earned recognition on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Chancellor's Honor Roll and Dean's List throughout her collegiate career.
 
Bair graduated from Ole Miss in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in education.