Bio

Lana (Sorokina) Rybkowski joined the volleyball coaching staff in the summer of 2017. She is now in her sixth season back with the program.

Northwood posted an 11-15 record in 2021, going 4-10 in the GLIAC. Maya Ferland earned All-GLIAC honors at the conclusion of the season.

The spring 2021 season was a major breakthrough for the Timberwolves, going 9-6 overall and 8-4 in the GLIAC. The Timberwolves placed three student-athletes on the All-GLIAC team, led by First Team honoree Mary Gallagher. 

In her first two seasons at Northwood, the Timberwolves posted 24 victories. NU posted its first winning season in 2017 in four campaigns.

A familiar face for Northwood volleyball fans, Rybkowski was a four-year standout for the Timberwolves from 2004-07. She finished her distinguished career with 1,299 kills and 1,021 digs, standing as one of just six players in school history with over 1,000 kills and digs for her career (Pavla Melicharova, Romana Moravkova, Dena Zizkova, Joan Frysinger, Allison Getty). A First Team All-GLIAC honoree in 2007, Sorokina ranked fourth in the conference in kills (4.5 per set), second in aces (0.5 per set) and third in points (5.24 per set) that season.

At the conclusion of her playing career, Rybkowski played professionally in Europe both indoors and on the beach circuit for over six years. She spent three years with Clamart in France before spending single seasons in Menora, Spain and Stod, Norway. Rybkowski finished her career playing on the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) beach world tour for a year and a half.