Yukari Kataoka enters her second season as Shorter University’s Graduate Assistant Athletic Training Student during the 2011-12 academic year. Her main responsibilities include covering the Lady Hawk volleyball team while also assisting with all other 19 intercollegiate athletic programs on the Hill.

Kataoka, who was born and raised in Ibaraki, Japan, comes to Shorter from Fort Hayes State University in Kansas where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in May 2009.

For the past year, Kataoka spent time as a member of an Athletic Training Internship with the ESPN and Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Kataoka has a wealth of experience working with a wide variety of athletes ranging from high school and collegiate age to the professional level.