This is definitely a big loss for the A-10.
La Salle ended 2018 as the 3rd best team in the A-10.
I don't think La Salle will instantly plummet back to the bottom of the NCAA or even back to the bottom of the A-10. I think La Salle only hired her after they made a commitment to improve at volleyball. But I do think it is hard to find the right coach. And she was the right coach.
Coach Caitlin was not just a very good young coach, but also a good east coast coach, and given weak volleyball in the northeast, it takes a coach with specific qualities to recruit in the north east, and to win in the northeast. It's very possible La Salle can find another good one. It won't be easy.
We will also need to see how many recruits stick around. La Salle has the benefit of the coach leaving before this team truly peaks. I'm not sure La Salle 2019 will finish 3rd again in the A-10, but I think they will be better in the non-con. The A-10 was so weak in 2018, it helped create the perfect storm for a surging La Salle to sneak into 3rd.
La Salle returns a lot of talent for the 2019 season. They have a lot of starters beginning their Senior year. That alone, might keep some momentum. And having a bunch of Seniors leaving, might convince some of the new recruits to stick around, knowing there is a lot of playing time waiting for them after this year.