LA MIRADA, Calif. --- With just a quick glance to the sideline it would be difficult to identify exactly who was the head coach of the No. 5-ranked 2015 Biola Volleyball team.
 
This is not saying anything negative about the 2013 NAIA National Coach of the Year Aaron Seltzer, but rather paying compliment to his lead assistant, Abbie Wright.
 
In her third year as Seltzer's assistant Wright has come into her own as a coach and was recognized for her efforts and huge contributions to the program with the NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year award from the American Volleyball Coaches' Association.
 
"Nobody can do this by themselves. Everybody needs help and Abbie is great at that. She does a lot for us," said Seltzer. "She has a huge heart and cares more about these girls than they even know. I think this year she was able to open up a bit and really connect with this team."
 
Wright's primary responsibilities with this team include recruiting, strength and conditioning, setting and serving. She is the first point of contact for any interested recruit and plays a huge role in developing the team's offensive approach.
 
She can be spotted on the team's bench, generally never sitting down, calling serves and aiding the setters as each match progresses. Combined with Seltzer she successfully coached this year's team to a 30-win season and berth in the NAIA National Quarterfinals.
 
"Abbie is very selfless and always puts the team before herself," said All-American Middle Blocker Alyssa Mason. "She puts a lot of time and effort into all of us girls and our volleyball skills on the court, but more importantly she cares about how we're doing outside of volleyball."
 
As the developer of the team's strength and conditioning program Wright plays a huge role in keeping the team healthy as the season progresses from August through December. In large part the entire team was intact through the Eagles' national tournament run a few weeks ago thanks to the dedication and hard work she puts into developing customized fitness programs for each member of the team.
 
She also had to find a way to adequately blend the team's three setters together this year to find a mix of time in the rotation for each that always left the team with its best options on the floor. She did so gracefully in getting at least 72 sets played for each setter.
 
"I appreciate a lot about Abbie," said sophomore transfer Ally Forsberg. "What I appreciate most is her hard work and her love towards everyone."
 
Being an assistant coach can a lot of the times be an unheralded position despite massive amounts of time and energy invested. The time it takes to develop a strength and conditioning program, handle interested recruits, scout opposing teams on film and develop a game plan for each opponent can occasionally be overwhelming, but the grace and efficiency with which Wright handles her responsibilities is what helps her earn this major award.
 
Not to mention the off-the-court responsibilities that come along with caring for and establishing relationships with the 16 college students on her team. She fits well into the philosophy Seltzer sets for his program of "God, School, then Volleyball…in that order."
 
"I know Abbie puts in so much time out of what she's technically required to do," said sophomore libero Tess Van Grouw. "I think she does a lot more than what the average assistant coach would do, which is greatly appreciated by all of us. Outside of that too, you can tell that she cares about our lives even outside of volleyball."
 
So this award comes as a thank you in a sense. A thank you for the time, effort and love that Wright's poured into this program over the course of the last three years and for however long she'll grace the sidelines for Biola Volleyball into the future.