LEXINGTON, Ky.— The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has released their Thirty Under Thirty list for the 2015 season. This list is comprised of the best, young and talented coaches at all levels from high school to NCAA division I. In order to qualify, nominees must have been 30 years old or younger in 2015.
 
Biola's assistant volleyball coach Abbie Wright was named among those honored. She is one of three NAIA assistant coaches to receive this award. The other two came from Columbia College and Midland University, which were both teams Biola faced in 2015.

"I think that this is a very elite list and it really reflects all of the hard work that Abbie has put in over the past year," said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. "She's been representing the NAIA on the AVCA HCC committee and been actively involved in just about everything."
 
Coach Wright has seen a great deal of success at Biola both as a coach and a player. Wright has been an Eagle since she walked on campus in 2006. In her time here between 2006 and 2010 she broke the record for matches played and service aces and was a two-time NAIA All-American.
 
After a brief stint of professional ball in Alcobendas, Spain Wright began coaching at Biola in 2013. Since then she's helped lead the team to a NAIA Final, semifinal and quarterfinal appearance. Her overall record as an assistant under Head Coach Aaron Seltzer is an impressive 89-13. In 2015 she received the AVCA-NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year award.
 
"It's been a joy to both play and coach for Biola University," said Wright. "I am grateful for the ways our head coach, Aaron Seltzer, has invested his time and energy to establish a positive team culture and overall meaningful experience for his players."
 
Of the thirty recipients, 12 are NCAA Division I coaches, six in high school/club, four in NCAA Division III, three are NCAA Division II and NAIA, and two are two-year college coaches. 
 
"Getting this recognition is directly reflective of all the hard work she's put in," said Seltzer. "She's been doing a lot of back channel work and put in a lot of her time to get on the radar of the AVCA."
 
Thirty Under 30 Award Recipients
Austin Albers, Head Coach, Laramie County Community College, Two-Year College
Evan Amstutz, Head Coach, Wittenberg University (men's), NCAA Division III
Felicia Arriola, Assistant Coach, Loyola Marymount University, NCAA Division I
Jacob Barreau, Assistant Coach, Missouri State University, NCAA Division I
Mayssa Bazzi, Head Coach, Father Gabriel Richard High School, High School/Club
Kasey Crider, Assistant Coach, University of Miami, NCAA Division I
Marrita Crockett-Moulton, Assistant Coach, Florida International University (beach), NCAA Division I
Jason Demas, Head Coach, Queensborough Community College, Two-Year College
Kaitlin DiLuzio, Head Coach, Lawton Chiles High School, High School/Club
Travis Fuller, Director of Player and Coach Development, The Academy Volleyball Club, High School/Club
Mallori Gibson-Rossi, Head Coach, California State University, Stanislaus, NCAA Division II
Susan Halverson, Assistant Coach, Ohio State University, NCAA Division I
Abbi Hayes, Assistant Coach, Wingate University, NCAA Division II
Aleah Hayes, Assistant Coach, Columbia College, NAIA
David Hunt, Assistant Coach, Pepperdine University (men's), NCAA Division I
Caitlyn Jansen, Assistant Coach (Named head coach in February 2016), Berry College, NCAA Division III
Tristan Johnson, Assistant Coach, Arkansas State University, NCAA Division I
Rachael Kidder, Head Coach, Actyve Volleyball, High School/Club
Katie Kuhn, Assistant Coach, Ohio Northern University, NCAA Division III
Mitch Lunning, Head Coach, Kairos Elite Volleyball Club, High School/Club
Kelli Miller, Assistant Coach, Ball State University, NCAA Division I
Omar Munoz, Head Coach, Frisch High School/Passaic County Community College (women's and men's), High School/Club
Kaitlin Nielsen, Assistant Coach, UCLA, NCAA Division I
Amy Pauly, Assistant Coach, Villanova University, NCAA Division I
Morgan Salow, Assistant Coach, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NCAA Division I
David Skaff, Assistant Coach, Colorado Mesa University, NCAA Division II
Nicole Venditte, Assistant Coach, Midland University, NAIA
Kayla Walton, Assistant Coach, Hendrix College, NCAA Division III (As of March 2016, was named an assistant coach at D-I Samford)
Alex Wilharm, Assistant Coach, University of Louisville, NCAA Division I
Abbie Wright, Assistant Coach, Biola University, NAIA