HEAD COACH BUCKLEY RECEIVES AVCA AWARD

Augustana head volleyball coach Ashley Buckley has received the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 Award, the AVCA announced.  The program, which is in its second year, recognizes thirty up-and-coming volleyball coaches under 30 years of age in the sport at all levels of the game. The list of winners was announced in the February/March issue of Coaching Volleyball magazine.

Buckley, who turns 27 in March, completed her second season as head coach at Augustana in 2009 where she has a 37-29 record. In her first season as he head coach she led the Vikings to a 23-11 record. She also led the Vikings to a 15-5 record in the team’s first season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference before making its sixth-straight regional appearance and 12th appearance in the last 13 years. This past season Augustana went 14-18 despite the fact that 8 of the 13 active players were freshmen or sophomores.

"The accomplishments and philosophies of this group of award winners give the AVCA confidence about the future of our game," Kathy DeBoer, executive director of the AVCA said in a statement. "These thirty rising stars are diverse, hard-working and passionate about teaching -- good news for volleyball. Ashley has demonstrated dedication to not only her sport, but also her own professional development by aligning herself as a member in her coaching association. It is a privilege for our association to have such passionate members and we hope you join us in commending Ashley for her work."