Assistant coach Christy Pfeffenberger was named to the AVCA Thirty Under 30 list recently.

Pfeffenberger Named An AVCA Thirty Under 30 Recipient

March 15, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame volleyball third-year assistant coach Christy Pfeffenberger has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) prestigious Thirty Under 30 list for the second time, the organization announced recently.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized amongst such an elite group,” said Pfeffenberger. “I have had the opportunity to be mentored by great coaches, be a part of some amazing programs and work with exceptional student-athletes. That combination has made going to work each day fun and enjoyable. Thank you to the AVCA for all that they do, and for recognizing up and coming coaches.”

“I’m proud of Christy and the hard work she has demonstrated, which has allowed her to receive this award,” said head coach Debbie Brown. “She is certainly one of the bright young coaches in the profession and we are fortunate to have her as an integral part of our program.”

Pfeffenberger, who also won the award in 2009 as an assistant at Xavier, works primarily with the Irish outside and right side hitters, but also helps mentor the middle blockers and the defense. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also is the program’s recruiting coordinator.

In her second season in 2012, Pfeffenberger worked with honorable mention All-American Toni Alugbue as the sophomore made an impressive move from the middle to the outside. Pfeffenberger also helped tutor honorable mention All-American Jeni Houser and an Irish defense that led the BIG EAST in blocks as they advanced to both the BIG EAST and NCAA Championships.

In Pfeffenberger’s first campaign with Notre Dame, she helped oversee the final season of second team all-BIG EAST performer Kristen Dealy as the Irish advanced to the BIG EAST Championship match for the 14th time.

Before coming to Notre Dame, Pfeffenberger had stops at Xavier, Youngstown State and Dayton.

The award was created in 2009 to honor up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport. To qualify for the award nominees had to be 30 years old or younger in 2012. The list of winners will be featured in the upcoming May edition of Coaching Volleyball 2.0.

Of the 30 recipients, 12 are head coaches and 18 are assistant coaches. Nine are NCAA Division I women’s coaches, nine are Division II, five are NCAA Division III, two are in high school, the NAIA and club while one is a Two Year College coach.

Thirty Under 30 Award Recipients

Jenifer Bahner, Head Coach

Cowley College, Arkansas City, KS (NJCAA Division II)

Ryan Baumgartner, Head Coach

Dominican University, River Forest, IL (NCAA Division III)

Craig Boller. Club Director, Head Coach; Volunteer Assistant (University of Michigan)

A2 Volleyball Club, Ann Arbor, MI (Club)

Stefanie Carrington, Head Coach

Dominican College, Orangeburg, NY (NCAA Division II)

Julie Darty, Assistant Coach

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (NCAA Division I)

Jamie deTurck, Head Coach

Colleyville Heritage High School, Colleyville, TX (High School)

Brett Ferguson, Assistant Coach

Northwood University, Midland, MI (NCAA Division II)

Tammi Fries, Assistant Coach

Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC (NCAA Division II)

Kyleigh Gerlach, Assistant Coach

2012: University of Indianapolis (NCAA DII)

2013: Virginia Commonwealth University (NCAA DI)

Michael Houlihan, Associate Head Coach

UMass-Boston, Boston, MA (NCAA Division III)

Anna Howle, Head Coach

Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma (NAIA)

William Kline, Assistant Coach

Bethany College, Bethany, WV (NCAA Division III)

Jeff Lennox, Head Coach – Men and Women

Barton College, Wilson, NC (NCAA Division II)

James Lundgren III, Assistant Coach

Azusa Pacific University, Encinitas, CA (NAIA)

Daniel Mahy, Assistant Coach

Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Meyers, FL (NCAA Division I)

Matt McCarthy, Assistant Coach – Men

Lewis University, Romeoville, IL (NCAA Division II)

Monica McDonald, Head Coach

Otterbein University, Westerville, OH (NCAA Division III)

Jason Munoz, Assistant Coach

Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma (NAIA)

Jonathan Newman-Gonchar, Assistant Coach

2012: Loyola Marymount University (NCAA DI),

2013: Iowa State University (NCAA DI)

Kimberly Olson, Assistant Coach – Indoor and Sand

College of Charleston, Charleston, SC (NCAA Division I)

Christine Pfeffenberger, Assistant Coach

University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN (NCAA Division I)

Chloe Quirk, Assistant Coach

Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA (NCAA Division II)

Heather Roberts, Assistant Coach

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (NCAA Division II)

Brian Rosen, Head Coach

Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC (High School)

Lauren Sands, Club Director, Head Coach

Atlanta Extreme Volleyball Club, Suwanee, GA (Club)

Aaron Smith, Assistant Coach

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (NCAA Division I)

Matt Ulmer, Assistant Coach, Head Coach – Sand

Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA (NCAA Division I)

Jennifer Vaden, Assistant Coach

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA (NCAA Division I)

Erin Virtue, Assistant Coach

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (NCAA Division I)

Braden Zamore, Head Coach – Men and Women

Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH (NCAA Division III)

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