Posted: Apr 27, 2023

Sperry named to AVCA Thirty Under 30 list

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY (April 27, 2023) – Bryant University volleyball graduate assistant coach Kirstyn Sperry '19 has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association 2023 Thirty Under 30 coaches. These rising leaders work hard and are passionate about teaching and helping grow the sport.

Thirty Under 30 honors up-and-coming coaches at all levels of volleyball—college, high school, and club—and the recipients serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director. Nominees had to be under 30 as of Dec. 31, 2022, to qualify for the award.

It is a big year for the AVCA's Thirty Under 30 program, which was created in 2009. The branding is receiving a fresh look, and you will see new logos as the awards are announced. Additionally, a new category will launch this October—Thirty Over 30. These awards will recognize coaches with 30 years of AVCA membership and those who have been coaching volleyball for 30 years.

Sperry graduated from Bryant in 2019 and returned to the Bulldog sidelines for the 2021-22 academic year. In two seasons as a coach, Sperry has helped the Bulldogs win a Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship and 40 matches overall. In addition to her duties with the women's varsity team, Sperry also serves as the head coach of the men's club volleyball program. She led the Bulldogs a third place finish at the nationals in 2022.

Click here for Coach Sperry's full bio.

Here is the list of the 2023 Thirty Under 30 recipients:

Jordan Armstrong, Jacksonville University (Assistant Coach)
Nicole Barringer, Lenoir-Rhyne University (Head Coach)
Maddie Beal, DePaul University (Assistant Coach)
Kayla Black, Philander Smith College (Head Coach)
Michael Burkhardt, Stevens Institute of Technology (Assistant Men's Coach)
Madison Butcher, Alvin High School (Assistant Coach)
Kailey Cavanaugh, Troy High School (Head Coach)
Sydney Cheatham-Carlone, North Central College [IL] (Head Coach)
Marissa Clements, Conway Juniors Volleyball Club (Club Director)
James Fitzpatrick, Legacy Volleyball Club [NY] (Club Director) & Iona Prep (Head Boys Varsity Coach)
Kasey Gentry, Lancaster Bible College (Assistant Men's Coach) & Prevail Volleyball Club (18-1 National Head Coach)
Merideth Jewell, University of Kentucky (Assistant Coach)
Courtney Johnson, University of Texas-El Paso (Assistant Coach)
Kamille Jones, University of Illinois Springfield (Head Coach)
Jacob Kerschner, Lewis University (Assistant Men's Coach)
Mary Marcum, University of the South, Sewanee (Assistant Coach) & A5 Chattanooga Volleyball Club (Assistant Club Director)
Hannah Marshall, William Peace University (Head Coach)
Nick Mata, George Mason University (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator)
Felipe Nogueira, Grand View University (Head Men's Coach)
Sebastian Noordzy, Salve Regina University Volleyball (Head Coach)
Brett Peterson, Olympus High School (Head Boys Coach)
Jonah Seif, UCSB Men's Volleyball (Associate Men's Head Coach)
Kathryn Settle, Lander University (Assistant Coach)
Collin Sibilia, Holy Family University (Head Coach)
Alison Skayhan, USC Upstate (Head Coach)
Kirstyn Sperry, Bryant University (Assistant Women's Coach/Head Men's Club Volleyball Coach)
Lauren Tekavec, Wingate University (Head Coach)
Jonathan Vasquez, Monroe College (Assistant Coach)
Alicia Wood, Illinois College (Head Coach)
Sarah Yiljep, American University (Interim Head Coach)

Here are biographies on each of the 2023 AVCA Thirty Under 30 honorees.

https://www.avca.org/awards/thirty-under-30-awards/2023thirtyunder30.html

For more information on the AVCA Thirty Under 30 program, contact the AVCA's Alice Rogers