What you need to know:
* Georgia State assistant coach Kirsten Gallagher was selected Thursday as one of the AVCA's Thirty Under 30 award recipients. The Auburn, Ala. native was selected out of almost 200 nominees from several levels of volleyball.
* Gallagher is in her fourth season as an assistant coach with the GSU beach volleyball program and has been an instrumental part of its success.
* Catch Gallagher and the Panthers on the sand this weekend for the FSU Invite on April 7th and 8th.
ATLANTA, Ga. – Assistant coach Kirsten Gallagher was selected Thursday as one of the AVCA's Thirty Under 30 award recipients.
The Auburn, Ala. native garnered the award out of almost 200 nominees. This year marked a record number of nominations for the AVCA's annual award.
“This is such a huge honor in so many ways,” Gallagher said Thursday afternoon. “To be recognized by the AVCA, an organization known for advocating knowledge and growth in this sport, is a massive compliment. Also, it means so much to me that Beth thought of me during the nomination period. This recognition is another reminder of how amazing the GSU beach athletes have been and continue to be. It is their hard work and success on the court that got my name in the hat for this award, and I could not be more grateful.”
The 30 recipients represented many levels of volleyball including Division I, II, III, high school, club, NAIA, NCCAA and USCAA.
“We are thrilled that Kirsten has been recognized as a young coach with a promising future by the AVCA,” head coach Beth Van Fleet said. “I feel incredibly fortunate that she chose to join us at Georgia State after completing her undergrad at UAB. From the Messersmiths at UAB, she gained perspective and wisdom that serve her daily as she interacts with our athletes and guides them on their own D1 and life journeys. I am proud of her growth from an athlete to a coach and all that she has accomplished in four years. This is a well-deserved award and I am lucky to work with her daily.”
Gallagher and the Panthers are back in action tomorrow morning as they kick off the FSU Invite at 8:30 a.m. ET versus TCU.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSUBeachVB) for the latest news.
