Isabella “Bella” Ferary was elevated to assistant coach of the Georgia State beach volleyball program in January 2026, following a record-setting and decorated career as a student-athlete with the Sandy Panthers and a successful stint as a graduate assistant while completing her master’s degree.
In her first season as an assistant coach in 2026, Ferary helped lead the Panthers to their fourth-consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship and fifth consecutive overall conference championship. Georgia State secured its sixth NCAA Championship appearance after earning the No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers posted a 4-1 conference record before dominating the Sun Belt Championship with a perfect 4-0 tournament mark, improving the program to 16-0 all-time in Sun Belt Championship matches. Ferary also stepped into an in-match coaching role for the pair of Kaylie Drysdale and Ellie Neville, guiding the duo to a 14-8 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play. Under her direction, Drysdale and Neville went undefeated throughout the Sun Belt Championship, clinched the match-winning point in the title contest, and earned Sun Belt All-Tournament Team honors.
Prior to her promotion, Ferary served as Georgia State’s graduate assistant and director of beach volleyball operations from August 2024 through December 2025 while completing her master’s degree. During the 2025 season, she helped guide the Sandy Panthers to their third-consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship, marking her first conference title as a coach. Working alongside head coach Beth Van Fleet, Ferary mentored three all-conference pairs and helped lead Georgia State to a No. 17 finish in the postseason AVCA rankings. She also made her first NCAA Championship appearance as a coach.
A four-year letterwinner from 2021–2024, Ferary leaves an indelible legacy on Georgia State Beach Volleyball as the program’s all-time career leader in individual wins with 105. Alongside her twin sister Angel, she also holds the program record for most pair victories with 100. The duo consistently competed at the top flight and earned national recognition, including back-to-back All-Sun Belt First Team selections in 2023 and 2024, while being named the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Year.
In her senior season in 2024, Ferary helped lead Georgia State to its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship and third straight NCAA Championship appearance, with the Panthers finishing the season ranked among the nation’s top 16. She and Angel posted a 25-14 record, including nine wins over nationally ranked opponents and an 11-1 conference mark. The pair was named Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Week on March 27 following a dominant stretch of performances.
Ferary’s junior campaign in 2023 was highlighted by AVCA All-America Second Team honors, recognizing her among the nation’s elite collegiate beach volleyball players. She helped the Sandy Panthers capture the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship and contributed to a landmark season that included a program-defining victory over USC’s top pair, handing them their only regular-season loss. She finished the year with a 19-14 record and eight wins over ranked opponents.
In 2022, Ferary and her sister compiled a historic 37-2 record, setting school records for both individual and pair wins in a single season. The duo earned All-Conference USA First Team honors and AVCA Top Flight Award recognition while helping Georgia State claim its first Conference USA Championship and advance to the NCAA Round of Six. The Panthers stunned No. 2 TCU in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship history, and the team’s No. 7 final AVCA ranking marked the highest finish for any Georgia State athletic program in a Division I national poll.
As a freshman in 2021, Ferary led the team in total wins with a 24-9 record, earned CCSA All-Tournament Team honors, and helped Georgia State secure victories over multiple nationally ranked opponents.
Her academic accomplishments are equally impressive. Ferary was named to the CSC All-District At-Large Team in 2023 and earned multiple appearances on both the President’s List and Dean’s List. She graduated from Georgia State with a degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Legal Studies and continued her education through graduate studies.
Before arriving at Georgia State, Ferary was named an AVCA High School First Team All-American in 2020. A multi-sport standout at Mount Paran Christian School, she was part of state championship teams in both indoor volleyball and track and field while also lettering in basketball.
A native of Kennesaw, Georgia, Bella is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Ferary. Her twin sister Angel, also a standout for Georgia State Beach Volleyball, was her longtime teammate and partner on the sand.
Ferary brings championship experience, deep institutional knowledge, and a proven competitive pedigree into her coaching role as she continues to help guide the Sandy Panthers’ success on the national stage.
