LEXINGTON, KY. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has honored Heather Feldman as one of the 2024 AVCA Thirty Under 30 College Award recipients.
 
"I'm honored to have been selected by the AVCA as one of their 30 under 30 selections this year. There are so many talented young coaches across the country, and to be recognized as one of them is truly a privilege. The sport of volleyball has given me so much, and I'm fortunate to be in a position to give back even a little piece of that to the athletes I coach," said Feldman.
 
The AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award recognizes rising young coaches in volleyball who demonstrate excellence in leadership, development, and community impact. Feldman's commitment to inspiring the next generation of female volleyball players and her fearless leadership make her a standout figure in the sport.
 
Feldman has made significant strides throughout her coaching career. Most recently, she served as the primary setter trainer at UAlbany when Zosia Szczotkiewicz was named the 2023 America East Setter of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honoree. Feldman has also coached six all-conference selections and four all-rookie selections, underscoring her ability to guide players to excellence both on and off the court.
 
Her impressive career also includes a tenure at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), where she helped the team break records and achieve national recognition. Under Feldman's leadership, UMES led Division I in aces per set in 2019.
 
A four-year starter and two-time captain for Gardner-Webb University (GWU), Feldman recorded the second-highest assists in program history (4,545) and ranked in the top ten with 1,112 career digs. Finishing her career with 54 double-doubles and 13 matches with 50+ assists, she earned the Big South Conference's Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence, an award given to the conference's male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA.
 
"After my collegiate playing career ended, I knew I wasn't done with volleyball," Feldman said. "I've fallen in love with helping players realize their full potential and watching them grow both on and off the court. I'm honored to give back even a small part of what this sport has given me."
 
This year's list of Thirty Under 30 College Award recipients includes women's and men's coaches who are rising leaders in the sport. These honorees are dedicated to teaching, helping players reach their full potential, and growing the game at the collegiate level.
 
For the full release from the AVCA click here.
 
Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany volleyball by following the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.