Skyhawks head coach recognized for early success at Stonehill

EASTON, Mass. (February 28, 2011) – Stonehill College head volleyball coach Lauren Amundson has been selected as a recipient of the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 Award. Established in 2009, the award honors emerging coaching talent younger than 30 years old at all levels of volleyball.

Amundson, one of three NCAA Division II coaches honored this year, has led the Skyhawks to a 31-24 record in two seasons as head coach. This fall, Stonehill advanced to the semifinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference championship after posting an 11-4 record in conference play, the program’s best in more than a decade. Amundson has also coached three All-Conference players and an All-Rookie honoree during her tenure at Stonehill. The 2010 season marked the first time in 15 years that the Skyhawks have had a first-team All-Conference honoree, and also placed two players on the All-Conference squad in the same season.

Her teams have also been recognized for their academic success during Amundson’s two seasons. The 2009 squad earned the Fred C. Petti Team Academic Award for having the highest combined GPA among Stonehill women’s teams during the academic year. In addition, at least 75% of the team has been named to the Stonehill Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the NE-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll during each of the past two seasons.

Prior to Stonehill, Amundson spent two years as an assistant coach at Bryant University as the program transitioned to Division I, helping the Bulldogs to a combined 48-32 record and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Division II East Regional championship game. As a collegiate player, she was a standout setter for Christian Brothers University in Memphis, where she holds four program records including the single-season and career assist marks.