Albrecht Named Assistant Volleyball Coach at Liberty
4/11/2024 5:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty Volleyball Head Coach Trevor Johnson has announced the addition of former Belmont Abbey head men's volleyball coach Nolan Albrecht to his coaching staff as an assistant coach.
"We are thrilled to welcome Nolan Albrecht to our family," coach Johnson said. "Nolan brings a wealth of Volleyball knowledge from his playing days in college, where he led the nation in Kills his last season, and his time on the AVP finishing in the top 10 of several AVP events. He has coached at the DI level, and coached a player who led the nation in kills for two years. What stood out to me in my initial interactions with Nolan was his ability to teach athletes the thought process of performing a skill. He is very knowledgeable and will relate well to our young ladies. Not only is Nolan a great player, he's an even better person who loves the Lord and who truly wants to see these young woman develop as players, but more importantly as young women. Liberty Volleyball is very blessed to have Nolan join our program."
Albrecht served as head men's volleyball coach at his alma mater, Belmont Abbey, from 2017 through 2021. During that time, he led the Crusaders to a 51-45 overall record as an NCAA Division I program. He holds the program record for career coaching victories.
Belmont Abbey finished seventh in Conference Carolina standings during the season before Albrecht took the helm. He led them to their first-ever Conference Carolinas title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2021, as the Crusaders went 15-8 and defeated No. 1 seed Mount Olive in the conference championship game. They faced Penn State in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball Championship.
Albrecht also oversaw a resurgence in the team's academic success, as Belmont Abbey earned two AVCA Academic Awards and posted an average GPA of 3.35 over that span.
Additionally, Albrecht coached three major awards winners in the league play in Rob Valentine (Defensive Player of the Year in 2018), Andrew Kohut (Freshman of the Year in 2019) and Liam Maxwell (Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2020). A total of 13 players have been selected all-conference.
Maxwell and Kohut were selected to the 2020 USAV Collegiate National Team. Albrecht serves as a talent scout for the National Team Development Program and has worked as a lead tryout evaluator and coach for the A2 boys select and A2 girls select programs.
Albrecht began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach for the Belmont Abbey women's team from 2016-19. He helped the Crusaders to back-to-back Conference Carolinas Championship match appearances and a North Division title in 2018, working with 2018 and 2019 Conference Coach of the Year, Toni Elyea. Nolan also coached Sarah Kenney, Elite 23 winner and conference defensive player of the year in 2018.
His coaching resume also includes serving as an assistant coach at Carolina Union Volleyball Club in Charlotte, where his 18 Premier club team qualified for USAV 18 Open GJNC in 2020 and 2021. Following his time at Belmont Abbey, Albrecht served as Director of Youth Training at Carolina Union Volleyball Club. He was responsible for training and development for all coaches and athletes of the teams aged 12-14.
A former standout outside hitter and setter for Belmont Abbey, Albrecht was a four-year captain and led the nation in kills (523), kills per set (5.03) and points per set (5.56) while hitting .350 during his senior season. Albrecht was named the AVCA National Player of the Week and finished third in voting for the "Karch Kiraly Award" for the nation's best Outside Hitter.
During his three seasons of active play at Belmont Abbey, Nolan amassed two first-team All-Conference Carolinas selections, one second-team all-conference selection, and multiple Player of the Week awards. His career statistics include 1,157 kills, 594 digs, 142 total blocks, and 70 aces. After sitting out for his entire sophomore season due to injury, he was named "Conference Carolinas' Comeback Player of the Year" after returning to the top 10 in several statistical categories.
He has seen tremendous success as a professional volleyball player on the AVP. Albrecht has qualified for four AVP main draw tournaments, finishing in the top 10 three times. He has garnered the No. 1 ranking in the AVP grass volleyball standings after winning such prestigious tournaments as the Pottstown Rumble, Waupaca Boatride, AVP Nationals, Columbia Clash and Marshall Madness. His accomplishments also include TeqVoly world championships, which he won in both Santa Monica, Calif. And Esztergom, Hungary.
Albrecht graduated with honors from Belmont Abbey College with two degrees: Sports Management and Theology.
"We are thrilled to welcome Nolan Albrecht to our family," coach Johnson said. "Nolan brings a wealth of Volleyball knowledge from his playing days in college, where he led the nation in Kills his last season, and his time on the AVP finishing in the top 10 of several AVP events. He has coached at the DI level, and coached a player who led the nation in kills for two years. What stood out to me in my initial interactions with Nolan was his ability to teach athletes the thought process of performing a skill. He is very knowledgeable and will relate well to our young ladies. Not only is Nolan a great player, he's an even better person who loves the Lord and who truly wants to see these young woman develop as players, but more importantly as young women. Liberty Volleyball is very blessed to have Nolan join our program."
Albrecht served as head men's volleyball coach at his alma mater, Belmont Abbey, from 2017 through 2021. During that time, he led the Crusaders to a 51-45 overall record as an NCAA Division I program. He holds the program record for career coaching victories.
Belmont Abbey finished seventh in Conference Carolina standings during the season before Albrecht took the helm. He led them to their first-ever Conference Carolinas title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2021, as the Crusaders went 15-8 and defeated No. 1 seed Mount Olive in the conference championship game. They faced Penn State in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball Championship.
Albrecht also oversaw a resurgence in the team's academic success, as Belmont Abbey earned two AVCA Academic Awards and posted an average GPA of 3.35 over that span.
Additionally, Albrecht coached three major awards winners in the league play in Rob Valentine (Defensive Player of the Year in 2018), Andrew Kohut (Freshman of the Year in 2019) and Liam Maxwell (Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2020). A total of 13 players have been selected all-conference.
Maxwell and Kohut were selected to the 2020 USAV Collegiate National Team. Albrecht serves as a talent scout for the National Team Development Program and has worked as a lead tryout evaluator and coach for the A2 boys select and A2 girls select programs.
Albrecht began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach for the Belmont Abbey women's team from 2016-19. He helped the Crusaders to back-to-back Conference Carolinas Championship match appearances and a North Division title in 2018, working with 2018 and 2019 Conference Coach of the Year, Toni Elyea. Nolan also coached Sarah Kenney, Elite 23 winner and conference defensive player of the year in 2018.
His coaching resume also includes serving as an assistant coach at Carolina Union Volleyball Club in Charlotte, where his 18 Premier club team qualified for USAV 18 Open GJNC in 2020 and 2021. Following his time at Belmont Abbey, Albrecht served as Director of Youth Training at Carolina Union Volleyball Club. He was responsible for training and development for all coaches and athletes of the teams aged 12-14.
A former standout outside hitter and setter for Belmont Abbey, Albrecht was a four-year captain and led the nation in kills (523), kills per set (5.03) and points per set (5.56) while hitting .350 during his senior season. Albrecht was named the AVCA National Player of the Week and finished third in voting for the "Karch Kiraly Award" for the nation's best Outside Hitter.
During his three seasons of active play at Belmont Abbey, Nolan amassed two first-team All-Conference Carolinas selections, one second-team all-conference selection, and multiple Player of the Week awards. His career statistics include 1,157 kills, 594 digs, 142 total blocks, and 70 aces. After sitting out for his entire sophomore season due to injury, he was named "Conference Carolinas' Comeback Player of the Year" after returning to the top 10 in several statistical categories.
He has seen tremendous success as a professional volleyball player on the AVP. Albrecht has qualified for four AVP main draw tournaments, finishing in the top 10 three times. He has garnered the No. 1 ranking in the AVP grass volleyball standings after winning such prestigious tournaments as the Pottstown Rumble, Waupaca Boatride, AVP Nationals, Columbia Clash and Marshall Madness. His accomplishments also include TeqVoly world championships, which he won in both Santa Monica, Calif. And Esztergom, Hungary.
Albrecht graduated with honors from Belmont Abbey College with two degrees: Sports Management and Theology.
Welcome to Liberty Mountain, Assistant Coach Nolan Albrecht!
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) April 11, 2024
"Liberty Volleyball is very blessed to have Nolan join our program." - Coach Johnson pic.twitter.com/NuwUGPOOMS
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