The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Clesen and Otte Named 2024 AVCA Thirty Under 30 Beach Honorees
10/16/2024 12:20:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB Head Beach Volleyball Coach Delaney Clesen and Assistant Coach Dylynn Otte have both been named to the prestigious 2024 Class of AVCA Thirty Under 30 Beach honorees, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Wednesday.
Now in its fourth year recognizing beach volleyball coaches, the AVCA Thirty Under 30 Beach Award shines the spotlight on the great work that the next generation of beach coaches are doing to help the ever-increasing number of high school and collegiate beach players.
Each of this year's recipients had to be age 30 or under as of Dec. 31, 2023, to qualify for the award.
"Delaney and Dylynn are two of the top beach coaches in the country, regardless of age," said UAB Beach Volleyball Sport Administrator Ted Feeley. "We are so lucky to have such a dynamic coaching duo at UAB. Their passion for developing the student-athlete is evident by the success their players have on the court, in the classroom and in the community. We have such great coaches leading our program and they are beyond deserving of this recognition."
The 2024-25 season is Clesen's second year as head coach and her third overall at UAB. Otte, who played at UAB from 2020-22, is in her second year as the assistant.
In their first year together, Clesen and Otte led UAB to a program record 19 wins. The Blazers finished 19-15 overall and earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for their high level of success in the classroom.
The Blazers have another promising outlook this season as they return seven of their top 10 players from last year's team. UAB is playing in pairs tournaments this fall and begin their competition season in late February.
For more information on the UAB beach volleyball team, be sure to follow @UAB_BVB on Twitter and Instagram.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
BETH VAN FLEET – HEAD BEACH VOLLEYBALL COACH – GEORGIA STATE
"Delaney and Dylynn are impacting and enhancing the collegiate beach volleyball community as they guide UAB's squad. Both coaches lean into their experiences of playing at the collegiate and professional levels to help connect with and motivate the humans on the team.
"Delaney's enthusiasm for learning is contagious. She inspires the people around her to think creatively and work together. Dylynn's ability to help athletes maximize their growth in every training session is playing a large role in the rise of their program."
LINDSEY BEHONICK – HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH – OREGON STATE
"I couldn't think of someone so deserving of this honor. Delaney has been a competitor and winner from the moment I met her at Pitt. Her growth as a player and person over the years has been amazing to witness, and seeing her as a head beach coach at UAB, she gets to instill the values she has on her athletes. Congrats Delaney!"
PRI PIANTADOSI-LIMA - HEAD BEACH VOLLEYBALL COACH - SOUTH FLORIDA
"I have been a coach/mentor and friend to both Delaney and Dylynn for quite sometime and all I can say that these two wonderful young women are so deserving of this award. The embody what the new college coach era is all about: culture first! Making sure the players have a great experience and become their best selves goes beyond any other goals they have for the program. UAB is lucky to have such a strong duo, who will be turning heads pretty soon in the collegiate coaching world. Their future is bright and I can't wait to watch what they do with the program each year."
Now in its fourth year recognizing beach volleyball coaches, the AVCA Thirty Under 30 Beach Award shines the spotlight on the great work that the next generation of beach coaches are doing to help the ever-increasing number of high school and collegiate beach players.
Each of this year's recipients had to be age 30 or under as of Dec. 31, 2023, to qualify for the award.
"Delaney and Dylynn are two of the top beach coaches in the country, regardless of age," said UAB Beach Volleyball Sport Administrator Ted Feeley. "We are so lucky to have such a dynamic coaching duo at UAB. Their passion for developing the student-athlete is evident by the success their players have on the court, in the classroom and in the community. We have such great coaches leading our program and they are beyond deserving of this recognition."
The 2024-25 season is Clesen's second year as head coach and her third overall at UAB. Otte, who played at UAB from 2020-22, is in her second year as the assistant.
In their first year together, Clesen and Otte led UAB to a program record 19 wins. The Blazers finished 19-15 overall and earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for their high level of success in the classroom.
The Blazers have another promising outlook this season as they return seven of their top 10 players from last year's team. UAB is playing in pairs tournaments this fall and begin their competition season in late February.
For more information on the UAB beach volleyball team, be sure to follow @UAB_BVB on Twitter and Instagram.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
BETH VAN FLEET – HEAD BEACH VOLLEYBALL COACH – GEORGIA STATE
"Delaney and Dylynn are impacting and enhancing the collegiate beach volleyball community as they guide UAB's squad. Both coaches lean into their experiences of playing at the collegiate and professional levels to help connect with and motivate the humans on the team.
"Delaney's enthusiasm for learning is contagious. She inspires the people around her to think creatively and work together. Dylynn's ability to help athletes maximize their growth in every training session is playing a large role in the rise of their program."
LINDSEY BEHONICK – HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH – OREGON STATE
"I couldn't think of someone so deserving of this honor. Delaney has been a competitor and winner from the moment I met her at Pitt. Her growth as a player and person over the years has been amazing to witness, and seeing her as a head beach coach at UAB, she gets to instill the values she has on her athletes. Congrats Delaney!"
PRI PIANTADOSI-LIMA - HEAD BEACH VOLLEYBALL COACH - SOUTH FLORIDA
"I have been a coach/mentor and friend to both Delaney and Dylynn for quite sometime and all I can say that these two wonderful young women are so deserving of this award. The embody what the new college coach era is all about: culture first! Making sure the players have a great experience and become their best selves goes beyond any other goals they have for the program. UAB is lucky to have such a strong duo, who will be turning heads pretty soon in the collegiate coaching world. Their future is bright and I can't wait to watch what they do with the program each year."
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