Lenoir-Rhyne Head Volleyball Coach Nicole Barringer was honored on Thursday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as a recipient of the 2023 Thirty Under 30 award.

Thirty Under 30 honors up-and-coming coaches at all levels of volleyball—college, high school, and club—and the recipients serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director. Nominees had to be under 30 as of Dec. 31, 2022, to qualify for the award.

Barringer led the Bears to an 18-9 mark in her first season in Hickory and a 13-5 record in South Atlantic Conference competition. She coached Emmaleigh Allen to the league’s Freshman of the Year award and had three players named to the All-Conference squad. Her very first win at LR was the program’s 800th all-time victory.

Barringer came to LR from William Peace where she complied an 81-29 mark over her four years and produced three first team All-Conference selections, seven first team All-East Division selections and five second team All-East Division student-athletes while also producing the 2018 Freshman Libero of the Year.

See below for the full list of 2023 Thirty Under 30 recipients:
Jordan Armstrong, Jacksonville University (Assistant Coach)
Nicole Barringer, Lenoir-Rhyne University (Head Coach)
Maddie Beal, DePaul University (Assistant Coach)
Kayla Black, Philander Smith College (Head Coach)
Michael Burkhardt, Stevens Institute of Technology (Assistant Men’s Coach)
Madison Butcher, Alvin High School (Assistant Coach)
Kailey Cavanaugh, Troy High School (Head Coach)
Sydney Cheatham-Carlone, North Central College [IL] (Head Coach)
Marissa Clements, Conway Juniors Volleyball Club (Club Director)
James Fitzpatrick, Legacy Volleyball Club [NY] (Club Director) & Iona Prep (Head Boys Varsity Coach)
Kasey Gentry, Lancaster Bible College (Assistant Men’s Coach) & Prevail Volleyball Club (18-1 National Head Coach)
Merideth Jewell, University of Kentucky (Assistant Coach)
Courtney Johnson, University of Texas-El Paso (Assistant Coach)
Kamille Jones, University of Illinois Springfield (Head Coach)
Jacob Kerschner, Lewis University (Assistant Men’s Coach)
Mary Marcum, University of the South, Sewanee (Assistant Coach) & A5 Chattanooga Volleyball Club (Assistant Club Director)
Hannah Marshall, William Peace University (Head Coach)
Nick Mata, George Mason University (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator)
Felipe Nogueira, Grand View University (Head Men’s Coach)
Sebastian Noordzy, Salve Regina University Volleyball (Head Coach)
Brett Peterson, Olympus High School (Head Boys Coach)
Jonah Seif, UCSB Men’s Volleyball (Associate Men’s Head Coach)
Kathryn Settle, Lander University (Assistant Coach)
Collin Sibilia, Holy Family University (Head Coach)
Alison Skayhan, USC Upstate (Head Coach)
Kirstyn Sperry, Bryant University (Assistant Women’s Coach/Head Men’s Club Volleyball Coach)
Lauren Tekavec, Wingate University (Head Coach)
Jonathan Vasquez, Monroe College (Assistant Coach)
Alicia Wood, Illinois College (Head Coach)
Sarah Yiljep, American University (Interim Head Coach)