New York University Women's Volleyball

Alma Mater: Ramapo College ’11 (Master's in Sports Business, NYU '22) Seasons as Head Coach: 8 (including 2025-26) Record at NYU: 162-51 (.760) Postseason Appearances: 6 (4 NCAA, 2 ECAC) NCAA Tournament: 3 (2021 (Regional Finalist), 2022 (Final Four), 2023 (Final Four), 2024 (Second Round) UAA Championships: 2 (2021, 2023) ECAC Championships: 2 (2018, 2019)                                                                                                                              Coach of the Year: 3 (AVCA Region 4 Coach of the Year 2022, UAA Coaching Staff of the Year 2022 honors, Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Coach of the Year 2022) Andrew Brown was hired as head coach of the New York University women’s volleyball team in January 2018. His teams have posted a 162-51 (.760) winning percentage and have made postseason appearances each season. The Violets again advanced to the postseason in 2024, securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and advancing to the second round. The squad opened the season with five straight wins en route to an overall 22-13 record. The season ended with a 3-1 loss to MIT after a 3-1 win over William Smith College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  Individually, several players thrived under Brown’s tutelage. Grace Nelson, Taylor Odum and Yooni Park were all named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American, while freshman Chloe Hines was selected University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year. Nelson was also a First Team All-UAA honoree. Off the court, a total of 14 players received UAA All-Academic recognition, while four earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District designation. As a group, the Violets earned the AVCA Team Academic Award and Team Academic Honor Roll.    The 2023 season was yet again another successful campaign for Brown and the Violets, as NYU posted an overall 33-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second year in a row and won the UAA Championship. The Violets posted a 17-match win streak before falling to Juanita College in the Final Four. The Violets, who finished the season ranked #4 by AVCA, led NCAA Division III in total blocks (341), was second in blocks per set (2.62), sixth in kills (1,655), seventh in assists (1,538), 10th in services aces (325), and 11th in hitting percentage (0.248). Individually, three Violets earned AVCA All-America honors. Haley Holz and Lindsey Hirano earned First Team accolades while Nelson was selected Second Team. The UAA also honored the trio: Hirano (First Team), Holz (Second Team), and Nelson (Second Team and Rookie of the Year).   Five Violets (Hirano, Holz, Nelson, Ava Launsbach, Camille Nazor) were selected AVCA All-Region District 4, with Holz being named Player of the Year, Nelson tabbed as Freshman of the Year, and Brown earning Coach of the Year honors.   The Violets’ success continued into the classroom as 15 team members received UAA All-Academic honors, while Holz and Hirano were named CSC Academic All-Americans. . The 2022 season was monumental for Brown as the Violets posted a 29-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2004. NYU won three matches before falling to Trinity University (TX) in the Final Four. Brown captured his 100th win as the Violets’ head coach against Montclair State University on October 5, 2022.  The Violets were ranked #4 in the final poll of the season released by AVCA. Brown was named AVCA Region 4 Coach of the Year, while AVCA All-American honors were awarded to three Violets: Holz (First Team), Hirano (Second Team) and Leela Anvekar (Third Team). Holz and Hirano were also named All-UAA First Team, while Anvekar and Gabriella Spaethling were named Second Team. As a team, the Violets finished second in NCAA Division III in total assists (1,629), third in total kills (1,759), sixth in total attacks (4,838), 10th in total blocks (251.0), 15th in total digs (2,179), and 16th in hitting percentage (.237). The success didn’t stop on the court as 14 team members received UAA All-Academic honors, Holz was named CSC Academic All-American Second Team and the Violets were recognized as USMC/AVCA Team Academic - Honor Roll. The 2021 season was one of the most outstanding in team annals, as the Violets went 28-2, won their first-ever UAA Championship, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the Hoboken Regional final. The campaign, which ended with a #11 national ranking from AVCA, saw Brown and his student-athletes receive numerous awards. NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors and Brown was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Coach of the Year. Abby Ausmus was selected UAA Most Valuable Player, Holz and Spaethling received First Team All-UAA accolades, while Hirano was selected ECAC Division III Rookie of the Year and UAA Freshman of the Year. Ausmus and Holz both received All-ECAC honors, while AVCA All-American accolades were also bestowed upon the foursome: Ausmus (First Team), Holz (Second Team), Spaethling and Hirano (Honorable Mention). As a team, the Violets finished 5th in NCAA Division III in winning percentage (.933) and hitting percentage (.272), 11th in blocks per set (2.22), 12th in assists per set (12.53), 14th in total blocks (231), and 20th in kills per set (13.3) and opponent hitting percentage (.102). The Violets were also successful off the court in ’21-22, as 13 team members earned UAA All-Academic honors and both Lauren Robinson and Jessie Tsang received the prestigious Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. NYU made the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award Honor Roll, achieved by the top 20% of team GPA’s in Division III. Brown’s first two seasons at NYU resulted in back-to-back ECAC Division III Tournament Championships.  NYU did not compete during the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, 10 team members earned UAA All-Academic honors and the Violets received the AVCA All-Academic Team Award (Honor Roll). In 2019, Brown guided the Violets to a 28-8 record, the team’s most victories since 2013. The team’s success included another ECAC Championship, as well as titles at the Kean Invitational and New York Region Challenge as NYU led all of NCAA Division III with 2.57 blocks per set. Individually, several NYU players were recognized for their on-court accomplishments in 2019. Holz was selected AVCA All-New York Region Freshman of the Year and All-AVCA Honorable Mention. Ausmus was named AVCA All-New York Region and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, while both received All-UAA Honorable Mention and ECAC All-Tournament honors. Nicole Dao was selected ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player, while both Jacqueline Kupeli and Gretchen Kincade received All-UAA Honorable Mention.   The Violets were also celebrated for their classroom work that season, receiving the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award while 10 student-athletes earned UAA All-Academic accolades.              In his first season, Brown led the Violets to a 22-16 overall record. NYU earned a postseason berth and won all four matches en route to capturing the ECAC Championship.   Many of Brown’s players earned accolades in 2018. Ausmus was selected ECAC Rookie of the Month (October), ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player and Second Team All-UAA. Ausmus, along with Kupeli and Maddie DeJong, were also named to the ECAC Championship All-Tournament Team while Nazzarine Waldon was selected Honorable Mention All-UAA. Kincade was selected the Knights Invitational Most Valuable Player, while Waldon was named to the NY Region Challenge All-Tournament Team. Brown’s student-athletes also fared well off the court as nine earned UAA All-Academic honors. The squad also received the AVCA Team Academic Award. Prior to arriving at NYU, Brown served as the women’s head coach at Union College, where his teams produced a 66-38 record and posted second- and third-place finishes in the Liberty League. During that span, two of his players earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America accolades.  Brown also served as the women’s head coach at NCAA Division I Saint Peter’s University from 2012-15, guiding the Peacocks to a top-10 team grade-point average in all of Division I women's volleyball. A 2011 graduate of Ramapo College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts, Brown was an outside hitter for the Roadrunners’ volleyball team for two seasons. As a senior, he finished with 196 kills as Ramapo earned its sixth-straight berth in the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Conference Tournament and made an appearance in the ECAC Metro Championship.   Brown also served as an assistant coach for the men's volleyball team at his alma mater for three seasons (2012-15). He helped guide the squads to three straight Skyline Conference tournaments and back-to-back finals appearances in 2014 and 2015.   He went on to earn a Master's in Sports Business from NYU in 2022.    Brown’s other coaching stints include Head USA Women’s Volleyball Coach at the Maccabiah Games in Israel (Summer 2017) and Varsity Boy’s and Girl’s Head Coach at Montclair High School (2010-15).   A native of Montclair, NJ, and a Brooklyn resident, Brown has also held various positions at numerous volleyball camps. BROWN'S YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD NYU Year Overall UAA 2018 22-16 2-5 2019 28-8 3-4 2020* ----- ----- 2021 28-2 6-1 2022 29-7 6-1 2023 33-5 5-2 2024 22-13 4-6 TOTALS 162-51 (.760) 26-19 (.577) Union College Year Overall Liberty League 2015 29-6 9-3 2016 25-11 9-4 2017 12-21 1-6 TOTALS 66-38 19-13 Overall Record: 228-89 (.719) * Season canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rachel Bello was hired as an assistant coach of the New York University womens volleyball team in March 2018. Her responsibilities include scouting opponents, setter and pin hitter training, as well as other program development within the team.  Bello joins NYU with a great deal of coaching experience. Since 2007 (except for the 2011-12 season), Bello has served as the Head Coach of the DIGS Volleyball Club in New Milford, NJ, where she is responsible for planning and conducting practices, orchestrating team strategy and developing the players mental and physical preparation for games. Bello has also coached on the collegiate level, serving as an assistant at her alma mater, NCAA Division I University of Rhode Island, during the 2007 season. A 2007 graduate of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, Bello was a four-year member of the Rams volleyball team. She served as captain for two seasons and totaled 921 kills during her career. Bello, who also coached and played one season (2011-12) professionally for the TSV Hartberg Volleyball Club in Hartberg, Austria, has coached at numerous volleyball camps and also served as the Director of Volleyball for the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ. A native of Franklin Lakes, Bello resides in Hoboken, NJ.    

Rachel Bello was hired as an assistant coach of the New York University women’s volleyball team in March 2018. Her responsibilities with the Violets include scouting opponents, setter and pin hitter training, as well as other program development within the team.  The Violets posted a 22-13 record in 2024 and qualified for the postseason, securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and advancing to the second round. The season ended with a 3-1 loss to MIT after a 3-1 win over William Smith College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  Individually, Grace Nelson, Taylor Odum and Yooni Park were all named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American, while freshman Chloe Hines was selected University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year. Nelson was also a First Team All-UAA honoree. The 2023 season was one of continued success for the Violets as NYU posted an overall 33-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second year in a row and won the UAA Championship. The Violets posted a 17-match win streak before falling to Juanita College in the Final Four. The Violets, who finished the season ranked #4 by the AVCA, led NCAA Division III in total blocks (341), was second in blocks per set (2.62), sixth in kills (1,655), seventh in assists (1,538), 10th in services aces (325), and 11th in hitting percentage (0.248). Team members garnered numerous honors both on and off the court with three Violets earning AVCA All-America honors. Haley Holz and Lindsey Hirano earned First Team accolades while Nelson was selected Second Team. The UAA also honored the trio: Hirano (First Team), Holz (Second Team) and Nelson (Second Team and Rookie of the Year). The 2022 season was a monumental one as the Violets posted a 29-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2004. NYU won three Tournament matches before falling to Trinity University (TX) in the Final Four. The Violets were ranked #4 in the final poll of the season released by the AVC), and AVCA All-American honors were garnered by three players: Haley Holz (First Team), Lindsey Hirano (Second Team) and Leela Anvekar (Third Team). Holz and Hirano were also named All-UAA First Team, while Anvekar and Gabriella Spaethling were named Second Team. As a team, the Violets finished second in NCAA Division III in total assists (1,629), third in total kills (1,759), sixth in total attacks (4,838), 10th in total blocks (251.0), 15th in total digs (2,179), and 16th in hitting percentage (.237). The 2021 season was one of the most outstanding in team annals, as the Violets went 28-2, won their first-ever UAA Championship, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the Hoboken Regional final. The campaign, which ended with a #11 national ranking from the AVCA, saw the coaches and student-athletes receive numerous awards. NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors and Abby Ausmus was selected UAA Most Valuable Player. Holz and Spaethling received First Team All-UAA accolades, while Hirano was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Rookie of the Year and UAA Freshman of the Year. Ausmus and Holz both received All-ECAC honors, while AVCA All-America accolades were also bestowed upon the foursome: Ausmus (First Team), Holz (Second Team), Spaethling and Hirano (Honorable Mention). As a team, the Violets finished 5th in NCAA Division III in winning percentage (.933) and hitting percentage (.272), 11th in blocks per set (2.22), 12th in assists per set (12.53), 14th in total blocks (231), and 20th in kills per set (13.3) and opponent hitting percentage (.102). The Violets were also successful off the court in ’21-22, as 13 team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors.    NYU did not compete during the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, 10 team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors and the Violets received the AVCA All-Academic Team Award (Honor Roll). In 2019, Bello helped guide the Violets to a 28-8 record, the team’s most victories since 2013. Included in the team’s success was the ECAC Division III Championship, as well as titles at the Kean Invitational and the New York Region Challenge. Also in 2019, NYU led all of NCAA Division III with 2.57 blocks per set. Individually, several NYU players were recognized for their on-court accomplishments. Holz was selected AVCA All-New York Region Freshman of the Year and All-AVCA Honorable Mention. Ausmus was named AVCA All-New York Region and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, while both received All-UAA Honorable Mention and ECAC All-Tournament honors. Nicole Dao was selected ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player, while both Jacqueline Kupeli and Gretchen Kincade also received All-UAA Honorable Mention.   In Bello’s first season with the team, the Violets posted a 22-16 overall record. NYU earned a postseason berth and won all four matches en route to capturing the ECAC Championship.   Many players earned accolades that season. Ausmus was selected ECAC Rookie of the Month (October), ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player and Second Team All-UAA. Ausmus, along with Kupeli and Maddie DeJong, were also named to the ECAC Championship All-Tournament Team while Nazzarine Waldon was selected Honorable Mention All-UAA. Kincade was selected the Knights Invitational Most Valuable Player, while Waldon was named to the NY Region Challenge All-Tournament Team. Bello joined NYU with a great deal of coaching experience. Since 2007 (except for the 2011-12 season), Bello has served as Head Coach of the DIGS Volleyball Club in New Milford, NJ, where she is responsible for planning and conducting practices, orchestrating team strategy and developing the players’ mental and physical preparation for games. In 2022, she was also named Director of the club. Bello has also coached on the collegiate level, serving as an assistant at her alma mater, NCAA Division I University of Rhode Island, during the 2007 season. A 2007 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, Bello was a four-year member of the Rams’ volleyball team. She served as captain for two seasons and totaled 921 kills during her career. Bello also earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in January 2019 and a Master of Education in Educational School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri in 2021.   Bello, who also coached and played one season (2011-12) professionally for the TSV Hartberg Volleyball Club in Hartberg, Austria, has coached at numerous volleyball camps and served as the Director of Volleyball for the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ. A native of Franklin Lakes, Bello resides in Hoboken, NJ.      

Yooni Park was hired as an assistant coach of the New York University women's volleyball team in August 2025. She returned to the team after spending the 2024-25 season with the Violets as a graduate transfer.   Following a four-year career at Division I Columbia University, Park played a crucial role for the Violets in her lone season, compiling 696 digs on the year, good for second all-time in a single season in program history. On September 28, 2024, Park registered 44 digs against Carnegie Mellon University, which set the program record for digs in a single match. The Cupertino, CA, native was named Honorable Mention All-University Athletic Association (UAA), both American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-Region 4 and Honorable Mention All-American, and NCAA Massachusetts Region All-Tournament Team.  In her four seasons with the Lions, Park appeared in 55 career matches and totaled 142 digs.  A 2024 Columbia graduate with a degree in Psychology, Park is currently a master's student at NYU studying Integrated Marketing in the School of Professional Studies (SPS).   

Bill Lee joined the New York University women’s volleyball team as a volunteer assistant coach in September 2024.   The Violets posted a 22-13 record in 2024 and qualified for the postseason, securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and advancing to the second round. The season ended with a 3-1 loss to MIT after a 3-1 win over William Smith College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  Individually, Grace Nelson, Taylor Odum and Yooni Park were all named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American, while freshman Chloe Hines was selected University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year. Nelson was also a First Team All-UAA honoree. Prior to arriving at NYU, Lee served as an assistant coach for the Kean University men’s volleyball team in 2023 where he focused on offensive system coordination and setter training. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Drew University from 2021-23, helping to launch both the men’s and women’s varsity programs.    From 2017-20, Lee was on the coaching staff of the NCAA Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University women’s volleyball team, specializing in defense and blocking. He also served as an assistant coach for the Ramapo College women’s volleyball team from 2009-16, which included one season with the men’s program.   A graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Business Administration, Lee went on to earn a Certificate of Professional Development from the Wharton School of Business.   In addition to his collegiate experience, Lee has been deeply involved in club volleyball. Since 1992, he has played various roles at DIGS Volleyball Club, including Technical Director, Club President, and Head Coach for teams ranging from U14 to U18. He also serves as an associate coach for the USA Volleyball Regional High Performance Program, focusing on the U19 women’s team in the FIVB International Division in 2024, after leading the U17 teams in the same division from 2015-23.   Lee holds USA Volleyball IMPACT, CAP I, and CAP II certifications, as well as a NESTA Biomechanics Certification.   A native of Philadelphia, PA, Lee resides in Bloomfield, NJ.