LEXINGTON, Ky. – Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball assistant coach Kristi Tekavec was honored Tuesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as a recipient of the 2023 30 Under Thirty award.
30 Under Thirty 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.
“I was so excited to hear Kristi was honored by the AVCA with their 30 Under Thirty award,” expressed head coach Steve Grotowski. “She is constantly going above and beyond to make sure the team is prepared to do their best. She is always studying film and growing herself as a coach too. Working with Kristi is a pleasure and our program would not have the success we have had without her dedication.”
Tekavec just finished her fifth year as a coach with the program and her first as assistant coach. Throughout her five-year coaching career at Florida Atlantic, Tekavec has helped lead the Sandy Owls to two conference championships in the Costal Collegiate Sports Association and Conference USA, as well as the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearances in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to joining the Sandy Owls coaching staff, Kristi played for Florida Atlantic’s indoor volleyball team from 2013-17 and competed with the Sandy Owls in 2014 and 2019.
2023 30 Under Thirty Beach Honorees
- Keone Coronado, Grand Canyon University (Volunteer Assistant)
- Haley DeSales, Tennessee Tech University (Assistant Coach)
- Skyler Germann, South Torrance High School (Assistant Coach)
- Hannah Givens, University of Lynchburg, (Director of Volleyball)
- Antonia Harrison, University of North Florida, (Graduate Assistant Coach)
- Colby Hazelip, University of Tampa, (Assistant Coach)
- Conrad Hill, Catawba College (Head Beach Coach, Assistant Indoor)
- Josephine Kremer, Stanford University (Assistant Coach)
- Cati Leak, Louisiana State University (Assistant Coach)
- Cody Liner, USA Volleyball (Beach NTDP Boys Lead)
- Briannah Mariner, Cal State Bakersfield (Assistant Coach)
- Makenna Martin, University of Arizona (Assistant Coach)
- Madilyn McCarty, University of North Florida (Volunteer Assistant)
- Amy Ozee, Redondo Union High School (Assistant Coach)
- Joshua Roper, Grand Canyon University (Manager)
- Eric Santiago-Garcia, Indiana Tech (Head Coach Men’s Club Beach)
- Kristi Tekavec, Florida Atlantic University (Assistant Coach)
- Alex Venardos, Boise State University (Assistant Coach)
- Makena Wilson, Florida Southern College (Head Beach Coach)
- Ryan Windisch, University of Arizona (Assistant Indoor Coach – Previously Head Beach Coach, Irvine Valley CC)
- Baylee Young, Webber International University (Head Coach)
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