BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY – St. Francis Brooklyn women's volleyball head coach Abra Rummel has resigned from her position after five seasons at the helm to relocate with her family to Arizona.
"I will be forever grateful to
Irma Garcia and the rest of the St. Francis Brooklyn athletics department for the opportunity to serve as the women's volleyball head coach. I could not have asked for better guidance and support than what I received over the past five seasons," said Rummel while discussing her tenure at St. Francis Brooklyn. "The program improved every year during my tenure, and I am confident the team will have even more success in subsequent years. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Terrier family!"
Rummel guided the Terriers to 10 wins in 2018, their first double-digit win total in a season since 2010 when they also recorded 10 victories. St. Francis Brooklyn finished this past season 10-18, which marked its best overall record since 2001 when it went 11-15. The Terriers also posted a 6-8 mark in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. The six NEC wins were the most they've totaled in a season since they registered six in 2010.
"Abra has been an integral part of our family for five years, and I thank her for her dedication to our student-athletes. She has elevated our women's volleyball program to a new level and has laid the foundation for a successful future here in Brooklyn Heights. I wish her and her family nothing but the best as they head out west to Arizona." said Director of Athletics
Irma Garcia.
Each year, the Terriers improved under Rummel's watch. For the second time in five years, the Terriers finished fifth in the NEC standings. After being selected eighth in the 2018 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Rummel's group finished in fifth-place just one spot shy of qualifying for the NEC Tournament.
"Coach Abra and her time at St. Francis means a lot to me, personally. It was her who decided to hire me back in 2016, and I'm fortunate to have been able to work with her for three seasons. Those seasons are some of the best ones ever for St. Francis volleyball, and I was able to learn so much from her about being a good coach, a servant leader, and a better person," said men's volleyball head coach and women's volleyball first assistant coach/recruiting coordinator
Andy Mueller. "She is such a great motivator and has an eye, not just for talented student-athletes, but for talented student-athletes who really excel at St. Francis College. I wish Abra, Henrik, Oliver, and Oskar the best out in Arizona!"
Rummel earned her first victory as head coach on August 30, 2014, against Quinnipiac at the Hofstra Invitational in Hempstead, NY. The Terriers rolled to a victory in straight sets against the Bobcats as Rummel picked up her first-ever win as a Division I head coach. She would later win her first home match in the Genovesi Center on September 5, 2014, as the Terriers defeated NJIT in straight sets.
She coached a pair of players that were selected to All-NEC Teams.
Domenique Gerard was the first player to be named to an All-Conference team under Rummel's tutelage. In 2015, Gerard was named to the All-NEC Second Team and became the first Terrier since Anisa Lila in 2010 to be voted to an All-Conference Team. The following season, Gerard was once again tabbed to the All-NEC Second as she wrapped up her career as the most accomplished outside hitter in program history. She became the first player in program history to register over 1,000 kills in her career as she finished with 1,026.
In 2017, outside hitter
Aleksandra Gligoric earned All-NEC First Team honors after leading the conference in kills per set with 3.92. The outside hitter recorded 388 kills as a senior in 2017, which were tied for the second-most in the NEC. Her 388 kills, were the second-most in a single-season in program history as she concluded her two-year career with 633 kills.
The Terriers wrapped up the 2018 season with a win (3-1) at Bryant on Saturday, November 10, in what would be Rummel's last game at the helm of the St. Francis Brooklyn women's volleyball team. The Terriers won five out of their last seven matches to conclude Rummel's final season in Brooklyn Heights. That stretch included four consecutive wins over conference opponents, which marked the first time in program history that it won four-straight NEC contests.
Several Terriers finished the 2018 season ranked amongst the top of the NEC in a number of statistical categories. Junior middle blocker
Wies Hurkmans was second in the NEC in hitting percentage (.326), while fellow junior middle blocker
Taris Pittman was ranked ninth (.243). Hurkmans was fifth in blocks per set (0.97), and fourth in total blocks (84). Freshman libero
Kizzy Rodriguez finished the season third in the NEC in digs per set (4.42) and totaled the fifth-most digs in the league (455). Rodriguez led all freshmen in both categories.
The future of Terriers' women's volleyball is bright, and Rummel paved that way.
A national search for Rummel's replacement will commence immediately.
