FAIRFAX, Va.—First year George Mason women's volleyball coach Jackie Simpson was selected as a recipient of the  2015 Thirty Under 30 Award, as announced American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

“I'm honored to be in the company of my peers whom I respect tremendously,” Simpson said.

The Downers Grove, Illinois, native spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for three NCAA Division I programs. As offensive coordinator for both Iowa and Marquette, Simpson coached three AVCA All-Americans.

  At Iowa, Alessandra Dietz and Alex Lovell had standout senior seasons. Dietz broke an eight-year-old career attack percentage record (.276), finishing her career with a .278 attack percentage. She also broke the program's five-year-old single match attack percentage record, hitting .882 with 15 kills in Iowa's 3-0 win at South Dakota State. Lovell closed her career ninth all-time with 1,279 kills in school history, and earned the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

According to the AVCA website, The Thirty Under 30 Award, first presented in 2009, was created to honor thirty up-and-coming volleyball coached under 30 years old at all levels of the game. 

Thirty Under 30 Award Recipients

Lauren Amundson, Head Coach ***Three-time recipient (2011, 2012, 2015)***

Marist College (2014: Stonehill College)

Vinicius Baigan, Assistant Coach

            Park University (women's and men's)

Kyrsten Becker, Assistant Coach

            Morehead State University

Dillan Bennett, Head Coach

            Laguna Blanca High School (boys and girls)

Kris Berzins, Assistant Coach

            Loyola University Chicago (men's)

Iain Bradbury, Head Coach

            US Merchant Marine Academy

Chris Brandt, Head Coach

            Lakeland College (men's and women's (assistant))

Lindsey Campbell, Assistant Coach

            University of Pittsburgh

Kayla Cole, Head Coach

            Minnesota Select Volleyball Club

Glenn DeHaven, Head Coach

            Stevens Institute of Technology

Jason Demas, Head Coach

            Queensborough Community College

Billy Ebel, Assistant Coach

Lipscomb University

Peter Gustin, Head Coach

            Solon High School (IA)

Emily Hiza, Assistant Coach

            Oregon State University

Jeff Huebner, Head Coach

            College of Coastal Georgia

Adam Hughes, Assistant Coach

            University of Maryland

Alynne Knott, Associate Head Coach

            Tusculum College

Kim Kuzma, Assistant Coach

            Kent State University

Matt McCarthy, Assistant Coach **Two-time recipient (2013, 2015)***

            Lewis University (men's)

Callaway Mefford, Head Coach

            St. Thomas University (FL)

Riann Mullis, Head Coach

            Cowley College

Anders Nelson, Assistant Coach

            University of Kentucky

Taylor Noland, Head Coach

            Holy Innocents Episcopal School

Blair Penner, Assistant Coach

            California Baptist University

Lisa Pierce, Head Coach

            Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club

Caitlin Rimgaila, Head Coach

            La Salle University

Jackie Simpson, Head Coach  

            George Mason University

Dani Soubliere, Head Coach

            Simmons College (MA)

Jesse Tupac, Assistant Coach

            Iowa State University/HC: All Iowa Attack VBC

Jaclynn Yocum, Head Coach

            Columbus State Community College