LEXINGTON, Ky – Recently named Trevecca Volleyball Associate Head Coach Alyssa Gage was selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Tuesday as one of the organization's Thirty Under 30 honorees.
Gage, a former standout player at Southern Connecticut State University, has steadily advanced through the coaching ranks, starting as a Graduate Assistant at Trevecca in 2019 before earning roles as an Assistant Coach and, most recently, an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. In addition to her responsibilities as associate head coach, she also recruits and manages the Trevecca Volleyball Regional Team, demonstrating her commitment to player development at all levels.
Prior to Gage's arrival on the Hill, the volleyball team finished the 2018 season with a 7-21 record. In her first year, she made an immediate impact, helping the team to improve to 16-17, earning a spot in the conference tournament, and producing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year along with two other G-MAC All-Conference selections. Since then, the team has continued to progress each season.
In 2022, Alyssa's second year as a full-time assistant, the team tied the program record for most wins in the NCAA Division II era with a 21-12 record and advanced to the G-MAC Conference Finals.
This past season, she took over the offensive and defensive training of the middle blockers, leading to remarkable results. The squad finished as the top blocking team in the Gulf South Conference, with junior middle blocker Reese Payne setting a new single-season blocking record at Trevecca with 130 total blocks. Senior middle blocker
Mackenzie O'Loughlin also broke the previous record, finishing second with 108 total blocks.
O'Loughlin earned First Team All-GSC honors and was named an all-tournament player at each pre-conference tournament. O'Loughlin and Payne were also the only two players to receive GSC Player of the Week awards this season.
In addition to her on-court coaching responsibilities, Gage serves as Recruiting Coordinator, overseeing both intercollegiate and Regional/JV teams. Her leadership, dedication, and ability to develop players have been instrumental in the program's growth and success.
The Thirty Under 30 honors program recognizes up-and-coming coaches in these different sectors of the sport who serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director. Each of this year's recipients had to be age 30 or under as of Dec. 31, 2024, to qualify for the award.
This year's list of Thirty Under 30 College Award recipients includes women's and men's coaches who are rising leaders in the sport. These honorees work hard and are passionate about teaching, helping players reach their full potential, and growing the game at the collegiate level.
