Xavier University Athletics
Lainey Stephenson Named to AVCA Thirty Under 30
03.11.26 | Volleyball
Assistant coach Lainey Stephenson helped Xavier to a program-best 26-5 record in 2025.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Xavier volleyball assistant coach Lainey Stephenson was named to the 2026 class of AVCA Thirty Under 30 College honorees. Stephenson joined the volleyball staff in the spring of 2024.Â
The Thirty Under 30 program recognizes up-and-coming coaches in 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, 2025, to qualify for the award.
Stephenson was a part of Xavier's historic 2025 campaign where the Musketeers finished with a program-best 26-5 record. The Musketeers posted an 11-1 record in non conference play to open the season before tying a program-record 14 BIG EAST wins, earning the program's first No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Musketeers were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll.
XU made just their second all-time BIG EAST Championship match appearance after sweeping Villanova in the semifinals. The Musketeers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 8 seed in the Pittsburgh region for the program's third all-time appearance.
Stephenson helped coach four players to All-BIG EAST honors in the 2025 season including one unanimous selection. She was also honored as part of the 2025Â BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Musketeers to a 16-win improvement from 2024.
The Thirty Under 30 program recognizes up-and-coming coaches in 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, 2025, to qualify for the award.
Stephenson was a part of Xavier's historic 2025 campaign where the Musketeers finished with a program-best 26-5 record. The Musketeers posted an 11-1 record in non conference play to open the season before tying a program-record 14 BIG EAST wins, earning the program's first No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Musketeers were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll.
XU made just their second all-time BIG EAST Championship match appearance after sweeping Villanova in the semifinals. The Musketeers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 8 seed in the Pittsburgh region for the program's third all-time appearance.
Stephenson helped coach four players to All-BIG EAST honors in the 2025 season including one unanimous selection. She was also honored as part of the 2025Â BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Musketeers to a 16-win improvement from 2024.
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