San Antonio - Trinity volleyball Assistant Coach Aly Lilley has received a 2018 Thirty Under Thirty Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

The AVCA honors up-and-coming volleyball coaches who are younger than 30 years of age. Coach Lilley was one of only five coaches selected from NCAA Division III programs.

"I have to recognize the influence of so many amazing coaches and mentors and the opportunities given to me," said Coach Lilley, a 2009 Trinity graduate and former All-American. "I've been blessed to work with some amazingly talented student-athletes, who are also incredible people."

Coach Lilley has completed six seasons as an assistant with longtime Trinity Head Coach Julie Jenkins. Since Coach Lilley assumed her post in 2012, the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament on five occasions. Included in that run is Sweet 16 appearances in 2013 and 2014. Trinity also qualified for the NCAA event in 2017, finished the season with a 27-8 record and was ranked 11th in the final AVCA Poll.

There have been nine AVCA All-Americans since 2012, including three who were elected to the First Team. Coach Lilley has also coached 15 AVCA All-Region honorees. Trinity has competed in six Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship matches in the time period and captured three SCAC titles. Since the 2012 campaign, there have been 23 All-SCAC recipients, including a conference Player of the Year, one Backrow Player of the Year, and one Freshman of the Year.

Coach Lilley serves as the adviser to Trinity's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the 'voice of student-athletes on campus." The group participates in athletics policy discussions, conducts fund-raisers, and gives many hours of volunteer time to local organizations.

The versatile Coach Lilley was the interim director of Trinity's Intramurals and Club Sports programs from December 2009 to May 2010. She was director of volleyball operations and summer camps at Rice (TX) University from 2010-2011. Prior to returning to the Trinity campus, Coach Lilley was an assistant at Marietta (OH) College, a Division III institution. She has also coached the Bexar County Volleyball Club and the Texas Revolution Volleyball Club.

A native of Baytown, Texas, the former Aly Hazelwood was an outstanding middle blocker for the Tigers from 2006-2009. She was elected to the AVCA All-America Team in 2009, as well as the All-South Region Team. Coach Lilley was tabbed for the All-SCAC Team in 2007 and 2009 and played on three conference championship squads. She strongly contributed to the Tigers' 2006 and 2009 trips to the NCAA quarterfinals.

Coach Lilley was a member of Trinity's Dean's List and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2009 with a minor in religion.

"I want to win an NCAA Championship as an assistant, become a head coach, and win another national championship," said Coach Lilley, "I want to be a role model for young women and other working mothers. I want to help all of my players become positive role models for young women as well and to grow each year I spend with them."