Aug. 18, 2010

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis head volleyball coach Anne Kordes announced today that Jeannette Abbott has joined the Billiken coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2010 campaign.

"I recruited Jeannette when she was a junior in high school, and I have great admiration for her attitude, work ethic and competitiveness," Kordes said. "Jeannette is going to be a great mentor and coach who will apply the same passion to coaching that she had as a player. We are excited to add her to our staff."

Abbott, a Downers Grove, Ill., native, was a volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech during the 2009 season. She helped coordinate team travel, meals and summer camps in addition to training and mentoring the team's outside hitters and defensive specialists. Abbott also promoted the Hokie program through the use of Twitter and Facebook in addition to designing banners and other marketing materials.

A four-year starter at Clemson, Abbott garnered Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year honors in 2005 and was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Region Rookie of the Year. She went on to achieve AVCA All-America honorable mention status as a sophomore. In 2007, Abbott led the Tigers to the ACC title, an NCAA Tournament appearance and a No. 22 ranking in the final AVCA poll. The three-time All-Conference and AVCA All-Region pick helped Clemson return to the NCAA Tournament in 2008. She graduated as the Tigers' career leader in total attempts (5,425) and ranks among the top 10 in career kills (1,793). Abbott, who set Clemson's freshman standards for kills (515) and attempts (1,502), is one of only five players in program history to compile 500 kills, 1,000 digs and 200 blocks.

Prior to her collegiate career, Abbott helped her Sports Performance club team in Chicago seize the 2005 Junior Olympic 18 Open National Championship and the 2002, 2003 and 2005 AAU National Championships.

Abbott graduated from Clemson in May 2009 with a bachelor's degree in marketing.

Saint Louis Billikens Women's Volleyball

• VB: Billiken Invitational