GREEN BAY, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay volleyball program has hired UW-Stevens Point head volleyball coach Abbey Sutherland to the same position, the UWGB Athletics Department announced today (Feb. 27).  In joining UWGB, Sutherland returns to Division I volleyball where she began her coaching career.
 
"I would like to thank UW-Stevens Point and Pointers Athletics for an incredible five-year experience.  Pointers Volleyball student-athletes are first-class ladies and I am grateful for the relationships that I have built here.  I am proud of who these young women are as people, and this ultimately translates to why they have so much on-the-court success," stated Sutherland.
 
Sutherland has guided the Pointers volleyball program for the last five seasons to a 146-36 overall record.  She led the Pointers to two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season championships in her first two seasons at UWSP.  She won two WIAC Tournament titles 2013 and 2014 and her team reached the Final Four those two seasons.
 
"I would also like to thank Athletic Director Brad Duckworth for his support and for being an influential mentor in my career," continued Sutherland.  "The Pointers Athletics Staff is special, as evidenced by all of the recent excitement in Pointers Athletics, and I look forward to following all of the future successes."
 
During her tenure at UWSP, Sutherland coached 18 All-WIAC players, including two-time player of the year Alexis Hartman.  In 2016, she coach Bri Piepenbrok to a WIAC Defensive Player of the Year award.  Sutherland herself was twice named WIAC Coach of the Year while at UWSP.
 
"Abbey is a tremendous volleyball coach, leader, mentor, educator and all-around special person," said UWSP Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth.  "She has been a great asset to the Pointers volleyball program the last five seasons, setting a high standard for success on and off the court.  The entire athletic department wishes Abbey the best of luck, knowing she will do great things in Green Bay."
 
Prior to joining the Pointers, Sutherland was head coach at DI Southern Mississippi for three seasons following six as an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles.  Sutherland became one of just two coaches in Southern Miss volleyball history to record a winning season in her first season as head coach.
 
Sutherland played volleyball at St. Norbert, where she was a four-year letterwinner, two-time Midwest Conference Player of the Year and earned honorable mention all-region honors twice.
 
The West Bend, Wis., native received her bachelor's degree in Spanish and secondary education in 2004 from St. Norbert and a master's degree in teaching languages, with a Spanish emphasis, from Southern Mississippi in 2006.