GCU Beach Volleyball Camps

Head Coach Abra Rummel

Abra Rummel is in her first year as Grand Canyon's beach volleyball head coach for the 2024 season, being named head coach in June 2023 after three years as an assistant coach for the nationally ranked Lopes.

Rummel has helped lead GCU to national prominence with the Lopes qualifying for back-to-back NCAA tournaments and ending in the nation's top 10 in all three of her seasons on staff. GCU ranked as high as No. 6 in 2023, a new program best.

"Words cannot express how excited I am to be the next head coach at GCU," Rummel said. "I am incredibly blessed to continue working with the amazing young women in this program and work towards the goal of all teams: a national championship.

"I'd like to thank President Brian Mueller and Jamie Boggs for this opportunity, and (former Lopes head coach) Kristen Rohr for giving me a chance to work with her these past few years. I am confident GCU will continue its rapid trajectory towards the top."

In her previous role as associate head coach on the Lopes staff, Rummel led many aspects of the program including training and scouting. She aided training sessions by compiling statistical reports and was a part of the program's recruiting efforts. GCU posted a 70-26 (.729) record in her three seasons as an assistant coach.

Rummel has an extensive volleyball background including playing and coaching experience at the club, high school, college, professional and national team levels.

Rummel also has experience leading a Division I program, spending five seasons as the head coach of the indoor women's volleyball program at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. She led the Terriers to program-best conference finishes in 2015 and 2018.

"We're excited to name Coach Rummel as our next beach volleyball head coach," Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. "She has been a vital part of the program's success the past three seasons, helping lead our team to program-best national rankings and postseason appearances. We are excited to continue building a program that represents GCU on the national stage and competes for national championships."

Rummel has served as a high-performance assistant coach and head coach for USA Volleyball, increasing responsibility each year since 2014. She has also served as the head Olympic qualification coach for Team England.

Rummel's experience on the club volleyball scene spans head coaching stops in Arizona, New Jersey and California. She was also the head volleyball coach at McClintock High School in Tempe and an assistant coach at Scottsdale Community College.

A decorated professional volleyball player, Rummel played in both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball professional tours from 2011 to 2015.

A graduate of Holy Names University in Oakland and Arizona State University, Rummel resides in Phoenix with her husband Henrik and children Oliver, Oskar and Sawyer.