Toledo, OH - Volleyball Head Coach Greg Smith completed the first half of his coaching staff on Monday when he announced the hiring of Abbey Szlanfucht (pronounced SHLON-foot) as an assistant coach for his program. She will work directly with the outside hitters and defensive specialists in addition to handling camps, film exchange and other day-to-day activities.

Szlanfucht comes to Toledo following a successful playing career at both the collegiate and professional level. She played two years professionally in Innsbruck, Austria before serving as a head coach this past year for West Iredell High School in Statesville, NC and the Race City Volleyball Club and Lake Norman Volleyball Club programs.

"I’m extremely pleased to have Abbey join our program and believe she will be a valuable asset for us," Smith said. "She possesses a dynamic personality and a tremendous love of the game. Her collegiate and professional playing experience will be extremely beneficial for our players. She will be able to teach them what it takes to play at a high level."

Szlanfucht played four years (2002-05) for the Charlotte 49ers and appears on numerous lists in the program’s record book. She is second in career points per set (4.00), third in career attacks (4,329) and fourth in career kills (1,496) and career digs (1,344). She is one of three players in school history to be ranked in the Top 10 in both career kills and digs and one of seven players to tally 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Szlanfucht was named Team MVP and served as team captain as both a junior and senior, earning all-tournament team accolades on three different occasions.

"I’m very anxious to join the Rocket volleyball program and feel privileged to be a part of an athletic department that displays a great deal of respect for their student-athletes," Szlanfucht said. "Working with a well-established coach like Greg is a great opportunity, and I’m confident he will guide the volleyball program to new heights. The potential we have is exciting, and I look forward to contributing to its success."

A native of Mishawaka, IN, Szlanfucht graduated with a degree in psychology in 2006 from UNC-Charlotte and also minored in sociology, Women’s studies and American studies.