Former Coastal Carolina standout Amy Bambenek is in her third season as head coach of the UNCW volleyball program.  

     The Seahawks enjoyed a successful inaugural campaign under Bambenek in 2009 as the team posted its highest win total since the 1996 season and its most CAA victories since the 2002 season. The team also captured its third in-season tournament title in as many seasons with a victory at the Davidson Wildcat Classic.

      The 2010 campaign saw the Seahawks post victories over in-state rivals Campbell, Elon and North Carolina A&T. Individually, three players earned All-Tournament Team honors a total of four times while five returning players set new personal career highs in more than 10 different statistical categories.

      Bambenek, 35, came to the Port City after eight seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at George Washington University, where she played a key role in the development of the Colonials program in the nation’s capital 

      Bambenek played four years for Coastal Carolina from 1995-98 and led Coastal to the Big South Conference championship and NCAA Tournament in 1996. A four-year starter at outside hitter and right-side hitter, she currently ranks fifth all-time in kills and total attacks, and third in aces for the Chanticleers.

      The Chillicothe, Ohio, native began her coaching career at Florida State in 1998, and helped the Seminoles capture the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference title and advance to the 1998 NCAA Tournament. She assisted with recruiting and coordinated team travel, game day operations, tournament scheduling and videotape exchange at FSU for three years as the Seminoles amassed a 54-45 record.

      Bambenek moved on to GW as an assistant coach in 2001 and assisted with all phases of Coach Jojit Coronel’s program. She served as the primary recruiting coordinator, assisted with daily practice plans, coordinated opponent and tournament scheduling, and managed fundraising efforts for the Colonials.

        GW posted a 19-11 overall record and 9-4 mark in the Atlantic-10 Conference in 2008, winning the A-10 East Division and earning the third seed in the A-10 Tournament. GW’s freshman setter, Alyssa Valentine, was named A-10 Rookie-of-the-Year, marking Bambenek’s second recruit to achieve the honor. Sophomore Leah Hill and senior Liz Moult earned Second-Team All-10 laurels and senior Maggie Wright was selected the A-10’s Student-Athlete of the Year.

      The Ohioan was inducted into the Chillicothe High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. She is CAP (Certified Coaches Program) Level 1 certified through USA Volleyball, and has coached the Chesapeake Regional USA High Performance juniors team in a national event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the summer of 2007.

      Bambenek earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from CCU in 1998 and completed her Master of Science Degree in Sport Administration from FSU in 2000.