Although junior libero Abbey Queen didn’t get her start at Ashland, she sure has made an impact since transferring here.  

Since transferring to AU at the start of her sophomore year, she has set a record for the most single season digs in AU history with 624. She also earned first-team All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. She had 74 assists and 18 services aces in her first year as an Eagle, and G-MAC Academic All-conference as well.  

“I was honestly really proud of her,” says head coach Katie Kuhn, “But it was one of those things too, where she wasn’t going for that. She was just doing her job, and she was really doing it well and she got to reap the benefits of it.” 

Although the stats are great, Queen is more focused on the relationships she builds than the numbers she puts up. “I definitely [would] say the culture on the team… here we really want to make sure that everyone feels included and everyone loves each other… that’s just what’s different [here] than every other school I’ve seen,” says Queen.  

The Eagles brought in five freshmen, leaving 13 returners to show them the ropes. Queen has made a goal for herself to become one of those leaders who helps them. “Last year coming in here, I was definitely newer and didn’t know what to expect, but this year I want to help lead the team and be someone who my teammates can go to if they need anything,” says Queen.  

“I think her role is… definitely a leader in our back court, but she also is our goofy, fun loving [girl]. She makes everyone feel very welcome and she brings everyone in.” says Coach Kuhn. Coach Kuhn is in her third year at Ashland and recruited Queen from the transfer portal to join the Eagles at AU.  

“I think she came right in and hit the ground running,” said Coach Kuhn, “I think for her, it was also an adjustment, though, too. She had to find out who Abbey Queen was going to be at Ashland, and what she wanted her legacy or what she wanted her role to be.” 

Abbey sure did find her footing once she got here. Not only is she a leader on the court, but she is a huddle leader as well.  

As a leader though, she looks to her mom for guidance and support in times of need. “My biggest inspiration is my mom, because she has been there for me since the very beginning,” says Queen. “She has been my rock through all my years in sports… No matter what I’m going through, she encourages me to make volleyball more than just a game by using it to grow my faith and become strong and independent.” 

Queen’s volleyball career didn’t start on the court right away though. “My sister and I used to play lacrosse,” says Queen, “thinking that was what we were going to go to college for, but some of our lacrosse teammates started playing volleyball, where they brought a ball and played before our practices, so my sister [and I] joined in with them, and then we started doing camps and eventually got into club volleyball.” 

You can follow along with Queen’s season at goashlandeagles.com.