Get to know the Lees-McRae Coaches: Abigail King (Women's Volleyball)

BANNER ELK, N.C. - Throughout the summer, Lees-McRae College will be conducting interviews with a few members of our coaching staff in a summer series we have entitled “Get to know the Lees-McRae Coaches". Each week, a different head coach will sit down with Director of Sports Information Patrick Smith to answer some questions as a way to get to know them outside of their field of competition. This week features Head Women's Volleyball Abigail King.

King, who was named the head coach of the women's volleyball program on June 25, spent her first season in Banner Elk as an assistant coach for former Head Men's and Women's Volleyball Coach Caitlin Bullock. Within Coach King's first year on the coaching staff, the men's volleyball team earned a spot in the Conference Carolinas postseason tournament, while the women's team was in contention for a spot in the playoffs before having their season cut short due to Covid. Under Coach Bullock and Coach King's leadership, Carlee Allbaugh was named the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, while both Allbaugh and senior Caitlyn Smirne garnered All-Conference Carolinas honors. In addition, multiple student-athletes earned both Academic All-Conference and the prestigious Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll honors for their success in the classroom. 

• What is your alma mater? - Columbus State University (first two years), Mars Hill University (last two years)
• Where were you born? - Rochester Hills, Michigan
• What is on your playlist? - Florida Georgia Line, Bruno Mars, and anyone else who makes good music. It is all over the place
• What book are you currently reading? - Honestly, I am not a big reader
• What is the last series you binge-watched on a streaming service? - The Office, Friends, Parks & Rec
• If you could trade places with someone for one day, who would it be? - Karch Kiraly, I would love to see into his mind for a day and grasp some of his knowledge for the game of volleyball, as well as being able to coach and be around the best athletes of the sport
• What do you have a sweet tooth for? - Everything and anything…it is bad
• What is currently on the walls of your office? - Pictures of my family, varsity letters, an empty picture frame for my first win as a head coach
• What is your first job? - Club Volleyball Coach at Tsunami Columbus in Columbus, Georgia
• What is your favorite place to visit? - My home in Michigan where my family and three nieces are
• What is one thing that you enjoy most about gameday? - Being able to see all of the hard work that has been put into practice show up on the court, learning what needs to be done to improve more, and the atmosphere of gameday. It is where everyone can be their most competitive…including me
• What is your favorite traits that you value in others? - Work-ethic - I am giving 110% into everything, so I look for that in others; Family-Oriented - My team is my family, I treat everyone like an extended part of my family, a family environment is the best one to be in; Dedicated - Goal-driven and will settle for nothing less than those goals