Abbey Sutherland begins her fourth season with the Southern Miss volleyball program, her second as a full-time assistant. Sutherland's duties include on-the-floor coaching duties, recruiting, scouting and handling team travel.

Before becoming a full-time assistant, Sutherland served as a graduate assistant, while completing requirements for a master's degree in teaching languages, with a Spanish emphasis in 2006.

Prior to coming to Southern Miss, she was a standout setter at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wis., where she was a four-year letterwinner. She finished her career with 4,554 assists, 1,503 digs and 128 aces. Sutherland was a three-time first-team all-conference selection and a two-time conference player of the year. She twice received honorable-mention all-region honors.

Sutherland helped St. Norbert finish first in the Midwest Conference in 2002 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was voted her team's most valuable player as a junior and senior. She also received academic all-conference honors as well.

Sutherland prepped at West Bend High School in West Bend, Wis., where she was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball. She was a first-team all-county selection, second-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-state. She received the Coaches' and Hustle Awards. She played in the Wisconsin All-Star match and helped her team to three conference titles.

The West Bend, Wis., native received her bachelor's degree in Spanish and secondary education in 2004 from St. Norbert College.