Vanessa Abel Named Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach
2/9/2022 5:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Abel brings seven years of collegiate head coaching experience to the Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Head Women's Tennis Coach Jenny Hilt-Costello has announced the addition of Vanessa Abel as the team's assistant coach.
"I am excited to have Vanessa be part of the Beach Tennis program," said Hilt-Costello. "She has been a collegiate head coach and was a standout student-athlete during her playing days at Arizona.
"She will immediately bring an additional experienced dynamic to our young squad that features 7-of-8 freshmen this season."
Previously, Abel served as the head women's tennis coach at Cal Lutheran University for seven seasons before venturing into the business world. She compiled the second most wins by any coach in program history at Cal Lutheran.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the coaching staff at Long Beach State University," said Abel. "It is a great honor to work under head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello. I admire her work ethic, leadership skills, and her years of successful experience at the Division I level. I feel I have been given the opportunity to join the top team in the Big West. I can't wait to get started so that we can all work together to continue to excel both on and off the court. Go Beach!"
A nationally ranked junior player in the singles and doubles, Abel posted a top 10 singles win and playing No. 1 doubles during her freshman year at Baylor. After transferring to Arizona, Abel played No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles in her senior year and was team captain her final two seasons as a Wildcat. Her teams played in the NCAA tournament all four of her collegiate seasons.
Abel graduated from Arizona in 2001 with a degree in Accounting/Business and has since added an MBA in Organizational Leadership at Cal Lutheran.
In addition to her assistant coaching position, Abel is the Finance Manager for Cornerstone Church.
