Rachel Bello was hired as an assistant coach of the New York University women’s volleyball team in March 2018. Her responsibilities with the Violets include scouting opponents, setter and pin hitter training, as well as other program development within the team.
The Violets posted a 22-13 record in 2024 and qualified for the postseason, securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and advancing to the second round. The season ended with a 3-1 loss to MIT after a 3-1 win over William Smith College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Individually, Grace Nelson, Taylor Odum and Yooni Park were all named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American, while freshman Chloe Hines was selected University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year. Nelson was also a First Team All-UAA honoree.
The 2023 season was one of continued success for the Violets as NYU posted an overall 33-5 record, advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second year in a row and won the UAA Championship. The Violets posted a 17-match win streak before falling to Juanita College in the Final Four.
The Violets, who finished the season ranked #4 by the AVCA, led NCAA Division III in total blocks (341), was second in blocks per set (2.62), sixth in kills (1,655), seventh in assists (1,538), 10th in services aces (325), and 11th in hitting percentage (0.248).
Team members garnered numerous honors both on and off the court with three Violets earning AVCA All-America honors. Haley Holz and Lindsey Hirano earned First Team accolades while Nelson was selected Second Team. The UAA also honored the trio: Hirano (First Team), Holz (Second Team) and Nelson (Second Team and Rookie of the Year).
The 2022 season was a monumental one as the Violets posted a 29-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2004. NYU won three Tournament matches before falling to Trinity University (TX) in the Final Four.
The Violets were ranked #4 in the final poll of the season released by the AVC), and AVCA All-American honors were garnered by three players: Haley Holz (First Team), Lindsey Hirano (Second Team) and Leela Anvekar (Third Team). Holz and Hirano were also named All-UAA First Team, while Anvekar and Gabriella Spaethling were named Second Team.
As a team, the Violets finished second in NCAA Division III in total assists (1,629), third in total kills (1,759), sixth in total attacks (4,838), 10th in total blocks (251.0), 15th in total digs (2,179), and 16th in hitting percentage (.237).
The 2021 season was one of the most outstanding in team annals, as the Violets went 28-2, won their first-ever UAA Championship, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the Hoboken Regional final.
The campaign, which ended with a #11 national ranking from the AVCA, saw the coaches and student-athletes receive numerous awards. NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors and Abby Ausmus was selected UAA Most Valuable Player. Holz and Spaethling received First Team All-UAA accolades, while Hirano was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Rookie of the Year and UAA Freshman of the Year. Ausmus and Holz both received All-ECAC honors, while AVCA All-America accolades were also bestowed upon the foursome: Ausmus (First Team), Holz (Second Team), Spaethling and Hirano (Honorable Mention).
As a team, the Violets finished 5th in NCAA Division III in winning percentage (.933) and hitting percentage (.272), 11th in blocks per set (2.22), 12th in assists per set (12.53), 14th in total blocks (231), and 20th in kills per set (13.3) and opponent hitting percentage (.102).
The Violets were also successful off the court in ’21-22, as 13 team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors.
NYU did not compete during the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, 10 team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors and the Violets received the AVCA All-Academic Team Award (Honor Roll).
In 2019, Bello helped guide the Violets to a 28-8 record, the team’s most victories since 2013. Included in the team’s success was the ECAC Division III Championship, as well as titles at the Kean Invitational and the New York Region Challenge.
Also in 2019, NYU led all of NCAA Division III with 2.57 blocks per set.
Individually, several NYU players were recognized for their on-court accomplishments. Holz was selected AVCA All-New York Region Freshman of the Year and All-AVCA Honorable Mention. Ausmus was named AVCA All-New York Region and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, while both received All-UAA Honorable Mention and ECAC All-Tournament honors. Nicole Dao was selected ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player, while both Jacqueline Kupeli and Gretchen Kincade also received All-UAA Honorable Mention.
In Bello’s first season with the team, the Violets posted a 22-16 overall record. NYU earned a postseason berth and won all four matches en route to capturing the ECAC Championship.
Many players earned accolades that season. Ausmus was selected ECAC Rookie of the Month (October), ECAC Championship Most Valuable Player and Second Team All-UAA. Ausmus, along with Kupeli and Maddie DeJong, were also named to the ECAC Championship All-Tournament Team while Nazzarine Waldon was selected Honorable Mention All-UAA. Kincade was selected the Knights Invitational Most Valuable Player, while Waldon was named to the NY Region Challenge All-Tournament Team.
Bello joined NYU with a great deal of coaching experience.
Since 2007 (except for the 2011-12 season), Bello has served as Head Coach of the DIGS Volleyball Club in New Milford, NJ, where she is responsible for planning and conducting practices, orchestrating team strategy and developing the players’ mental and physical preparation for games. In 2022, she was also named Director of the club.
Bello has also coached on the collegiate level, serving as an assistant at her alma mater, NCAA Division I University of Rhode Island, during the 2007 season.
A 2007 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, Bello was a four-year member of the Rams’ volleyball team. She served as captain for two seasons and totaled 921 kills during her career. Bello also earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in January 2019 and a Master of Education in Educational School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri in 2021.
Bello, who also coached and played one season (2011-12) professionally for the TSV Hartberg Volleyball Club in Hartberg, Austria, has coached at numerous volleyball camps and served as the Director of Volleyball for the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ.
A native of Franklin Lakes, Bello resides in Hoboken, NJ.
