NEW ORLEANS – The head coach Ashley Preston completed its coaching team for the 2021 season with the hiring of Bruno Chateau and Makenzi abelman who will both join the Privateers for their respective first seasons.

Chateau brings over a decade of coaching experience in the United States and internationally. He was last in Louisiana from 2019-2020. In their debut season with the Ragin ‘Cajuns, the team topped the Sun Belt in sets recoveries (17.88) and was third in opposing hitting percentage (0.186).

Prior to that, he spent four years as an assistant at Colorado College and Denver. In its two seasons at Colorado College, the team was 60-8. In Denver, he was on staff for the team’s run through the Summit League which resulted in a league title and a 27-3 record in 2018.

Chateau was also assistant to the French junior women’s volleyball team. He was also head coach at Villejuif Volleyball Club where he coached the men’s and women’s teams. He was also the director of the program.

“Bruno has over fifteen years of volleyball experience coaching diverse athletes and values ​​fostering diverse relationships across sport,” said Preston. “Bruno’s expertise in video and statistical analysis will help grow the volleyball program. He will work with bowling hitters and develop our blocking system.”

Makenzi abelman also joins the team after playing for Coach Preston at Cal State Fullerton. The Titans passer has 1,126 assists in 61 games. She became the 13^e Titan will record over 1,000 career assists.

The Las Vegas native transferred to St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY, where she completed her Masters in Management. Prior to his college days, Abelman was the first All-Conference and Academic All-State team at Durango HS.

“With Makenzi’s ability to be interpersonal and part of the Fullerton program’s culture shift in 2019, I’m so happy that she’s coaching our passer,” Preston said. “She will give the passer with offensive benchmarks on the bench and advice to the team on how to get the most out of their college experience.”

The Privateers will start their season on Friday August 27 against the UTRGV at 4 p.m.

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