Florida State University Athletics
NCAA Tournament Homecoming for Two Seminoles
11/30/2023 6:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Wednesday evening, the Florida State Volleyball team touched down in Fayetteville, Ark. for the first round of the NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Tournament. Head Coach Chris Poole and freshman setter Kenna Phelan have a personal connection to the host site at the University of Arkansas.
Poole is a native of Herber Springs in north-central Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1983 and earned a master's degree in 1989. Beginning as an assistant coach for two seasons, Poole helped ATU to a 58-9 record and perfect 24-0 in conference play (1983-84). He went on to become the head coach and led the team to a 53-20 record (1985-86).
Poole's next stop was at Arkansas State where he was the head coach for six seasons (1987-92), recording a 213-54 record. While at ASU they were American South Champions three times, Sun Belt Champions two times, and made the NCAA Tournament once during his tenure.
In 1993, Poole became the head coach of the University of Arkansas Volleyball team. He was tasked with creating the entire volleyball program. After taking a year to build the program, Arkansas Volleyball was set to make their presence felt in the SEC. In 14 seasons at Arkansas Poole had a 316-161 record, two AVCA All-Americans, three AVCA honorable mention All-Americans, 24 players with 44 All-SEC honors, three SEC Freshman of the Year winners, and 25 AVCA All-District/All-Region honorees. His impact went beyond the court having 67 SEC Academic Honor Roll Selections, 10 CoSIDE All-District selections, two H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete finalists and one McWhorter Award winner. The Razorbacks won the SEC Western Division 11 out of 14 seasons, had 11 postseason appearances, and won an SEC Tournament title while Poole was at the helm.
During his 21 seasons at Arkansas, Arkansas State, and Arkansas Tech, Coach Poole compiled a 550-230 career record. He was awarded conference coach of the year seven times and named South Region Coach of the Year in 1997. Poole will forever be a staple in the state of Arkansas for volleyball.
Poole's impactful coaching would eventually come full circle when his first legacy player, Kenna Phelan, joined the FSU Volleyball team this season. Kenna's mother, Jessica, was Poole's first AVCA All-American in 1997, leading the Arkansas Razorbacks to a SEC Tournament title, and being named a SEC Women's Legend. Kenna's father, Darin, was a Razorbacks tennis player and went on to become an assistant coach there for seven years prior to becoming the head tennis coach at Fayetteville High School. Kenna's brother, Tyler, currently runs cross country at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Jessica coached Kenna all four years at Fayetteville High School and won three-consecutive state championships. An exceptional player at Fayetteville, Kenna was a four-time all-state selection, Arkansas Gatorade player of the year in 2021 and 2022, MaxPreps.com First Team All-American, and
named state tournament MVP twice.
Kenna Phelan has gone above and beyond expectations during her freshman season as she was recently named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Her 578 assists and 5.07 assists per set rank second on the team. She has appeared in all 114 of Florida State's sets played, started eight matches, and played a major role in the Seminoles' pursuit of an ACC title.
It will be a weekend to remember for Poole and Phelan as they lead the Seminoles into a place they know all too well. Florida State will face TCU in the first round on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Fans can follow all the content from this season on the FSU Volleyball social media channels on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Poole is a native of Herber Springs in north-central Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1983 and earned a master's degree in 1989. Beginning as an assistant coach for two seasons, Poole helped ATU to a 58-9 record and perfect 24-0 in conference play (1983-84). He went on to become the head coach and led the team to a 53-20 record (1985-86).
Poole's next stop was at Arkansas State where he was the head coach for six seasons (1987-92), recording a 213-54 record. While at ASU they were American South Champions three times, Sun Belt Champions two times, and made the NCAA Tournament once during his tenure.
In 1993, Poole became the head coach of the University of Arkansas Volleyball team. He was tasked with creating the entire volleyball program. After taking a year to build the program, Arkansas Volleyball was set to make their presence felt in the SEC. In 14 seasons at Arkansas Poole had a 316-161 record, two AVCA All-Americans, three AVCA honorable mention All-Americans, 24 players with 44 All-SEC honors, three SEC Freshman of the Year winners, and 25 AVCA All-District/All-Region honorees. His impact went beyond the court having 67 SEC Academic Honor Roll Selections, 10 CoSIDE All-District selections, two H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete finalists and one McWhorter Award winner. The Razorbacks won the SEC Western Division 11 out of 14 seasons, had 11 postseason appearances, and won an SEC Tournament title while Poole was at the helm.
During his 21 seasons at Arkansas, Arkansas State, and Arkansas Tech, Coach Poole compiled a 550-230 career record. He was awarded conference coach of the year seven times and named South Region Coach of the Year in 1997. Poole will forever be a staple in the state of Arkansas for volleyball.
Poole's impactful coaching would eventually come full circle when his first legacy player, Kenna Phelan, joined the FSU Volleyball team this season. Kenna's mother, Jessica, was Poole's first AVCA All-American in 1997, leading the Arkansas Razorbacks to a SEC Tournament title, and being named a SEC Women's Legend. Kenna's father, Darin, was a Razorbacks tennis player and went on to become an assistant coach there for seven years prior to becoming the head tennis coach at Fayetteville High School. Kenna's brother, Tyler, currently runs cross country at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Jessica coached Kenna all four years at Fayetteville High School and won three-consecutive state championships. An exceptional player at Fayetteville, Kenna was a four-time all-state selection, Arkansas Gatorade player of the year in 2021 and 2022, MaxPreps.com First Team All-American, and
named state tournament MVP twice.
Kenna Phelan has gone above and beyond expectations during her freshman season as she was recently named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Her 578 assists and 5.07 assists per set rank second on the team. She has appeared in all 114 of Florida State's sets played, started eight matches, and played a major role in the Seminoles' pursuit of an ACC title.
It will be a weekend to remember for Poole and Phelan as they lead the Seminoles into a place they know all too well. Florida State will face TCU in the first round on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Fans can follow all the content from this season on the FSU Volleyball social media channels on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Setter
/ Women's VolleyballFSU Football | DL Jalen Anderson Post-Practice Media Availability
Tuesday, March 31
FSU Football | OL Nate Pabst Post-Practice Media Availability
Tuesday, March 31
FSU Football | HC Mike Norvell Post-Practice Media Availability
Tuesday, March 31
FSU Football | LB Omar Graham Jr. Post-Practice Media Availability
Monday, March 30