Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Marshall on September 5, 2025 at 12 p.m.
12 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
vs. Marshall
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Women's Volleyball
Nelson, Fernanda
Fernanda Nelson
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- nelsonf@fau.edu
- Phone:
- 561-297-4652
Fernanda Nelson was named Florida Atlantic University's head volleyball coach on June 4, 2012, becoming the fifth head coach in program history.
Nelson has continued to elevate the program, helping lead the Owls to continued heights of success over her 14 seasons in Paradise, highlighted by 190 career wins, ranking second all-time in program history, and helping guide the Owls to a 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship appearance.
The Owls 2024 campaign was remarkable, finishing with 18 wins, including an incredible 12-3 home record. Nelson helped lead the Owls an impressive postseason run, guiding the team to its first AAC Championship appearance and earning a second-place finish. The Owls secured two postseason accolades with Victoria Hensley and Katelynn Robine being named AAC Second Team All-Conference honorees and Valeria Rosado and Robine being awarded AAC All-Tournament Team honors. During the season, the Owls were recognized with six AAC Player of the Week honors, with Hensley being named Setter of the Week twice, Natalie DePaula earning Freshman of the Week twice, and Kaila Ru and Madison Dyer earning Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, in addition to earning four AAC Honorable Mention honors. Rosado was also named one of five unanimous AAC Preseason All-Conference honorees.
2023 marked a huge year for the Owls and one of the best under coach Nelson. Florida Atlantic’s inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference was highlighted by the team’s seventh 20-win season in program history and the Owls’ fourth-ever postseason appearance with a berth in the NIVC. Coach Nelson helped coach the Owls to eight AAC Honor Roll awards and Florida Atlantic standout Valeria Rosado to AAC Second Team All-Conference honors and a AAC Defensive Player of the Week nod.
In 2022, Nelson led the Owls to a 13-win season in which the Owls earned championships at the Owls Paradise Classic and Dolphin Classic.
Nelson was instrumental in the Owls' efforts to navigate through the 2021 spring and fall seasons while the nation was working its way through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Owls like all teams throughout the country lost several players, who opted to forgo the 2020 season in an effort to protect themselves and their families.
During the 2019 season, Nelson led the Owls as they extended their home winning streak to 21, the second longest active streak in the nation at the time. Massiel Matos was named first team all-conference, while Sigourney Kame, Sydney Nemtuda and Zuri Smith made the second team. Smith was also named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. FAU swept Marshall in the first round of the CUSA tournament, its first conference tournament win since 2006. The Owls finished with a winning record for the sixth straight season.
Florida Atlantic truly turned the corner in 2018, as the Owls enjoyed their most successful season under Nelson, winning 21 matches and going 14-0 at home to extend their home winning streak to a school record 15. At the end of the season, Massiel Matos, Sigourney Kame and Ivone Martinez made the All-Conference First Team, while Abbi Reid made the Second Team. Matos, Kame and Martinez were also named AVCA All-Region. Martinez won CUSA Setter of the Year and led the nation in assists per set for the second year in a row. As a team, the Owls led the country in assists and kills per set.
The Owls made their fifth consecutive Conference USA Tournament in 2017 following an 18-8 regular season. Sigourney Kame was named to both the CUSA All-Academic Team and First Team All-Conference. Ivone Martinez and Abbi Reid both made the All CUSA Second Team and Sydney Nemtuda made the All-Freshman team. Martinez led the nation in assists per set at 12.81 and her total of 1,153 was the third best single season total in school history.
2016 continued the upward trend for the Owls. Maja Ristic was named first team All-Conference USA for the second season in a row. She was joined on the first team by teammate Abbi Reid and Sigourney Kame made the All-Freshman team. The Owls also made the CUSA tournament for the fourth year in a row.
2015 marked even more success for the Owls. They won 18 matches for the second season in a row, JC transfer Maja Ristic was named first team All Conference USA, despite missing the final seven matches with an injury. Brittney Brown was named Second Team All CUSA and Gabriela Martin made the All-Freshman team. The Owls also qualified for the conference tournament for the third season in a row.
Nelson's second season was highlighted by a win over in-state rival UCF and the team making the conference tournament for the first time in seven years. In her third season in 2014, the program won turned the corner, winning 18 matches, its highest win total since 2005. The team also won the season opening FAU Invitational and made the conference tournament for the second year in a row. Several Owls also achieved individual success, with Genesis Viera earning FAU Invitational MVP honors. Viera would also be named CUSA Setter of the Week later in the season. Katarina Stepanovic became the first Owl in almost eight years to earn a weekly conference award when she was named Defensive Player of the Week. At the end of the year, Stepanovic was named First Team All-CUSA while her classmate, junior middle blocker Brittney Brown made the Second Team.
In her first season at FAU, Nelson recorded her first career victory in a five-set win over Stetson. The Owls more than doubled their win total from the previous year, while in the process snapping a conference losing streak that had lasted almost two years. She also led the team to a victory over a Big East opponent (Villanova) at the Arizona State University Sheraton Invitational.
Prior to arriving in Paradise, Nelson served as an assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast University for four seasons. The position at FGCU came after eight years as both a player and a coach at National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nelson arrived at NAU in 2000 and earned second-team NAIA All-American honors as a freshman. She was National Player of the Year as both a sophomore and a senior and led NAU to a national championship as a junior. Nelson ended her career as a three-time All-American selection. She was named to the NAU coaching staff immediately following the conclusion of her playing career. While an assistant, NAU won four straight regional championships and the 2006 NAIA National Championship.
Nelson has continued to elevate the program, helping lead the Owls to continued heights of success over her 14 seasons in Paradise, highlighted by 190 career wins, ranking second all-time in program history, and helping guide the Owls to a 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship appearance.
The Owls 2024 campaign was remarkable, finishing with 18 wins, including an incredible 12-3 home record. Nelson helped lead the Owls an impressive postseason run, guiding the team to its first AAC Championship appearance and earning a second-place finish. The Owls secured two postseason accolades with Victoria Hensley and Katelynn Robine being named AAC Second Team All-Conference honorees and Valeria Rosado and Robine being awarded AAC All-Tournament Team honors. During the season, the Owls were recognized with six AAC Player of the Week honors, with Hensley being named Setter of the Week twice, Natalie DePaula earning Freshman of the Week twice, and Kaila Ru and Madison Dyer earning Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, in addition to earning four AAC Honorable Mention honors. Rosado was also named one of five unanimous AAC Preseason All-Conference honorees.
2023 marked a huge year for the Owls and one of the best under coach Nelson. Florida Atlantic’s inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference was highlighted by the team’s seventh 20-win season in program history and the Owls’ fourth-ever postseason appearance with a berth in the NIVC. Coach Nelson helped coach the Owls to eight AAC Honor Roll awards and Florida Atlantic standout Valeria Rosado to AAC Second Team All-Conference honors and a AAC Defensive Player of the Week nod.
In 2022, Nelson led the Owls to a 13-win season in which the Owls earned championships at the Owls Paradise Classic and Dolphin Classic.
Nelson was instrumental in the Owls' efforts to navigate through the 2021 spring and fall seasons while the nation was working its way through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Owls like all teams throughout the country lost several players, who opted to forgo the 2020 season in an effort to protect themselves and their families.
During the 2019 season, Nelson led the Owls as they extended their home winning streak to 21, the second longest active streak in the nation at the time. Massiel Matos was named first team all-conference, while Sigourney Kame, Sydney Nemtuda and Zuri Smith made the second team. Smith was also named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. FAU swept Marshall in the first round of the CUSA tournament, its first conference tournament win since 2006. The Owls finished with a winning record for the sixth straight season.
Florida Atlantic truly turned the corner in 2018, as the Owls enjoyed their most successful season under Nelson, winning 21 matches and going 14-0 at home to extend their home winning streak to a school record 15. At the end of the season, Massiel Matos, Sigourney Kame and Ivone Martinez made the All-Conference First Team, while Abbi Reid made the Second Team. Matos, Kame and Martinez were also named AVCA All-Region. Martinez won CUSA Setter of the Year and led the nation in assists per set for the second year in a row. As a team, the Owls led the country in assists and kills per set.
The Owls made their fifth consecutive Conference USA Tournament in 2017 following an 18-8 regular season. Sigourney Kame was named to both the CUSA All-Academic Team and First Team All-Conference. Ivone Martinez and Abbi Reid both made the All CUSA Second Team and Sydney Nemtuda made the All-Freshman team. Martinez led the nation in assists per set at 12.81 and her total of 1,153 was the third best single season total in school history.
2016 continued the upward trend for the Owls. Maja Ristic was named first team All-Conference USA for the second season in a row. She was joined on the first team by teammate Abbi Reid and Sigourney Kame made the All-Freshman team. The Owls also made the CUSA tournament for the fourth year in a row.
2015 marked even more success for the Owls. They won 18 matches for the second season in a row, JC transfer Maja Ristic was named first team All Conference USA, despite missing the final seven matches with an injury. Brittney Brown was named Second Team All CUSA and Gabriela Martin made the All-Freshman team. The Owls also qualified for the conference tournament for the third season in a row.
Nelson's second season was highlighted by a win over in-state rival UCF and the team making the conference tournament for the first time in seven years. In her third season in 2014, the program won turned the corner, winning 18 matches, its highest win total since 2005. The team also won the season opening FAU Invitational and made the conference tournament for the second year in a row. Several Owls also achieved individual success, with Genesis Viera earning FAU Invitational MVP honors. Viera would also be named CUSA Setter of the Week later in the season. Katarina Stepanovic became the first Owl in almost eight years to earn a weekly conference award when she was named Defensive Player of the Week. At the end of the year, Stepanovic was named First Team All-CUSA while her classmate, junior middle blocker Brittney Brown made the Second Team.
In her first season at FAU, Nelson recorded her first career victory in a five-set win over Stetson. The Owls more than doubled their win total from the previous year, while in the process snapping a conference losing streak that had lasted almost two years. She also led the team to a victory over a Big East opponent (Villanova) at the Arizona State University Sheraton Invitational.
Prior to arriving in Paradise, Nelson served as an assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast University for four seasons. The position at FGCU came after eight years as both a player and a coach at National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nelson arrived at NAU in 2000 and earned second-team NAIA All-American honors as a freshman. She was National Player of the Year as both a sophomore and a senior and led NAU to a national championship as a junior. Nelson ended her career as a three-time All-American selection. She was named to the NAU coaching staff immediately following the conclusion of her playing career. While an assistant, NAU won four straight regional championships and the 2006 NAIA National Championship.
Nelson's Coaching Record
| Season | School | Record | Accomplishments |
| 2012 | Florida Atlantic | 7-19 (.269) | |
| 2013 | Florida Atlantic | 13-17 (.433) | |
| 2014 | Florida Atlantic | 18-12 (.600) | |
| 2015 | Florida Atlantic | 18-11 (.621) | |
| 2016 | Florida Atlantic | 15-14 (.517) | |
| 2017 | Florida Atlantic | 18-9 (.667) | |
| 2018 | Florida Atlantic | 21-7 (.750) | |
| 2019 | Florida Atlantic | 16-11 (.593) | |
| 2020 | Florida Atlantic | 2-12 (.143) | |
| 2021 | Florida Atlantic | 11-14 (.440) | |
| 2022 | Florida Atlantic | 13-13 (.500) | |
| 2023 | Florida Atlantic | 20-13 (.606) | NIVC first round |
| 2024 | Florida Atlantic | 18-13 (.581) | AAC Championship runner-up |
| Total | 13 seasons | 190-165 (.535) |
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