Angie Akers

Birthdate: June 30, 1976

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.

Resides: Redondo Beach, Calif.

Height: 6’ 0"

College: Notre Dame

Website:www.angieakers.com

Facebook: facebook.com/AngieAkersProBeach

Twitter: twitter.com/AngieAkers

 

 

BEST FINISH / WINNINGS

Domestic: 2^nd (2 times) $273,677.50

International: 2^nd (2 times) $166,650.00

Overall: 2^nd (4 times) $440,327.50

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

A beach volleyball veteran entering her 12th season as a professional, Angie Akers burst on to the AVP circuit in 2002 and finished fifth in back-to-back tournaments with partner Jenny Pavley, earning her AVP Rookie of the Year honors in her first season. Prior to the 2005 season, Akers spent one month playing professionally in Australia, winning two events with Australian Olympic Gold Medalist, Kerri Pottharst. 

In 2007, Akers partnered with Brooke Niles Hanson. The pair represented the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Brazil, where they finished 5th. Following that event, the duo advanced to three AVP semifinals, including their first championship match in Chicago. They finished the season with a 3rd in Cincinnati and a 4th in San Francisco in the last two team events. Akers was 3rd in hitting percentage (.473).  Placing 5th or better in 7 events, the pair ended the season as the 7th ranked team on the Tour.  

In 2008, Akers teamed up with Holly McPeak and finished fifth or higher in 12 tournaments, including competing in three semifinals. Akers ended the season as the 11th-ranked player on the Tour and participated in the individual event in Glendale. She ranked in the top-ten in several categories including hitting percentage (.443), blocks per set (.74) and kills per set (6.79).

In 2009, Akers began her partnership with Tyra Turner. They made three semifinals on the AVP Tour and four semifinals on the FIVB Tour, including a bronze and silver medal in the last two events of the season. Akers was named the 2009 FIVB Rookie of the Year and she and Turner finished the season ranked 5th in the world.

Akers began the 2010 AVP season by competing in her 100th AVP event as she and Turner advanced to the finals at Fort Lauderdale, losing in the championship to Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh. The next month, Akers and Turner won a silver medal in Seoul, marking the second FIVB finals appearance for Akers.  They made every semi-final on the AVP tour except one that season and won another bronze medal in The Hague, Netherlands on the FIVB tour. They finished the season ranked 7th in the world. 

In 2011, Akers teamed up with Nicole Branagh. The two had a series of big wins against the best teams in the world including all three London Olympic medal winners: May-Treanor/Walsh in Beijing, Juliana/Larissa in Klagenfurt and Kessy/Ross in Sanya. Despite these major wins, their best finish as a team was 5th place in Sanya. They finished the season ranked 16th in the world.

In 2012, Akers was an alternate for the Olympics and focused on competing overseas on the FIVB tour. She partnered with Brittany Hochevar. They struggled through country quotas and qualifiers most of the season before ending with three straight main draw appearances. They then returned home to compete in both AVP events, finishing 7th in Cincinnati and 10th at the AVP Championships in Santa Barbara. 

Akers, formally known as Angie Harris, is originally from Fort Wayne, Ind. and attended the University of Notre Dame where she graduated with a BA in Sociology. She left there as the all-time career leader in both aces and kills and was a three-time All-Conference and All-District selection. Akers was also named the team MVP her senior year. Akers enjoys working out, cooking, and eating healthy even when she’s not in season and in 2001, she completed the Boston Marathon in three hours and 23 minutes. Akers currently resides in Redondo Beach, Calif. with her husband, Jeremy, a former professional football player.