Curtis Abram ’11: Building a Legacy on and off the Court

As we approach the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this October, Emmanuel College is highlighting the achievements of this year’s inductees.

In the weeks ahead, we will share profiles of the student-athletes, coaches, and supporters whose dedication, leadership, and excellence have left a lasting mark on Saints athletics.

When Curtis Abram arrived at Emmanuel College in 2007, the men’s volleyball program was still in its formative years—something he saw not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to build.

A native of San Luis Obispo, California, Abram was part of a bold strategy by Head Coach Chris Wright: recruit a wave of West Coast talent to establish Emmanuel’s men’s volleyball program from the ground up. “All but one or two of us ended up choosing Emmanuel,” he recalled. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

For Abram, Emmanuel offered more than playing time—it also offered academic flexibility, a close-knit community, and the unique advantage of studying in the heart of Boston. “From the start, I knew Emmanuel was a place where I could contribute and grow,” he said.

Crafting a Team Culture

Abram’s time on the court was defined as much by camaraderie and mentorship as by statistics. Alongside fellow recruits from California, Arizona, and beyond, he helped foster a culture of intensity, accountability, and relentless preparation. Olympic-style weightlifting sessions under former Athletic Trainer Ron Laham, rigorous practice schedules, and meticulous tracking of performance forged a competitive environment that elevated the program. “By junior and senior year, we were lifting, practicing, and doing workouts on top of our normal schedule,” Abram said. “We didn’t have time for much else—study, work out, sleep, repeat.”

The intensity of training was matched by a culture of competition. After Chris Wright’s left the program, his successor, Adam Martel, implemented what Abram describes as a “competitive cauldron,” where every statistic was tracked and playing time was earned purely on merit. “It fueled competition and pushed us further,” Abram said. “For me and the other outside hitter, Tyson Reitz '11, we were always battling for who could outperform the other.”

That competition sometimes created friction, but it drove the team to higher levels. Even the bench players, jokingly known as the “fun squad,” contributed vital energy. “The effort they gave in practice pushed the starters to be better. Guys like Sean O’Connor ’11 and Mike Mottola ’12 competed hard. The Fun Squad elevated the whole team and allowed us to excel as players, even if their names didn’t always show up on the stat sheet,” Abram said.

The intensity paid off. Emmanuel’s team gained national recognition, climbing the rankings to 11th in the country by Abram’s senior year. One notable match against Springfield College, the birthplace of volleyball, and then No. 1 ranked program in the nation, drew a crowd of West Coast families and cemented the program’s reputation. Despite a loss, the performance exemplified the grit and cohesion of a team built from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

A Record-Setting Career

Abram’s individual accomplishments reflect his leadership and skill. Over his four years, he appeared in 417 sets across 125 matches—both second-most in program history. He became one of just six men’s volleyball players at Emmanuel to surpass 1,000 career kills, ultimately setting the program record with 1,662. His 2,047 career points, earned through kills, aces, and blocks, remain nearly 400 more than the next closest Saint.

“Volleyball is a team sport and I’m fortunate to have been surrounded by amazing teammates,” Abram said. “Cameron Todd ’11, Tom McCaffrey ’12, Keoni Rabaino ’11, and Matt Salvi ’11 were dominant blockers and attackers from the middle and right side. Setter Nick Updike ’13 delivered dimes (and aces) all season, our libero and captain Jacob DeLuise ’11 was a consistent presence on defense, and Tyson Reitz – our other outside hitter – had an All-American level season offensively and defensively prior to an unfortunate injury.”

His senior season stands out as one of the best in program history. Named Emmanuel’s first male All-American —and the second in school history — by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), Abram ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division III: second in aces per set (0.83), fifth in kills per set (4.27), and ninth in hitting percentage (.342). He also held the NCAA record for most aces in a season across all divisions, until it was broken in 2025. Along the way, he earned All-Conference Second Team honors as a sophomore, GNAC First Team as a junior and senior, and capped his career as GNAC Player of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Andrew Yosinoff Senior Athletic Achievement Award.

Beyond statistics, Abram takes pride in having participated in a team that helped to transform men’s volleyball into a sport that drew spectators and fostered a campus-wide community. He also competed in track and field, setting a school record in the javelin, a reflection of both his athletic range and his competitive drive.

Academics and Beyond

Off the court, Abram’s commitment mirrored his athletic discipline. He double majored in business management and English communication and spent a transformative semester studying abroad in Barcelona. “I wasn’t a strong student until about junior year,” he said. “The structure of athletics taught me how to manage my time, be efficient, and push myself.” That foundation propelled him to law school at the University of San Diego on a full academic scholarship, and eventually to a career in commercial litigation before returning to San Luis Obispo as a partner at a boutique law firm specializing in estate planning and small business law.

Alongside his academic and athletic pursuits, Abram also sought practical experience that challenged him in new ways. In 2011, he became one of Emmanuel’s first social media interns, helping the College navigate the early days of Twitter, Instagram, and Foursquare. “Bryan Mahoney gave me a lot of freedom and guidance,” Abram recalled. “We even started a funny Twitter thread about the Emmanuel turkeys.”

Even as a practicing attorney, Abram continues to engage with volleyball, coaching youth teams, playing beach and indoor volleyball, and reflecting on the lessons learned from his collegiate experience. The same lessons of teamwork, accountability, and mentorship that shaped his playing days continue to inform his professional life and community involvement.

Hall of Fame Recognition

As Abram prepares for induction into the Emmanuel College Athletics Hall of Fame, he reflected on the significance of the honor. “It’s exciting and surreal,” he said. “Being part of this first wave of athletes means a lot. My hope is that what we built creates a foundation for the next 20, 30, 40 years of athletes to build on.”