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AVCA Announces 2014 AVCA Division III All-Region Teams and Region Coaches of the Year
LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 13, 2014) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to
announce the 2014 AVCA Division III All-Region Teams and Region Coaches of the Year (scroll to bottom
for Region Coaches of the Year):
Central Region
First Name
Caroline
Kelly
Jill
Mackenzie
Kalehua
Taya
Courtney
Jackie
Colleen
Ashley
Lexi
Rachel
Alyssa
Bailey
Last Name
Dupont**
Foley****
Greenfield**
Harbaugh
Katagiri
Kockelman***
Lemke
Nelligan**
Ourada**
Peper**
Rinde**
Schaefer
Stanek
Wilson**
School
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Thomas (MN)
St. Thomas (MN)
Coe
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Benedict (MN)
Augsburg
Washington University in St. Louis
Augsburg
Augsburg
St. Benedict (MN)
Coe
Nebraska Wesleyan
Wartburg
Position
MB
MB
OH
S
L
S
S
MB
OH
RS
RS
OH
MB
MB
Year
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Maddie
Camille
Lindsey
Tess
Jade
Allison
Last Name
Bardole
Benson
Peterson
Rountree
Schaap
Zastrow
School
Buena Vista
Carleton
Northwestern (MN)
Principia
Buena Vista
Washington University in St. Louis
Region Freshman of the Year: Jade Schaap, Buena Vista, OH
(cont.)
Position
OH
L
OH
OH
OH
RS
Year
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Great Lakes Region
First Name
Lindsay
Emily
Laura
Jenna
Lauren
Emily
Maggie
Jenna
Lauren
Sarah
Faith
Kara
Nicole
Amy
Last Name
Brewer
Crowe**
Danhoff
Grasmeyer****
Hazekamp**
Kahlig
Kamp**
Lodewyk
Mastroine
Parker
Rolwes
Seidenstricker***
Snyder***
VanderStoep**
School
Hiram
Calvin
Calvin
Hope
Hope
Wittenberg
Calvin
Calvin
Mount Union
Heidelberg
DePauw
Wittenberg
Mount Union
Hope
Position
OH
MH
MH
OH
S
MH
OH
S
L
MB
S
OH
OH
OH
Year
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
School
Calvin
Hope
Denison
DePauw
Wittenberg
DePauw
Position
L
OH
L
L
S
MB
Year
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Elise
Anna
Emily
Keely
Meghan
Elisabeth
Last Name
Biesboer
Lynch
Marguerite
McGrath
Vodopich
Wilson
Region Freshman of the Year: Jenna Lodewyk, Calvin, S
Mid-Atlantic Region
First Name
Julie
Kelsey
Rylie
Megan
Kacey
Samantha
Katrina
Erika
Annika
Lauren
Jane
Lisa
Greta
Hannah
Last Name
Blessing
D'Imperio
Haas**
Milller
Musselman
Perillo***
Pisch***
Schlager**
Schwartz
Sproles
Underman
Wallitsch
Weidemoyer
Zuchowski
School
DeSales
Neumann
Eastern
Stevenson
Lebanon Valley
Stevenson
Eastern
Eastern
Stevenson
Eastern
Messiah
DeSales
Lebanon Valley
Keystone
Position
OH
MB
L
MB
S
L
MB
S
OH
OH
OH
S
OH
OH
Year
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
So.
So.
So.
(cont.)
Honorable Mention
First Name
Catherine
Taylor
Bethany
Amanda
Logan
Kat
Last Name
Burger
McMillen
Richardson
Wallitsch
Wieziolowski
Wolf
School
Lycoming
Pitt-Bradford
Lycoming
DeSales
DeSales
Neumann
Position
S
RS
MB
L
MB
S
Year
Fr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
Region Freshman of the Year: Annika Schwartz, Stevenson, OH
Midwest Region
First Name
Emma
Last Name
Brunkhorst**
School
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Position
MB
Year
Jr.
Karen
Taylor
Chin
Dicus
Carthage
Cornell (IA)
S
MB
Jr.
Sr.
Ariel
Alexis
Feiertag**
Hartman***
Wisconsin-Whitewater
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
RS
S
Sr.
Sr.
Emily
Audrey
Heuermann
Krajec***
Carthage
Millikin
OH
OH
Jr.
Sr.
Maren
Katelyn
Loe
Malcheski
Chicago
Wisconsin-Osh Kosh
OH
OH
Jr.
Jr.
Melissa
Kelsey
Nava
Nobilio**
Elmhurst
Wisconsin-Whitewater
MB
L
Jr.
Sr.
Kristen
Sam
Ruchti
Szarmach**
Wisconsin-Whitewater
Elmhurst
MB
OH
Sr.
Sr.
Kylea
Weber**
Cornell (IA)
L
Sr.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Last Name
School
Position
Year
Jade
Kimberly
Becker
Frei
Millikin
Wisconsin-Whitewater
MB
S
Sr.
Sr.
Hannah
Jackie
Nimrick
Pavilonis
Elmhurst
Elmhurst
S
MB
So.
Sr.
Lauren
Christina
Pfeifer
Wilson
Wisconsin-Whitewater
Dominican
OH
S
So.
Jr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Ashley Jehlicka, Concordia (WI), S
(cont.)
New England Region
First Name
Jenny
Kristen
Sydney
Alli
Ashley
Elizabeth
Nicole
Megan
Michelle
Lauren
Grace
Kelsey
Brittany
Deirdre
Last Name
Astrachan
Boyer
Carfagno****
Davanzo
Dumont
Flaherty**
Gagnier
Gebhard
Hernandez
Holt**
Kucharski**
McGayhey**
McMullen
Wilson
School
MIT
Roger Williams
Wellesley
MIT
United States Coast Guard
Roger Williams
MIT
MIT
United States Coast Guard
Springfield
Western New England
Springfield
Roger Williams
Wheaton (MA)
Position
OH
OH
OH
MB
MB
OH
S
OH
S
MB
L
RS
MB
OH
Year
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
School
Western New England
Worcester State
Western New England
Wellesley
Endicott
MIT
Position
OH
OH
MB
MB
L
L
Year
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Kasey
Alyssa
Olivia
Caitlin
Erika
Tori
Last Name
Cameron
Jasper
Lathrop
Laughlin
Trudon
Wuthrich
Region Freshman of the Year: Alli Davanzo, MIT, MB
New York Region
First Name
Aishvina
Maria
Lexi
Shannon
Cristina
MaTia
Larysa
Victoria
Katherine
Macy
Kirstie
Sarah
Adrienne
Madi
Last Name
Arasu**
Allocco***
Brown
Clark
Deschaine
Hughes
Iwaskiw
Kirkemo
Moeller
Schwartz
Shurie
Szybist**
Walker
Wickens
School
Clarkson
Nazareth
St. Lawrence
Richard Stockton (NJ)
St. Lawrence
New York University
Ramapo
Clarkson
Union (NY)
Richard Stockton (NJ)
Clarkson
RIT
Clarkson
Nazareth
Position
OH
MB
OH
S
MB
L
OH
OH
L
MB
S
OH
MB
S
Year
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
So.
(cont.)
Honorable Mention
First Name
Kassandra
Kassandra
Morgan
Helen
Lindsay
Idi
Last Name
Buseck
Hernandez
Mende
Putriment
Schuele
Uffen
School
Nazareth
Kean
Rowan
Sage Colleges
Richard Stockton (NJ)
Richard Stockton (NJ)
Position
RS
OH
MB
OH
RS
MB
Year
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Region Freshman of the Year: Larysa Iwaskiw, Ramapo, OH
North Region
First Name
Katherine
Kelsey
Rachel
Julia
Ellie
Eliza
Nakita
Amelia
Hannah
Meg
Kelly
Sarah
Katie
Briana
Last Name
Boll
Castiglioni
Conway
Crilly
Ezekiel
Fisher
Gearhart**
Kepler**
Miller
O'Day
Reynolds**
Wallace
Stouffer
Sutton
School
Muhlenberg
Thomas More
Christopher Newport
Scranton
Franklin & Marshall
Christopher Newport
Juniata
Juniata
Christopher Newport
Haverford
Juniata
Swarthmore
Salisbury
Christopher Newport
Position
MB
L
S
OH
OH
RS
MB
OH
MB
MB
S
OH
OH
OH
Year
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
So.
So.
School
Thomas More
Carnegie Mellon
Franklin & Marshall
Christopher Newport
Bethany (WV)
Juniata
Position
S
OH
S
OH
OH
MB
Year
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Fr.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Jenna
Heather
Caroline
Maddie
Dakota
Megan
Last Name
Fessler
Holton
Hubbard
McCann
McKenzie
Moroney
Region Freshman of the Year: Sarah Wallace, Swarthmore, OH
(cont.)
Northeast Region
First Name
Becca
Jessica
Ryan
Kali
Kate
Elizabeth
Katy
Hayley
Tori
Christy
Isabel
Quincy
Julia
Laura
Last Name
Borquist**
DiChristopher
Farley**
Frowick
Giddens
Glavan
Herbst
Hopper
Jasuta**
Jewett**
Kuhel
Leech
Murphy
Smolinski
School
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Fredonia
Williams
Gallaudet
Trinity (CT)
UMass Boston
SUNY New Paltz
Tufts
Williams
Bowdoin
Tufts
Bowdoin
UMass Boston
Colby-Sawyer
Position
OH
MB
S
OH
MB
L
L
OH
OH
OH
MB
S
MB
S
Year
Jr.
Jr
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Jr.
School
Hamilton
Bowdoin
SUNY Cortland
Williams
Bowdoin
SUNY New Paltz
Position
L
L
MB
MB
MB
S
Year
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Anna
Katie
Mary
Raea
Erika
Maddie
Last Name
Brown
Doherty
Kelly
Rasmussen
Sklaver
Zwickl
Region Freshman of the Year: Maddie Zwickl, SUNY New Paltz, S
South Region
First Name
Nicole
Kate
Beth
Jessica
Leah
Karlie
Courtney
Sarah
Sydney
Katie
Mary Caroline
Mackenzie
Hannah
Jordan
Last Name
Barringer
Bowman**
Cecil
Holler**
Jacobs
Long
Lowers
Maher
Miles***
O'Rourke
Rogers
Shand
Shields
Templin
School
Averett
Emory
Centre
Emory
Emory
Meredith
Randolph-Macon
Emory
Emory
Berry
Hendrix
Washington & Lee
Averett
Randolph
Position
S
L
OH
MB
OH
OH
OH
RS
S
MB
OH
OH
OH
OH
Year
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
(cont.)
Honorable Mention
First Name
Lynsie
Tiffany
Megann
Katie
Caroline
Lauren
Last Name
Byrd
Barrett
Grimes
McCormack
McKey
Petrisin
School
Birmingham Southern
Virginia Wesleyan
Bridgewater (VA)
Birmingham Southern
Millsaps
Hendrix
Position
OH
OH
MB
S
OH
RS
Year
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Hannah Shields, Averett, OH
West Region
First Name
Audrey
Megan
Erin
Maddye
Allie
Erika
Maggie
Allie
Abbe
Michelle
Sarah
Kelsi
Abby
Brittany
Last Name
Breitwieser
Coleman**
Cusenbary**
Dinsmore
Eason**
Edrington
Emodi***
Frappier**
Holtze**
Lawrence
Pappas
Robinson
Voskuil
Yaxley
School
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Trinity (TX)
Whitworth
California Lutheran
Trinity (TX)
Trinity (TX)
Pomona Pitzer
Colorado College
California Lutheran
California Lutheran
La Verne
Mary Hardin-Baylor
La Verne
Position
RS
L
MB
S
OH
S
OH
OH
OH
OH
MB
MB
OH
OH
Year
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
So.
So.
So.
So.
Jr.
School
Pacific Lutheran
Pacific Lutheran
East Texas Baptist
Trinity (TX)
Pacific Lutheran
Colorado College
Position
L
OH
MB
OH
S
MB
Year
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Honorable Mention
First Name
Amber
Lucy
Adaeze
Layne
Samantha
Keli
Last Name
Aguiar
Capron
Elonu
Hubbard
North
Sherwood
Region Freshman of the Year: Mariah Rigg, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, MB
2014 AVCA Division III Region Coaches of the Year
The following coaches have been selected by their regions as AVCA Region Coaches of the Year. Each of the
honorees will represent his/her region on the AVCA National Coach of the Year ballot. The awards will be officially
presented at the Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Oklahoma City, OK on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the 2014
American Volleyball Coaches Association Annual Convention.
(cont.)
AVCA Division III Central Region Coach of the Year
Jane Becker, Augsburg College
2014 Record: 23-5, 9-2 MIAC
Now in her fifth season as Augsburg's head coach, Becker has demonstrated the ability to not only lead a team to
success, but to establish continuity and consistency within the program as a whole. This season marks the fourth
time that her squads have recorded at least 16 victories, and this year the Auggies reached the MIAC post-season
playoffs for the third time in school history. This season, she was once again named the 2014 Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year by her peers (she was also recognized in 2013), as
well as leading four of her own players to MIAC honors. In her eight years as a head coach, Becker has compiled a
record of 182-95. This is her second AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year award.
AVCA Division III Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year
Amber Warners, Calvin College
2014 Record: 27-3, 15-1 MIAA
In her 13th season at the helm of the Calvin Knights volleyball program, Warners has led her team to a 15-1 Michigan
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record and racked up 27 total wins heading into post-season play. As a head
coach, Warners has recorded 411 wins to just 75 losses. Her winning percentage sits at second all-time among
active DIII coaches. At one point during the 2014 season, Calvin notched 14 consecutive victories. The Knights also
dominated in home matches this season as they won all 10 home contests. Warners was named as the AVCA DIII
National Coach of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. This is her fifth AVCA DIII All-Region Coach of the Year award
(2006, 2008, 2011, 2012).
AVCA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
Mark Birtwistle, Eastern University
2014 Record: 29-5, 7-0 Freedom Conference
Over the course of his career since 1990, Birtwistle has established himself as one of the top coaches in NCAA
Division III Volleyball. Entering this year’s NCAA Tournament, he has 624 victories under his belt and now 16
conference championships, with the last seven coming consecutively. In 2014, they have been ranked in every AVCA
th
th
Coaches Poll with a current ranking of 13 , and once ranking as high as 11 earlier in the season. They will enter the
NCAA Tournament riding a 14-match winning streak. This marks the fourth time Birtwistle takes home AVCA Division
III Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, having also won it in 2002, 2005 and 2010.
AVCA Division III Midwest Region Coach of the Year
Leanne Ulmer, Carthage College
2014 Record: 35-3, 7-0 CCIW
With just three losses on the season, the Lady Red has certainly grown accustomed to winning. They used those
winning ways to persevere in back-to-back five-set matches and win the CCIW Conference Tournament. Their
outstanding season earned them a top seed and a regional host in the NCAA Tournament, which begins today. This
th
year’s NCAA Tournament appearance marks the ninth overall, but first since 2011. Ulmer, in her 13 year as head
coach, is the program leader with 400 career victories while also serving as Carthage’s Senior Woman Administrator
for the past 11 years. This honor marks Ulmer’s third after winning in 2006 and 2007.
AVCA Division III New England Region Coach of the Year
Paul Dill, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2014 Record: 27-5, 9-1 NEWMAC
Through his last 19 seasons at the helm of the Engineers volleyball team, Dill has established his school as a
regional powerhouse, as evidence by his 482 career wins. Offensively, NEWMAC opponents had trouble stopping
them. MIT led the league in hitting percentage (.249), assists per set (12.02) and kills per set (13.05). Individually, a
handful of Engineers lead the conference in different categories: Meghan Gebhard (4.09 kills per set), Jennie Glerum
th
(0.57 service aces per set) and Nicole Gagnier (10.58 aces per set). Dill led his squad to the women’s team’s 16
appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they will play Rivier on Friday at Williams College. Dill is now a threetime AVCA New England Region Coach of the Year after winning it in both 2006 and 2007.
AVCA Division III New York Region Coach of the Year
Johan Dulfer, Clarkson University
2014 Record: 34-3, 12-0 Liberty League
The Golden Knights won their third consecutive Liberty League Tournament Championship, and more impressively,
th
th
won their 30 consecutive conference match this past weekend. Currently ranking 15 in the AVCA Coaches Poll,
Clarkson has gone 30-1 in their last 31 matches, not having picked up a loss in over two months. In that time span,
23 of those victories have come as sweeps. Additionally, they only dropped one set in conference play this season,
th
which was to Union College on October 4 . Clarkson finished the regular year leading the Liberty League in hitting
percentage (.266), opponent hitting percentage (.116), assists per set (12.15), kills per set (13.15) and serve aces pet
set (2.75). Dulfer has now won two consecutive AVCA Division III New York Region Coach of the Year honors.
AVCA Division III North Region Coach of the Year
Lindsay Birch, Christopher Newport University
2014 Record: 31-3, 9-0 CAC
First as a player, then as a coach, Birch has built Christopher Newport into an annual contender. After going
undefeated in regular season conference play, the Captains have recorded 137 consecutive conference regular
season victories. Following that, Birch led the Christopher Newport Captains to their second consecutive Capital
Athletic Conference Championship, and Birch was recognized as the CAC Coach of the Year for the second straight
year. She is the first coach to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons in over a decade. Along with winning the
tournament championship, she helped guide CNU to the regular season title after compiling a pristine 9-0 mark in
league play. Out-of-conference, Christopher Newport also won tournament titles at the Captains Classic, UMW
Invitational, and Juniata / ASICS Invitational during the regular season. This is her second AVCA Region Coach of
the Year award.
AVCA Division III Northeast Region Coach of the Year
Matt Giufre, SUNY New Paltz
2014 Record: 31-5, 9-0 SUNYAC
th
Matt Giufre has notched a record of 31-5 in his 14 season at the helm of the State University of New York at New
Paltz women’s volleyball program. Under his stewardship, the Hawks have cemented themselves as one of the top
teams in the region and have become perennial contenders in the State University of New York Athletic Conference
(SUNYAC). The Hawks defended their home court, going 8-0, while also posting a record of 17-2 in neutral site
matches. Giufre picked up his fifth overall SUNYAC Coach of the Year honor and his second straight, as he
previously earned the award in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013. He has won more contests than any other coach in any
other sport in the history of SUNY New Paltz. 2014 marked the 11th straight year in which Giufre's teams have
finished with 26 wins or more, and for the second time in program history, New Paltz went unbeaten in conference
play after going 9-0 in SUNYAC matches in 2014. He has guided the Hawks to two conference titles (2009 and 2014)
and five NCAA Division III Tournament appearances (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014). This is his first AVCA
Region Coach of the Year award.
AVCA Division III South Region Coach of the Year
Jenny McDowell, Emory University
2014 Record: 34-3, 6-1 UAA
Since taking over the program in 1996, few coaches have been more successful than Jenny McDowell. Her career
wins for the Eagles stands at 613 after an impressive 2014 campaign that saw them record 34 wins and a winning
th
percentage of .919. Emory earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament for the 20 consecutive season after winning the
University Athletic Association Championship, and enter the St. Louis Regional as the No. 1 seed. They finished the
regular season ranked first in the UAA in hitting percentage (.263), kills per set (13.51) and blocks per set (2.11). The
Eagles have stayed in the top-5 of the AVCA Coaches Poll for the majority of the season, currently placing fifth while
being ranked as high as second. McDowell is now a six-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year winner (2004, 2005,
2008, 2011, 2012).
AVCA Division III West Region Coach of the Year
Kellee Roesel, California Lutheran University
2014 Record: 28-2, 15-1 SCIAC
After coming within a set of winning the 2013 NCAA Championship, the Regals look to put themselves in the same
position this year amidst an incredible 2014 campaign. Their only two losses on the season have come to No. 5
Emory and No. 17 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and enter the NCAA Tournament with just one loss in their last 24
matches. As a reward for their strong season, Cal Lutheran was selected as an NCAA regional host. Roesel is the alltime winningest coach in program history in just her ninth season at the helm. They are currently ranked third in the
AVCA Coaches Poll, and have been ranked as high as second in five separate weeks. Roesel is now a three-time
AVCA Region Coach of the Year after winning in 2010 and 2012.
###
About AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the
AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and
professional development. With a membership of over 6,400 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network
for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate,
high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to
volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the
world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at
www.avca.org.