2003 Women's Division III

Volleyball Championship

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DIVISION III WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

 

2003 Division III Women's Volleyball: Washington (Mo.) 3, New York U. 0

LA VERNE, Calif. -- Washington (Mo.) University won its record eighth NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship on Saturday night, sweeping University Athletic Association rival New York University, 3-0 (30-26, 32-30, 30-22).

The Bears (38-3), who finished the season on a 28-match winning streak, also beat the Violets in the UAA Championship on Nov. 8 by the same 3-0 mark.

"I'm elated," said Washington coach Rich Luenemann, who won his first championship. "This team had the most incredible chemistry I've ever seen, and it was complemented by our three seniors. What a fitting end for the best team in the country."

New York U. raced to a 4-0 lead in game one before a Washington rally knotted the game at 8-8. The Bears used a 9-4 run to grab a 27-22 lead en route to a 30-26 final margin.

Senior middle blocker Amy Brand recorded a solo block and a kill to give Washington a 32-30 win in game two after the Bears had faced two game points.

Brand finished the match with eight blocks and seven kills, including the match-winning point in game three on a solo block. After New York U. again claimed an early 4-0 lead, Washington rallied and took a 30-22 victory.

"Our coaching staff did a great job," Brand added. "They scouted both teams this weekend so well, and we just adjusted to what they told us too, and it worked. They did so much for us."

Senior Katie Quinn finished with 11 kills, while Cindy McPeak added seven. AVCA first-team All-American and junior Colleen Winter registered six kills and 12 digs.

"It was heartbreaking to lose in the finals last year," McPeak said. "But we weren't going to lose this time. It was almost a flawless weekend. We peaked at the right time, and that's what we wanted to do."

For their efforts, sophomore setter Kara Liefer, McPeak and Quinn were named to the All-Tournament Team. Liefer, who completed her first season as a starter, chipped in with 39 assists and nine digs.

"Team chemistry is what helped us the most," Liefer said. "We played like a family and pulled through when we needed to."

---

Washington University

2003 NUMERICAL ROSTER
No.
Ltrs.
 Name
Yr.
Pos.
Ht.
 Hometown (High School)
3
•
 Nicole Hodgman
So.
DS
5-1
 Oak Lawn, Ill. (Mother McAuley)
6
•
 Megan Houck
So.
MB
6-0
 Chesterfield, Mo. (Nerinx Hall)
7
Megan Delcourt
Fr.
S
5-10
 Rock Island, Ill. (Rock Island)
8
•
 Kara Liefer
So.
S
5-11
 Red Bud, Ill. (Red Bud)
9
••
 Ishi Ballew
Jr.
OH
5-11
 Fort Worth, Texas (Trinity Valley)
10
•
 Heidi Pfeiffer
So.
OH
5-11
 New Berlin, Wis. (Milwaukee Pius XI)
11
Amy Baum
Fr.
OH
5-10
 Phoeniz, Ariz. (Xavier College Preparatory)
12
Whitney Smith
Fr.
MB
6-1
 Wichita, Kan. (Wichita East)
13
••
 Jasmine Hunt
Jr.
RS
5-7
 Normal, Ill. (Normal University High)
14
•••
 Katie Quinn
Sr.
MB
5-11
 Orland Park, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
16
•••
 Amy Brand
Sr.
MB
5-11
 Kettering, Ohio (Chaminade-Julienne)
17
•••
 Cindy McPeak
Sr.
RS
5-11
 Swansea, Ill. (Belleville East)
19
Amy Bommarito
Fr.
DS
5-3
 Kirkwood, Mo. (Nerinx Hall)
20
••
 Colleen Winter
Jr.
OH
5-10
 Manchester, Mo. (Nerinx Hall)
21
Ashley Ellis
So.
MB/RS
6-0
 Mobile, Ala. (McGill-Toolen)
 

Head Coach: Rich Luenemann
Assistant Coaches: Krista Haukap, Brent Ruoff, Paula Urbanek, Rosie Wustrack

 

 


Courtesy: La Verne & WSTUL Sports Information

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