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Undefeated volleyball team top seed at tourney
November 09, 2007
After sweeping the Northwest Conference, the PLU volleyball team entered the NCAA Division III West Region Tournament last weekend as the number one seed.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said senior Megan Kosel. “As a senior, I feel very lucky. It’s a great year to end on.”
The Lutes, 23-3 this year, are ranked No. 14 in the national CSTV/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll. The team rolled through their 16-game Northwest Conference slate without a defeat, becoming the first team to do so since the University of Puget Sound in 2000. The feat also clinched the conference championship, PLU’s fourth since 1999, and earned the team an automatic bid to the regional tournament at Cal State-East Bay in Hayward, Calif., Nov. 8-10.
“We thought we could compete for the championship this year,” said head coach Kevin Aoki. But the team didn’t plan on going undefeated and receiving a first round bye in the regional tournament, he said.
The team entered the tournament having won 19 consecutive matches and 23 overall this season, both school records. The Lutes are led by a trio of seniors - Gina Di Maggio, Stacie Matz and Kosel - and freshman Beth Hanna.
Aoki and Kosel both said the team’s phenomenal season is the result of the 15-member squad’s willingness to work hard and their desire to succeed.
“The way that I am, I always expect to succeed, and everyone else (on the team) did, too,” Kosel said.
Aoki also credits the strong relationships between the team members.
“The closeness of the team, it makes a difference,” he said. “Their chemistry is good.”
The Lutes led the Northwest Conference in hitting percentage, opponents hitting percentage, kills per game, assists per game and aces per game. The team’s domination of the conference this year was reflected in the postseason awards. Hanna earned Player of the Year honors, and head coach Kevin Aoki was named Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his 12-year tenure.
Joining Hanna on the Northwest Conference First Team was Di Maggio, while Kosel and Matz received second team recognition.
For more up-to-date information and the results of regional tournament play, visit the volleyball team’s Web site.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.
The Lutes, 23-3 this year, are ranked No. 14 in the national CSTV/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll. The team rolled through their 16-game Northwest Conference slate without a defeat, becoming the first team to do so since the University of Puget Sound in 2000. The feat also clinched the conference championship, PLU’s fourth since 1999, and earned the team an automatic bid to the regional tournament at Cal State-East Bay in Hayward, Calif., Nov. 8-10.
“We thought we could compete for the championship this year,” said head coach Kevin Aoki. But the team didn’t plan on going undefeated and receiving a first round bye in the regional tournament, he said.
The team entered the tournament having won 19 consecutive matches and 23 overall this season, both school records. The Lutes are led by a trio of seniors - Gina Di Maggio, Stacie Matz and Kosel - and freshman Beth Hanna.
Aoki and Kosel both said the team’s phenomenal season is the result of the 15-member squad’s willingness to work hard and their desire to succeed.
“The way that I am, I always expect to succeed, and everyone else (on the team) did, too,” Kosel said.
Aoki also credits the strong relationships between the team members.
“The closeness of the team, it makes a difference,” he said. “Their chemistry is good.”
The Lutes led the Northwest Conference in hitting percentage, opponents hitting percentage, kills per game, assists per game and aces per game. The team’s domination of the conference this year was reflected in the postseason awards. Hanna earned Player of the Year honors, and head coach Kevin Aoki was named Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his 12-year tenure.
Joining Hanna on the Northwest Conference First Team was Di Maggio, while Kosel and Matz received second team recognition.
For more up-to-date information and the results of regional tournament play, visit the volleyball team’s Web site.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.