Wittenberg University Volleyball Earns Ninth Team Academic Award

Senior outside hitter Katherine Yuskewich and her teammates were big winners again in 2008 - on the court and in the classroom.

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University's volleyball team was one of a record 409 high school and college programs to earn a 2008-09 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, annually honors men's and women's college and high school teams that display excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale during the school year.

"I'm very proud of this team for winning another AVCA Team Academic Award. Training and competing at the highest level takes a significant time commitment," said Wittenberg Head Coach Paco Labrador, who enters his seventh year at the helm with a sparkling 203-27 overall record. "It's great to see the student-athletes on this team recognized for their ability to manage their time and prioritize academics."

Recipients of the award included 46 NCAA Division II programs, 77 NCAA Division III programs, 35 NAIA programs, 71 NCAA Division I women's programs, four NCAA men's programs (two each in Division I and Division III), nine women's programs at two-year colleges and 165 high school programs (both boys and girls). Wittenberg, one of seven NCAA Division III programs in Ohio to earn the award, has been recognized by the AVCA nine times, the second-highest total in the country.

The Tigers, one of only two members of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) to make the list in 2008-09, were just as extraordinary on the court a year ago. The Tigers spent most of the season ranked in the top 10 nationally, winning their 13th NCAC regular season title and 13th NCAC Tournament title in the last 14 years. Wittenberg did not drop a set in 18 NCAC matches in 2008.

The Tigers posted a 33-3 overall record in 2008-09, although their run of three straight national semifinal appearances came to an end in a heartbreaking 3-2 Great Lakes Regional semifinal loss to Ohio Northern. Wittenberg finished the year ranked No. 7 in the nation.

While four outstanding seniors have graduated, a deep, strong team returns in 2009. The returning core of three starters - all-conference setter Erin Slattery, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, outside hitter Leslie Clark, class of 2010 from Marion, Ohio, and all-region middle hitter Kate Snead, class of 2010 from Westerville, Ohio - have been a part of three NCAC regular season titles, two NCAC Tournament crowns and two NCAA Division III Tournament Final Four appearances. Their quest for the ultimate prize - a national championship - in 2009 starts with a road date against NAIA scholarship program Cedarville University at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Written by: Ryan Maurer
Photo by: Brad Tucker

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