3 December 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206 and/or head coach Kim Nelson-Brown, 309-556-3349
 
 

Hamblin Three-Peats as Titan Volleyball "MVP"

by Katie Cantrell, IWU Sports Information Student Assistant

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. ­ For the third straight season, junior setter Tiffany Hamblin has been tabbed "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team.

Hamblin, a Bloomington High School graduate, paced the Titans with a school-record 1,450 set assists and already holds the school career mark with 3,959 assists.

This season Hamblin, a first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection for the second straight year, also led the team with 71 service aces and 531 defensive digs, second-most in a single season at IWU, and had 178 kills with a .334 hitting percentage.

In three seasons, Hamblin ranks second all-time at IWU with 1,340 digs, No. 6 in service aces (167), and tied for 12th in blocks (175).

The Titans finished with a 19-20 overall mark this season, the first below-.500 record in volleyball at IWU since 1987.

Senior outside hitter Carolyn Nugent (Buffalo Grove, Stevenson HS) was the winner of the team's "Most Inspirational Player" honor, while freshman middle hitter Christine Konopasek (Chicago, Marian Catholic HS) was chosen as the team's "Most Improved Player."

Nugent, an honorable mention all-CCIW selection, was third on the team with 322 kills this season and recorded 397 digs with 35 service aces and 52 blocks.

In her first college season, Konopasek tallied 25 kills with 18 digs and 17 blocks in 28 games.

Hamblin and junior outside hitter Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS) were elected to serve as co-captains for the 2002 Titans.

Socke led the Titans this season with 123 blocks, sixth most in a single season, and is 15^th on the IWU career list in blocks with 156.

In another team honor, senior outside hitter Liz Niemann (Paxton, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS) earned the "Titan Volleyball Strength Award."

Niemann, also an honorable mention all-CCIW player this fall, was second on the team with 353 kills, 62 service aces, and 398 digs. She finished her career No. 6 among IWU players in career digs with 1,141, No. 8 in service aces (157), and No. 17 in blocks (146).

Head coach Kim Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 13 players, 10 of whom will return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Jennifer Matczak (Naperville, Central HS), Liz Niemann (Paxton, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS), Carolyn Nugent (Buffalo Grove, Stevenson HS).

JUNIORS - Taryn Borendame (Wheaton, North HS), Molly Jo Ehlert (Winchester HS), Tiffany Hamblin (Bloomington HS), Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS), Stefanie Wlodarczyk (Custer Park, Reed Custer HS).

SOPHOMORES - Brette Bower (Palatine HS), Beth Crowley (Bloomington, Normal West HS), Erin Ernst (Lemont, Montini Catholic HS), Rachel Hammons (Ellsworth, Tri-Valley HS).

FRESHMEN - Christine Konopasek (Chicago, Marian Catholic HS).