8 December 1999
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206
Schmidt, Hamblin IWU Volleyball "MVPs"
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Senior Kellie Schmidt and freshman Tiffany Hamblin have been chosen as co-winners of the "Most Valuable Player" honor for the Illinois Wesleyan volleyball team.
Schmidt, a 5-foot-9 hitter from Elkhart (Mt. Pulaski HS), was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III all-Midwest Region team and was named "Player of the Year" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as well as a first team all-CCIW selection.
Despite missing some games and playing with a broken foot, she led the Titans in kills (404) for the third straight year and in digs (452) for the second straight season. She finished her career as IWU's all-time leader in digs with 1,732, 580 more than Jill Calcaterra's 1,152 from 1993-96. She is second in career kills with 1,614, third in service aces (196), and 12th in blocks (175).
"The injury made it frustrating for Kellie, but it was great that she was recognized for her entire season as the MVP for our team and the conference," said IWU coach Kim Nelson-Brown, whose team finished 18-18. "It's nice to see such a talented person end on a good note."
Hamblin (Bloomington HS) led the team with 1,364 set assists, the third best single-season total in IWU history, while finishing second with 420 digs and 42 service aces. An honorable mention all-CCIW choice, she also registered 112 kills and had a team-high .277 hitting percentage.
"The plays she made helped us win many of the games we did," Nelson-Brown said. "Winning this award was a very deserving honor and says a lot for what she did for us this season."
In other team honors, junior defensive specialist Maggie Erlenbaugh (Chicago, Regina Dominican HS) was chosen "Most Inspirational Player" for the third straight season and freshman Amber Mason (Bel Air, Md., Fallston HS) earned the "Most Improved" award.
Erlenbaugh played 120 games in 35 matches and had 361 digs. "She stepped up this year both on and off the court," said Nelson-Brown. "She took on a leadership role and did many things we needed her to do to help us win."
Mason saw limited action, but Nelson-Brown said her confidence and skill levels grew significantly as the season progressed. "Amber grew into a player who wanted to be in games all the time late in the year, which is a great thing to see from a young, inexperienced player."
Illinois Wesleyan also got solid performances from outside hitters Dana Stinson and Kara Swigart. Stinson, a junior from New Lenox Lincoln-Way HS, was third on the team with 256 kills, led the team with 46 service aces, and was an honorable mention all-CCIW player. Swigart, a freshman from Olympia HS, was second on the team with 394 kills and had 388 defensive digs.
"Dana struggled early in the season but finished strong and we look for that to carry over to next year," said Nelson-Brown. "Kara did a great job stepping in as a freshman and it was exciting to see her development during the season."
The Titans' 18-18 mark is a bit misleading, considering that all 18 losses came to teams that were regionally ranked at one time or another this fall and 10 of the losses came at the hands of nationally-ranked teams.
"We were a very young team and it was exciting to see how our players responded in competition," Nelson-Brown said. "With 14 letterwinners back, we're eager for next season and are working toward that already."
Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 15 players, all of whom return except Schmidt. They are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIORS - Kellie Schmidt (Elkhart, Mt. Pulaski HS).
JUNIORS - Maggie Erlenbaugh (Chicago, Regina Dominican HS), Amy Gregory (Pekin HS), Lena Meiss (Eureka HS), Kristy Ralston (Normal, U High), Dana Stinson (New Lenox, Lincoln-Way HS).
SOPHOMORES - Jennifer Matczak (Naperville, Central HS), Elizabeth Niemann (Paxton, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS).
FRESHMEN - Taryn Borendame (Wheaton, North HS), Molly Jo Ehlert (Winchester HS), Tiffany Hamblin (Bloomington HS), Amber Mason (Bel Air, Md., Fallston HS), Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS), Kara Swigart (Minier, Stanford Olympia HS), Erin Wujek (Troy Grove, Mendota HS).