12 December 2002
 

Hamblin “Four-Peats” as Titan Volleyball "MVP"

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — For the fourth straight season, senior setter Tiffany Hamblin has been selected "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team.
Hamblin, a Bloomington High School product, earned third team All-American honors, was a two-time all-region selection, and a three-time first team selection to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams.
She has been the Titans' team leader the past three seasons in service aces and digs and has led the team all four years in set assists, amassing a school-record 1,450 assists in 2001 and another 1,348 for the 23-15 Titans this fall.
Hamblin holds the IWU career record with 5,307 set assists, eclipsing the old standard of 3,442 set by Loni Mitchell from 1986-89. Hamblin is also No. 1 in both career digs (1,840) and service aces (240) and No. 9 with 236 career blocks
Sophomore setter Kristy White (Dubuque, Iowa, Wahlert HS) was the winner of the team's "Most Inspirational Player" honor, while freshman middle hitter Molly May (Mt. Prospect HS) was chosen as the team's "Most Improved Player."
White played 36 games in 19 matches and had 24 set assists and 51 digs.
May led the team with 113 blocks (1.08 per game), a total more than 50 better than the next best on the team. May also averaged 1.64 kills per game and had 74 digs.
In another team honor, junior outside hitter Brette Bower (Palatine HS) earned the “Titan Volleyball Strength Award.”
Bower was second on the team with 2.39 kills per game and 54 service aces and was third with 2.88 digs per game.
Bower and junior outside hitter Beth Crowley (Bloomington, Normal West HS) were elected to serve as co-captains for the 2003 Titans.
Crowley was a second team all-conference selection as she led the Titans with 512 kills, the third best in a single season and the most at IWU since 1989. She also had 352 digs and 47 service aces. After three seasons Crowley is No. 8 all-time at the school with 1,019 kills and 21st with 723 digs.
Closing out their careers were seniors Taryn Borendame (Wheaton, North HS) and Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS). Borendame finished No. 16 all-time with 813 digs and Socke is No. 10 all-time with 210 blocks.
Head coach Kim Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 12 players, eight of whom will return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIORS - Taryn Borendame (Wheaton, North HS), Tiffany Hamblin (Bloomington HS), Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS), Stefanie Wlodarczyk (Custer Park, Reed Custer HS).
JUNIORS - Brette Bower (Palatine HS), Beth Crowley (Bloomington, Normal West HS), Erin Ernst (Lemont, Montini Catholic HS).
SOPHOMORES - Christine Konopasek (Chicago, Marian Catholic HS), Keely Rhoads (Carlinville HS), Kristy White (Dubuque, Iowa, Wahlert HS).
FRESHMEN ­ Lindsay Clements (Mt. Pulaski HS), Molly May (Mt. Prospect HS).