BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Seniors Jacqui
Bliss and LeAnn Genzel have been elected as the co-winners of the “Most
Valuable Player” honor for the 1998 Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball
team.
Bliss, a 5-foot-9 hitter from
Towanda (Ridgeview HS), led the Titans in blocks with 160, was second on
the squad with 440 kills, and had a team-best .290 hitting percentage.
The first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection
finished her career sixth in blocks (341) and 10th in kills (907) in school
history. Bliss was the team’s “Most Improved Player” as a sophomore and
junior.
Genzel, a 6-foot middle hitter
from Buckley (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS), was also a first team all-CCIW player
and was named to the all-Midwest region squad for the second straight year.
In 1998 she was second on the IWU team with 156 blocks, third in kills
with 400, fifth with 284 digs, and sixth in service aces with 25. A first
team Academic All-American, Genzel ended her career as IWU’s all-time leader
in blocks (589) and service aces (234) and ranks seventh in kills (1,169)
and fifth in digs (1,028).
The Titans finished 21-17
and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament for the second consecutive
season and the third time in school history.
Sophomore defensive specialist
Maggie Erlenbaugh (Chicago, Regina Dominican HS) was chosen as the team’s
“Most Inspirational Player” while sophomore Dana Stinson (New Lenox, Lincoln-Way
HS) earned the squad’s “Most Improved Player” award.
Erlenbaugh, who shared the
“Most Inspirational” honor last season, played in all 38 matches last fall
and finished third on the team with 327 digs.
Stinson, a 5-foot-10 outside
hitter, made the most of her opportunity as a starter, finishing fourth
on the team with 258 kills and second in both digs (369) and service aces
(43).
Stinson was also named as
a co-captain for 1999, along with junior Kellie Schmidt (Elkhart, Mt. Pulaski
HS).
Schmidt, a 5-foot-9 outside
hitter, was a first team all-CCIW selection as she led IWU in kills (491)
for the third straight season and set a school single-season record with
556 digs. With one season remaining in her career, she is already IWU’s
all-time leader in digs with 1,280 and ranks 12th in blocks (155), and
sixth in both kills (1,210) and service aces (157).
Head coach Kim Nelson-Brown
awarded letters to 11 players. They are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIORS - Jacqui Bliss (Towanda,
Ridgeview HS); LeAnn Genzel (Buckley, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS); Tara Heiden
(Shumway, Beecher City HS).
JUNIOR - Kellie Schmidt (Elkhart,
Mt. Pulaski HS).
SOPHOMORES - Maggie Erlenbaugh (Chicago,
Regina Dominican HS); Kristy Ralston (Normal, U High); Dana Stinson (New
Lenox, Lincoln-Way HS).
FRESHMEN - Jennifer Matczak (Naperville,
Central HS); Elizabeth Niemann (Paxton, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS); Amy Poffenbarger
(Mt. Pulaski HS); Cory Zimmerman (Pittsfield HS).
Maggie Erlenbaugh, sophomore, Chicago (Regina Dominican HS) - Earned her second volleyball letter and was winner of team's "Most Inspirational Player" award... Was co-winner of team's "Most Inspirational Player" award... She played in all 38 matches last fall and finished third on the team with 327 digs...Saw valuable time as freshman on NCAA Division III tournament team, playing in 92 of team's 125 games with 104 defensive digs...Elementary education major...She is the daughter of Bob and Madge Erlenbaugh of Chicago.
LeAnn Genzel, senior, Buckley (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS) - Earned her fourth volleyball letter at IWU and was named the co-winner of the team’s “Most Valuable Player” honor with Jacqui Bliss...Was named to the first team of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin all-star squad after being on the second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore...She was named to the all-Midwest region squad for the second straight year...In 1998 she was second on the IWU team with 156 blocks, third in kills with 400, fifth with 284 digs, and sixth in service aces with 25...Genzel ended her career as IWU’s all-time leader in blocks (589) and service aces (234) and ranks seventh in kills (1,169) and fifth in digs (1,028)...Was named to the first team of the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America team and earned the CCIW Academic All-Conference Award for the third year in a row...Majoring in public accounting...She is the daughter of Lee and Martha Genzel of rural Buckley.
Tara Heiden, senior, Shumway (Beecher City HS) - Earned her third volleyball letter at IWU…Played in 115 games and finished fifth on the team with 124 kills... Also fourth on the team with 300 defensive digs...Her emergence as a full-time player was a key to Titans’ success this season...Risk management major…She is the daughter of Doug and Sandy Heiden of Shumway.
Jennifer Matczak, freshman, Naperville (Central HS) - Earned her first volleyball letter...Saw valuable playing time as a freshman on the NCAA tournament representative team, playing in 35 matches and 75 of team’s 149 games...Finished sixth on the team with 69 kills and with 230 defensive digs... Biology major...She is the daughter of Tom and Lynne Matczak.
Elizabeth Niemann, freshman, Paxton (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS) - Earned her first volleyball letter... Led IWU team with 852 set assists and was fifth on team with 277 defensive digs...Saw valuable playing time as a freshman on the NCAA tournament representative team, playing in 114 of team’s 149 games and was in 36 of the 38 matches...Undecided on college major...She is the daughter of Melanie and Jerry Niemann.
Amy Poffenbarger, freshman, Mt. Pulaski (HS) - Earned her first volleyball letter...Saw valuable playing time as a freshman on the NCAA tournament representative team, playing in 25 of the 38 matches...Finished with 12 kills, 17 defensive digs, and eight block assists...Majoring in nursing...She is the daughter of Jim and Cheryl Poffenbarger of Mt. Pulaski.
Kristy Ralston, sophomore, Normal (U High) - Earned her second volleyball letter…Played in 79 games in 35 matches and finished with 107 defensive digs...Art major…She is the daughter of Duane and Joy Ralston of Normal.
Kellie Schmidt, junior, Elkhart (Mt. Pulaski HS) - Earned her third volleyball letter and was chosen to serve as a team co-captain for 1999 (with Dana Stinson)...Was a first team all-CCIW selection after earning honorable mention in 1997...Was named CCIW “Player of the Week” for her play vs. Elmhurst and Augustana and was named to the 1998 CCIW all-tournament team...Led the Titans in kills (491) for the third straight season and set a school single-season record with 556 digs...With one season remaining in her career, she is already IWU’s all-time leader in digs with 1,280 and ranks 12th in blocks (155), and sixth in both kills (1,210) and service aces (157)... As a sophomore, she was named “Most Valuable Player” of the Rochester (N.Y.) tournament and was named CCIW “Player of the Week” once as a freshman…Business administration major…She is the daughter of Michael and Laurie Schmidt of Elkhart.
Dana Stinson, sophomore, New Lenox (Lincoln-Way HS) - Earned her second volleyball letter and was chosen to serve as a team co-captain for 1999 (with Kellie Schmidt)...Led the conference in service aces with 0.73 per game... Made the most of her opportunity as a starter, finishing fourth on the team with 258 kills and second in both digs (369) and service aces (43)...Nursing major…She is the daughter of Richard and Janet Stinson of New Lenox.
Cory Zimmerman, freshman, Pittsfield (HS) - Earned her first volleyball letter...Led the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with an average of 9.5 assists in 22 league games...Finished second on IWU team with 704 set assists and had 177 defensive digs...Saw valuable playing time as a freshman on the NCAA tournament representative team, playing in 86 of team’s 149 games and was in 32 of the 38 matches...Also had 31 kills, 20 service aces, and 25 total blocks, including two solo...Undecided on college major of study...She is the daughter of Rick and Diane Zimmerman.
ATTACK SET
SERVE PASS DEF BLOCK
NAME
MP GM K E TA
PCT A SA SE RE
DIG BS BA BE BHE
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Schmidt, Kellie 38 147
491 237 1391 .183 5 52
82 98 559 13 53
8 0
(Elkhart, Mt. Pulaski HS)
Bliss, Jacqui
38 147 440 149 1002 .290 14 34
64 12 236 55 105 25
1
(Towanda, Ridgeview HS)
Genzel, LeAnn
38 149 400 128 1006 .270 3 25
50 42 284 40 116 17
0
(Buckley, Paxton-Buckley Loda HS)
Stinson, Dana
37 123 258 172 871 .099 0
43 46 59 369 15 26
12 0
(New Lenox, Lincoln-Way HS)
Heiden, Tara
34 115 124 89 398 .088 23
30 42 54 300 4
56 11 1
(Shumway, Beecher City HS)
Matczak, Jennifer 35 75
69 36 320 .103 0
8 9 28 230 4
21 0 0
(Naperville, Central HS)
Niemann, Liz
36 114 34 15 152 .125 852
41 53 0 277 8
42 6 2
(Paxton, Paxton-Buckley Loda HS)
Zimmerman, Cory 32
86 31 6 95 .263 704
20 12 1 177 2
23 7 0
(Pittsfield HS)
Poffenbarger, Amy 25 26
12 12 50 .000 4
1 1 0 17
0 8 2 0
(Mt. Pulaski HS)
Erlenbaugh, M.
38 125 6 10 39 -.103
2 14 19 46 327 0
0 0 0
(Chicago, Regina Dominican HS)
Ralston, Kristy 35
79 2 7 23 -.217
0 23 19 25 107 0
0 0 0
(Normal, U-High)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL
38 149 1867 861 5347 .188 1607 291 397 365 2883
141 450 88 4
W/L TYP OPPONENT
SCORES
PLACE
L N Baldwin-Wallace
12-15,15-12,11-15,15- 8,13-15 Sept. 4, San Antonio, Tex
L N Trinity
6-15, 8-15,16-14, 7-15
Sept. 4, San Antonio, Tex
L N Muskingum
15-11, 3-15,15-10,11-15,11-15 Sept. 4, San Antonio, Tex
W N Illinois College
15- 7,15- 7, 3-15,15-13
Sept. 5, San Antonio, Tex
W N Benedictine
15- 9, 9-15,13-15,15-12,15-12 Sept. 8, Lisle
W N AURORA
15-10,13-15,15- 2,15- 8
Sept. 11, Bloomington
W N WIS.-PLATTEVILLE
15-11,15- 6,15- 7
Sept. 11, Bloomington
W N OBERLIN
15- 5,15- 3,15-12
Sept. 12, Bloomington
L N WIS.-RIVER
FALLS 15-10, 5-15, 6-15,15- 8, 9-15
Sept. 12, Bloomington
W L Augustana
15- 9, 9-15,13-15,16-14,15-13 Sept. 15, Rock Island
L N Washington
U. 5-15, 9-15, 7-15
Sept. 18, St. Louis, Mo.
L N Elmhurst
6-15,10-15,10-15
Sept. 18, St. Louis, Mo.
W N Maryville
16-14,15- 7, 9-15,17-15
Sept. 19, St. Louis, Mo.
L N Ohio Northern
13-15,10-15, 6-15
Sept. 19, St. Louis, Mo.
L N LAKE FOREST
15- 7, 6-15, 7-15,10-15
Sept. 22, Bloomington
W N Knox
15- 5,15- 4,15- 6
Sept. 24, Galesburg
W L NORTH CENTRAL
9-15,14-16,15-10,15- 9,15-10 Sept. 29, Bloomington
W L Elmhurst
8-15,15- 6,15-12,15-13
Oct. 2, Elmhurst
W L North Park
15- 5,15- 9,12-15,15- 8
Oct. 3, Chicago
L L MILLIKIN
15-11, 6-15, 6-15,13-15
Oct. 6, Bloomington
L N Wis.-LaCrosse
5-15, 5-15, 9-15
Oct. 9, Oshkosh, Wis.
L N Central Iowa
5-15,15-13, 4-15, 8-15
Oct. 9, Oshkosh, Wis.
W N Millikin
14-16,15-10,16-14,13-15,15-13 Oct. 10, Oshkosh, Wis.
W N Ripon
15- 3,16- 4,12-15,15- 5
Oct. 10, Oshkosh, Wis.
W L WHEATON
15-13,15- 7,20-18
Oct. 13, Bloomington
L N Wis.-Whitewater
2-15, 2-15, 9-15
Oct. 23, Whitewater, Wis.
W N Augustana
5-15,15-13,15- 4,15-11
Oct. 23, Whitewater, Wis.
L N Wis.-River
Falls 3-15, 4-15,10-15
Oct. 24, Whitewater, Wis.
W N Elmhurst
15- 8,15- 8, 8-15,16-14
Oct. 24, Whitewater, Wis.
W N DePAUW
11-15,15- 3,15-11,15-11
Oct. 27, Bloomington
L N Eureka
9-15,13-15,15-11,15- 9,17-19 Oct. 29, Eureka
W L CARTHAGE
15- 3,17-15,15- 3
Oct. 31, Bloomington
W N Augustana
15- 6,13-15,16-14,16-14
Nov. 5, CCIW Tournament
W N North Park
15- 5,12-15,15- 4,15- 5
Nov. 6, CCIW Tournament
L N Wheaton
15-12,12-15,15- 5,11-15,13-15 Nov. 6, CCIW Tournament
L N Elmhurst
8-15, 3-15,12-15
Nov. 7, CCIW Tournament
W N Wheaton
15- 4,15- 8,14-16, 7-15,15-10 Nov. 7, CCIW Tournament
L P Wis.-LaCrosse
14-16, 5-15,13-15
Nov. 12, NCAA Tournament