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DU Home > News & Events > Media Releases > August 2004

MEDIA RELEASES

Contact
Ken Trendel
ktrendel@dom.edu
(708) 524-6232

Stars Look to Win First-ever Volleyball NIIC Crown

The Dominican University volleyball program will look to complete some unfinished business from 2003 when they came within one match of winning the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) championship and ultimately the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

The Stars, under the direction of head coach Meghan Maxwell, went 26-13 in 2003, kicking off the season by winning the championship at the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament at Gettysburg College. The Stars then returned home to win the Star Classic crown before opening conference play with the eventual conference champions.

“We had our sights set on the conference championship and the national tournament,” said Maxwell. “Despite coming up just short, we had one of the most successful seasons in the school’s history and this year promises to be no different.”

Seniors Becky Knotek and Sandra Nowicki will be expected to be team leaders in 2004. Knotek, a six-foot outside hitter, averaged 2.33 kills and one block per game in 2003 while Nowicki played the role of the Stars’ libero.

A trio of juniors returns to the Stars’ lineup after a promising sophomore campaign. Haley Ostrander, an outside hitter, was second on the team with 3.23 kills per game while Emily Kluczynski led the Stars with 831 assists in 2003. Middle blocker Kate Zintak posted 1.70 kills and 1.10 blocks per game during her sophomore season.

The only two players not returning from last year’s roster are seniors Mary Welk and Katie Martin. These two athletes will be tough for the Stars to replace as they set nearly every record for the Dominican University volleyball program. Welk ended her career with well over 2,000 kills and 2,500 digs, placing her atop both categories while Martin is the University’s all-time assist leader with 3,041 career assists.

“Mary and Katie were extremely competitive throughout their entire careers,” said Maxwell. “ Their passion for the game was evident to their teammates and will hopefully be a legacy that they will have left behind.”