The 2008 Emory volleyball team enjoyed a season to remember as
the squad captured the program's first-ever national title. The
Eagles displayed a never-say-die attitude throughout the campaign
that was prominently displayed in the NCAA Tournament. In the
team's five NCAA Tournament outings, Emory faced deficits in four
of the matches including a 2-1 obstacle against Southwestern in the
regional finals and 2-0 hole against Ohio Northern in the national
semifinals. The Eagles made things even more exciting in the Ohio
Northern match when, after tying the bout at 2-2, they fell behind
by a 9-3 and 10-5 margins
in the deciding fifth set. In the championship affair against La
Verne, Emory dropped the first set by a 25-16 margin before
rattling off three straight wins to nab the crown.
For the record, Emory finished 2008 with an overall record of 35-6
which established a school record for most wins in a season. The
Eagles' victory total marked the program's 10th campaign of 30 or
more wins during the 13-year tenure of head coach Jenny McDowell
and marked the school's 15th consecutive winning campaign.
In addition to bringing home the national title, the Eagles
accomplished the following during the 2008 season.
** Earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive
year and advancing to the semifinal round for the second time.
** Concluding the campaign ranked first nationally by the American
Volleyball Coaches Association. The Eagles have been ranked
in the top 20 in every weekly poll by the AVCA for the last 12
seasons.
** Ranking prominently on the national scene in a number of
statistical categories including 20th in winning percentage (.854),
24th in kills per game (12.58 kpg), 29th in assists per set (11.44
apg) and 33rd in hitting percentage (23.8%).
** Recording its first win over a No. 1-ranked team since November
of 2005 when it defeated top-ranked Juniata, 3-0, before an
appreciative Senior Night on Oct. 31.
** Having three players earn AVCA All-America recognition.
As usual, the Eagles played a demanding schedule that included 12
matches against 10 teams that earned bids to NCAA postseason play.
The Woodruff PE Center provided Emory with a definite home-court
advantage with the squad recording a 11-2 slate. Over
the last five years, the Eagles stand an impressive 74-13 in home
matches. At one point during the season, Emory won 13 straight
matches (Sept. 5 through Sept. 26), winning 39 of 46 sets in the
process. The Eagles closed out the year by notching victories in 15
of their last 17 matches.
Senior outside hitterDani Huffman capped off a
great career by earning numerous accolades including a spot on the
American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America First Team.
Tabbed as the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Championships,
she was chosen to the All-UAA First Team for the second staright
season. Huffman landed a berth on the All-South Region First Team
and ended the year by averaging 3.11 kills per game, second on the
squad and fourth among UAA players. Her 436 kills ranked seventh on
the school's seasonal ladder and she racked up 22 matches of
double-figure kills. Career-wise, the San Diego, Calif., native
concluded her stint with the Eagles ranked prominently in numerous
categories including, second in attack percentage (36.5%); fourth
in total blocks (425), third in block assists (316), fourth in
block solos (109), eighth in kills (1,267) and eighth in kills per
set (2.93 kps). Dani totaled 64 matches of double-figure kills. She
also shined in the academic realm, becoming the third player in
school history to earn the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate
Scholarship Award . Selected as the Georgia Female Athlete of the
Year by the Women's Intersport Network, Huffman was the recipient
of Emory's 2008-09 Bridges and also was voted to the ESPN The
Magazine Academic All-America Third Team.
Junior Alysse Meyer continued to build upon her
reputation as one of the premier hitters in the nation en route to
earning First Team All-America kudos. Her 491 kills led the team,
and ranked fourth on the school's seasonal chart, while her 3.36
kills per-game average also topped the squad and placed her second
among UAA performers. Meyer chalked up 29 matches of double-figure
kills including a career-high 30 put-aways against Haverford
College, tying the school's second-highest match total. A
first-team choice on both All-South Region and All-UAA squads,
Meyer was further recognized for her contributions by being awarded
Emory's 2008-09 Partin Award, symbolic of an outstanding career or
season performance in a team-based sport.
Freshman setter Natalie Schonefeld stepped into a
starting role early in the season after an injury forced senior
Madison Robelen to the sidelines, and the rookie performed with the
precision of a battle-tested veteran. Schonefeld captured Second
Team All-America recognition after leading the UAA and ranking
ninth nationally in assists per set (10.6 aps). Her total of 1,421
assists ranked third on Emory's seasonal chart while her assists
per-game effort was eighth. An All-South Region First Team pick,
she was also tabbed as Region Rookie of the Year. In addition, she
became the fifth player in the history of the program to be named
UAA Rookie of the Year. Schonefeld dished out a personal-best 62
assists in the national semifinals against Ohio Northern (Nov. 21)
and was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
Senior Maggie Baird was rock-solid on the right
side and earned Second Team All-University Athletic Association
honors, her fourth straight season of conference recognition.
Playing in 37 matches, the 6-foot-1 Baird averaged 2.01 kills and
0.53 blocks per game. She landed All-South Region honorable mention
recognition and concluded the year with seven matches of 10 or more
kills. Baird came through with the match-winning attack against La
Verne in the NCAA Championship contest. Career-wise, she finished
her stint with the Eagles ranked prominently in numerous categories
including kills (10th, 1064), total blocks (7th, 316) and block
assists (6th, 266).
Freshman Brannan O'Neill emerged as an outstanding
defensive presence with her play allowing her to claim Second Team
All-UAA honors. O'Neill topped the club with a 3.92 digs per game
average, good for sixth place among UAA players, and her total of
568 digs ranked second on Emory's seasonal chart while her per-game
average in that department placed her third. Named the UAA
Co-Player of the Week (Nov. 17) following her effort in the NCAA
Regionals, she earned all-tournament honors at both the Christopher
Newport Invitational and the Emory National Invitational.
Head Coach Jenny McDowell saw her fair share of
hardware as well. McDowell was chosen as the AVCA Division III
National Coach of the Year after guiding the team to the national
championship. McDowell, who also garnered All-South Region Coach of
the Year honors, reached a milestone when she rang up her 400th
career win on Nov. 7 against Brandeis during the UAA
Championships.
Other seniors who bid the program farewell included Madision
Robelen (No. 2 all-time at Emory with 3,588 assists) and Lulu
Kaiali.
American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America | ||
Dani Huffman |
First Team |
San Diego, CA |
Alysse Meyer |
First Team |
Stockton, CA |
Natalie Schonefeld |
Second Team |
Louisville, KY |
AVCA All-South Region | ||
Dani Huffman |
First Team |
San Diego, CA |
Alysse Meyer |
First Team |
Stockton, CA |
Natalie Schonefeld |
First Team |
Louisville, KY |
Maggie Baird |
Honorable Mention |
San Antonio, TX |
South Region Freshman of the Year | ||
Natalie Schonefeld | ||
All-University Athletic Association | ||
Dani Huffman |
First Team |
San Diego, CA |
Alysse Meyer |
First Team |
Stockton, CA |
Natalie Schonefeld |
First Team |
Louisville, KY |
Brannan O'Neill |
Second Team |
Houston, TX |
Maggie Baird |
Second Team |
San Antonio, TX |
Amelia McCall | Honorable Mention | Montgomery, AL |
University Athletic Association Rookie Of The Year | ||
Natalie Schonefeld |
Lousiville, KY |
|
NCAA Championships Most Outstanding Player | ||
Dani Huffman |
San Diego, CA |
|
NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team | ||
Natalie Schonefeld |
Louisville, KY |
|
Alexandra Wright |
Matteson, IL |
|
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America | ||
Dani Huffman |
Third Team |
San Diego, CA |
CoSIDA Academic All-District | ||
Dani Huffman |
First Team |
San Diego, CA |
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship | ||
Dani Huffman |
San Diego, CA |
|
University Athletic Association Player Of The Week | ||
Alysse Meyer |
Sept. 8 |
Stockton, CA |
Alysse Meyer (co) | Sept. 22 | Stockton, CA |
Maggie Baird (co) |
Oct. 26 |
San Antonio, TX |
Dani Huffman (co) |
Nov. 3 |
San Diego, CA |
Brannan O'Neill (co) |
Nov. 17 |
Houston, TX |
Dani Huffman |
Nov. 24 |
San Diego, CA |
Sports Import/AVCA Division III National Player Of The Week | ||
Alysse Meyer |
Sept. 9 |
Stockton, CA |
Comfort Inn Challenge All-Tournament Team | ||
Kelsey Krzyston | Noblesville, IN | |
Alysse Meyer |
Stockton, CA |
|
Christopher Newport Invitational All-Tournament Team | ||
Alysse Meyer (MVP) | Stockton, CA | |
Dani Huffman |
San Diego, CA |
|
Brannan O'Neill | Houston, TX | |
|
|
|
Emory Classic All-Tournament Team | ||
Alysse Meyer (MVP) | Stockton, CA | |
Natalie Schonefeld | Louisville, KY | |
Leopard Invitational All-Tournament Team | ||
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
Emory National Invitational All-Tournament Team | ||
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
Alysse Meyer (MVP) | Stockton, CA | |
Brannan O'Neill | Houston, TX | |
Maggie Baird | San Antonio, TX | |
Emory National Challenge All-Tournament Team | ||
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
Alysse Meyer | Stockton, CA | |
Georgia Female Athlete Of The Year -- Women's Intersport Network (WIN) | ||
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
2008-09 Emory University Bridges Award Winner (Female) | ||
Dani Huffman | San Diego, CA | |
2008-09 Emory University Partin Award Winner (Female) | ||
Alysse Meyer | Stockton, CA | |
2008 AVCA National Coach Of The Year | ||
Jenny McDowell | ||
2008 AVCA South Region Coach Of The Year | ||
Jenny McDowell |