• 2023 Final National Ranking: #9
  • Two NCAA National Championships (2008 & 2018)
  • NCAA Final Four: 2019, 2018, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2008, 2003
  • 27 NCAA Tournament Appearances
  • 10 UAA Championships

2005 Volleyball Season Recap

The 2005 Emory women's volleyball team turned in a stellar season under head coach Jenny McDowell, going down as one of the most successful in program history.

Emory finished the season with a record of 32-6 and an 11-1 University Athletic Association (UAA) mark.  The 2005 season also brought about the program's first conference championship with a 3-0 sweep of then-No.1 ranked Washington University in the championship match, marking the Eagles' first-ever victory against Washington in nearly 40 matches.

The 32 wins marks the ninth 30-win season in the past 12 years, while the team reached the NCAA tournament for the 10th consecutive year.   

During the season the Eagles put together a string of 19 consecutive victories that included winning 57 straight games.  Emory finished the year 7-3 against teams ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25.  The team defeated Southwestern University three times, New York University twice, Washington University and Austin College. 

The regular season also brought about tournament championships at the Washington & Lee Invitational, the Emory Classic, Emory Invitational and Emory National Invitational.

Junior outside hitter Courtney Rose was named AVCA National Player of the Year, the first time an Emory player has received the award.  Rose was also named first team All-America, as well as UAA Player of the Year, and All-South region. 

Seniors Catherine Zidow and Katrina Damasco also received national recognition. Zidow, the team's setter, was named to All-America team for the second time, while also receiving All-UAA and All-South honors.  Damasco, an outside hitter, was named All-America, as well as all-conference and all-region. The three All-Americans ties an Emory record for most in one season. This was the seventh straight year that at least one Emory player has been selected as an All-America. Sophomore middle hitter Janet Bunning received honorable mention All-America honors.  

Freshman hitter Maggie Baird made an immediate impact, picking up Rookie of the Year awards from both the UAA and the NCAA South Region. She was named honorable mention All-UAA, as did Bunning, junior middle hitter Kristin Anderson and sophomore libero Kelly McIntosh.  
The senior duo of Zidow and Damasco ended their careers with a four-year record of 128-39 (.766) and a conference mark of 39-9 (.813).  During their four years Emory appeared in three national quarterfinals and one final four.

With such a successful season, several players wrote their names into the Emory record books.  McIntosh became the all-time leader in digs per game for a season with 3.92.  Damasco stands third at 3.32 and Rose fourth with 3.19.  Sophomore Ann Nicoletti moved to second in service aces per game for a season with 1.07.  Anderson stands third on the season list for blocks per game with 1.31.

For career records, Damasco now stands second in kills per game with 3.22, while Rose is fifth at 3.00.  Damasco is sixth in kills with 1,052, while Rose is 11th with 892.  Rose also moved into the top five in fifth for kill percentage at .309.  Zidow ended her career in fourth for assists with 1,879, while also standing fourth in assists per game at 7.61.  Rose and McIntosh both can be found in the top five for digs per game, with Rose in second at 2.78 and McIntosh fifth at 2.52.

Coach McDowell reached her 300th career win during the season and now holds a record of 310-85 (.785).  For the second straight year she was named the South Region Coach of the Year, while she and her staff was named the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.

American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year
Courtney Rose                   First Team                    Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)

AVCA All-America
Courtney Rose                   First Team                    Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Catherine Zidow                 Second Team               Wesley Chapel, FL (Tampa Prep)
Katrina Damasco                Third Team                   Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Janet Bunning                     Honorable Mention       Washington DC (Woodrow Wilson)

NCAA Division III All-South
Courtney Rose                   (one team)                    Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Catherine Zidow                 (one team)                    Wesley Chapel, FL (Tampa Prep)
Katrina Damasco                (one team)                    Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Janet Bunning                     (one team)                    Washington DC (Woodrow Wilson)
Maggie Baird                      Honorable Mention       San Antonio, TX (Winston Churchill)
Kelly McIntosh                   Honorable Mention       Encino, CA (Brentwood)

NCAA Division III South Region Rookie of the Year
Maggie Baird                      (one winner)                 San Antonio, TX (Winston Churchill)

All-University Athletic Association (UAA)
Courtney Rose                   First Team                    Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Catherine Zidow                 First Team                    Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Katrina Damasco                First Team                    Wesley Chapel, FL (Tampa Prep)
Janet Bunning                     Honorable Mention       Washington DC (Woodrow Wilson)
Maggie Baird                      Honorable Mention       San Antonio, TX (Winston Churchill)
Kelly McIntosh                   Honorable Mention       Encino, CA (Brentwood)
Kristin Anderson                Honorable Mention       Escondido, CA (San Pasqual)

 

UAA Player of the Year
Courtney Rose                   (one winner)                 Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)

Maggie Baird                      (one winner)                 San Antonio, TX (Winston Churchill)

UAA Rookie of the Year
Maggie Baird                      (one winner)                 San Antonio, TX (Winston Churchill)

Washington & Lee Invitational All-Tournament Team
Katrina Damasco                MVP                            Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Courtney Rose                                                       Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Catherine Zidow                                                     Wesley Chapel, FL (Tampa Prep) 

Emory Classic All-Tournament Team
Kristin Anderson                MVP                            Escondido, CA (San Pasqual)
Courtney Rose                                                       Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Katrina Damasco                                                    Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Kelly McIntosh                                                       Encino, CA (Brentwood)

Emory Invitational All-Tournament Team
Katrina Damasco                MVP                            Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)
Courtney Rose                                                       Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Kristin Anderson                                                    Escondido, CA (San Pasqual)                    

Emory National Invitational All-Tournament Team
Janet Bunning                     MVP                            Washington, DC (Woodrow Wilson)
Courtney Rose                                                       Palo Alto, CA (Menlo)
Catherine Zidow                                                     Wesley Chapel, FL (Tampa Prep)
Katrina Damasco                                                    Glendora, CA (Polytechnic)