2010 Volleyball Season Recap

The 2010 Emory volleyball team turned in a memorable season and in the process continued its reputation as one of the top Division III programs in the nation.  The Eagles battled their way into the title match of the NCAA Division III Championships for the second time in three years and though the team came up short in their bid for the program’s second national crown, there were an array of highlights to reflect upon, both on a team and individual basis.

For the record, Emory finished 2010 with an overall record of 36-5, the highest win total in school annals. The 36 triumphs represented the program’s 12^th campaign of 30 or more wins during the 15-year tenure of head coach Jenny McDowell and marked the school’s 17^th consecutive winning campaign.  

In addition to the impressive final record, Emory volleyball enjoyed many other accomplishments that included the following.

** Earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 15th consecutive year.  After advancing through regional play, Emory met No. 5-ranked Christopher Newport in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships and edged the Captains, 3-2, with the decisive fifth game going the Eagles way, 15-11.  Emory then met conference foe and host Washington University in the semifinals and, after dropping the first set, rallied for a 3-1 triumph over the Bears that included a 29-27 win in the second set.  The Eagles took on Calvin College in the championship clash and fell behind by a 2-0 margin after coming out on the short end of 14-25, 20-25, scores.  Emory stayed alive with a 25-19 win in the third game but Calvin closed out the match with a 25-23 nailbiter in the fourth set.

** Bringing home the University Athletic Association Championship back to Atlanta for the third time in the past four seasons.  After dispatching Rochester in the opening round by a 3-0 count, the Eagles topped Case Western, 3-0 before upending No. 23-ranked Chicago, 3-0, in the semifinals.  In the title showdown, Emory defeated then No. 1-ranked Washington University, 3-1. The Eagles finished the UAA portion of the schedule with a 10-1 record, and own a 40-4 ledger in conference affairs since the 2007 season.  

** Concluding the regular season ranked first nationally and owning the No. 2 slot in the final poll as conducted 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 14 seasons.

** Hosting the NCAA Regionals for the first time since the 2005, Emory defeated Piedmont in the opening round, 3-0, before topping a feisty Washington & Lee unit, 3-1, in the regional semifinals.  The Eagles then met No. 20-ranked Cal Lutheran in the championship match and came away with a thrilling 3-2 decision over the Regals, sending them to the NCAA Championships.

** Ranking prominently on the national scene in a number of statistical categories including 2^nd in hitting percentage (29.0%), 10th in assists per set (12.42 aps), 34th in blocks per set (2.19 bps), 5^th in kills per set (13.74 kps) and 8^th in winning percentage (87.8%).

** Playing 17 matches against 14 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recording a 15-2 record in those affairs.

** Playing a total of 15 matches against Top 25 teams and finishing 12-3 in those encounters, Emory topped two No. 1-ranked teams during the season, Juniata on Oct. 22 and Washington University at the UAA Championships on Nov. 6.

** Having three players earn AVCA All-America recognition with Amelia McCall claiming National Player of the Year honors.

** The Woodruff PE Center provided Emory with a definite home-court advantage with the squad recording a 14-1 slate.   Over the last seven years, the Eagles stand an impressive 107-15 in home matches.

** At one point during the season, Emory won 19 straight matches (Oct. 16 through Nov. 20), winning 57 of 66 sets in the process.

Amelia McCall earned a bevy of awards and became the second player in school history to be named by the AVCA as Division III Player of the Year.  The 5-foot-10 McCall garnered First Team All-UAA recognition and was tabbed as the conference’s MVP.  She led the team and stood fifth in the UAA in kills (3.39 kps) and her final total of 481 terminations placed her sixth on the school’s seasonal list.  McCall recorded a team-high 31 matches of double-figure terminations and either led or shared for team honors in kills in 19 matches.  While her offensive skills were well documented, she also shined defensively,  chalking up 24 matches of double-figure digs en route to totaling 20 double-doubles (kills/digs).  She concluded the season with 412 digs, seventh on the school’s seasonal ladder. Amelia was named the MVP of the Emory National Invitational (Oct. 29-30) and the Maryville College Tournament (Sept. 4-5).  

Breanah Bourque gave Emory a formidable threat at the net, both as a hitter and blocker, and she was recognized for her stellar play by being chosen as a Second Team All-American.  The 5-foot-11 middle hitter was afforded First Team All-UAA kudos and was an All-South Region selection after registering a
.364 hitting percentage that led the team, was 10th on the school's seasonal chart, ranked No. 2 among UAA performers and was 27th nationally. Bourque churned out 30 matches of double-figure terminations and averaged 3.20 kills per set, second on the squad and seventh in the UAA.  In addition, she paced the club and was No. 3 in the conference in total blocks (0.95 bps).  She was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Atlanta Regional and landed a berth on the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team.

Junior Jessica McAlvany continued her steady play and raked in more honors following her second year in the program.  The 6-foot-1 McAlvany registered a Third Team All-America nod after playing in all 41 matches and ranking third on the team and eighth among UAA players in kills (3.19 kps).  McAlvany was picked to the first team of both All-UAA and All-South Region squads for the second straight season
after manufacturing 28 matches of double-figure kills. She led or shared for team honors in terminations on 11 occasions and hit .300 or higher in 16 contests.

Junior setter Natalie Schonefeld remained one of Division III’s top players at the position, bringing home Honorable Mention All-America acclaim.  Schonefeld was both a First Team All-UAA (third straight year) and All-South Region choice after ranking No. 2 in the league and No. 9 nationally in assists (11.1 apg).  Her 1,552 assists total placed her third on Emory's seasonal list while her average was good for sixth.  Named to the NCAA Atlanta Regional and NCAA Championships All-Tournament Teams, she turned in eight matches of 50 or more assists and was named the MVP of the Wid Guisler Invitational (Oct. 22-23) hosted by Juniata College. After three years with the Eagles, she is No. 2 all-time on the school’s chart with 4,378 assists.

A pair of Emory veterans, Kelsey Krzyston and Ana Ramirez, closed out their four-year careers helping the program to 138 wins and three UAA titles.  Krzyston saw action in 149 matches and finished fifth at Emory with 1030 digs and ninth with 196 service aces.  Ramirez took to the court in 106 matches and totaled 221 digs along with 63 service aces.