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For Immediate Release
December 15, 2006
2006 Season Wrap-up
Despite an eighth-place finish in the
GPAC and a 5-11 league mark, the Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball team
qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships for the third
year in a row and the fifth time in six years. The team’s
9-3 record in Div. III games propelled NWU into a first-round match
with powerhouse Washington University (Mo.).
The Prairie Wolves fell short in their upset
bid against the eventual national runner-up and finished its season
with a 14-15 overall record.
After some early season struggles, the team rebounded to win seven
of eight matches during the middle of the season. In that span,
the Prairie Wolves won the Molten Spike It Up Classic hosted by
Colorado College, where senior middle blocker Amy Vanderkolk was
named tournament MVP. NWU’s four wins over Div. III foes at
the Classic helped secure a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Junior libero Linsey Thomsen continued to impress on defense as
she shattered her own school records for digs (806) and digs per
game (7.90). She surpassed the 2,000 career dig mark, and with her
senior season still to play, Thomsen already holds the NWU career
record for digs (2,069). Vanderkolk paced the team in kills (3.10
per game) and total blocks (1.18 per game), while first-year setter
Kirsten Foster led the team in assists (9.11 per game).
In terms of All-Conference awards, Thomsen was named to the All-GPAC
First Team and shared Libero of the Year honors. Vanderkolk earned
a spot on the Second Team, and Foster made the list of honorable
mentions.
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