They rank No. 9 in the Division III Top-25 Coaches Poll by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
A school record of five members earned All-Southern Athletic Conference honors for their regular season performance. A first-year player received first-team honors this year, which has never happened before. They finished with an astounding record of 31-3 in their regular season. This is your Colorado College Women’s Volleyball fall 2013.
First-year Abby Holtze, the team’s first-year player to receive first-team honors and be nominated for Freshman of the Year leads the way on the court as an outside hitter. Holtze finished second in the SCAC with an average of 3.16 kills per set, tenth with a .233 hitting percentage, and leads CC with 12 double doubles and 360 points.
Sophomores Devon Lucero and Sophie Merrifield joined Holtze on the first team. Middle hitter/team captain Kristen Liberty and opposite hitter Courtney Birkett followed along as second-team selections.
Lucero is the leader of the SCAC with an average of 9.59 assists per set and is third with an average of 0.4 service aces per set. Merrifield ranks second in the SCAC with an average of 5.55 digs and ninth with an average of 0.31 service aces per set.
Captain Liberty leads the SCAC with a .280 hitting percentage and is ninth with an average of .76 blocks per set. Amongst the Tigers, she’s ranked first for total blocks (81), block solos (9), and block assists (72).
Earning a strong spot on the second team for the second consecutive year, Birkett ranked fourth in the SCAC holding a .257 hitting percentage. She ranks second on the team with 326 points and second in total blocks (61) and block assists (58), holding an impressive average of 2.51 kills per set.
“Especially since we’re such a young team our record is a great accomplishment for us,” said opposite hitter Birkett, “Our team has such great chemistry and it’s always so fun to be with them on and off the court.”
“This season has been very special and memorable due to the combination of players and coaches that we have,” says Merrifield. “Each player contributes something different to the team, and these differences are what allows us to be successful.”
Merrifield credits their success to the way that they “always make sure to tell each other that we will be remembered by the way we finish the season, not the way we started it. By doing that, we are able to focus on playing one game at a time and never get ahead of ourselves.”
One thing is for sure – their chemistry on the court has greatly benefitted the team so far. We wish them the best of luck as they enter into their first round of the SCAC Volleyball Championships this Friday in Atlanta, Ga.
Samantha Buxbaum, Guest Writer