News for Immediate Release                           
November 13, 2000    

Contact: Amber Cox, Director of Information
Phone:573/875-7419  Fax: 573/875-7429
E-mail: american_mw@yahoo.com

  Columbia Cougars Take First Step Toward National Championship Three-Peat

  Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar women’s volleyball team took its first step toward winning the NAIA National Title for the third consecutive time, defeating Missouri Baptist College in the AMC championship match on Saturday, Nov. 11. The Cougars knocked off the Spartans in three games by scores of 15-2, 15-3 and 15-10. With the win, Columbia will receive the #1 seed and a bye in the NAIA Region V Tournament that is set to begin next week. As the runner-up in the AMC Tournament, the Spartans also receive an automatic berth to the regional playoffs. Two teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference as well as two at-large teams will also advance to the six-team, single elimination tournament.

In a vote by league coaches, Cougar outside hitter Endrina Sosa was chosen as the league’s Most Valuable Player. The sophomore from Merida, Venezuela totaled 472 kills in the 109 regular-season games, averaging 4.33 per outing. She converted 38 percent of her attacks to kills, committing only 102 errors. In addition to her offensive efforts at the net, Sosa recorded 398 digs, 38 service aces and 70 blocks. Sosa was the 1999 AMC Freshman of the Year.

Nino Gonzalez, a 6-2 outside hitter for the Cougars is the 2000 AMC Freshman of the Year. Gonzalez, also a native of Aragua, Venezuela, logged 542 kills in 991 attempts, recording a 47 percent hitting average. She committed only 78 hitting errors in 106 games and led the AMC in kills per game with 5.14. The rookie also notched 45 blocks, 284 digs and 29 service aces in her first campaign with Columbia.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is bestowed upon the top transfer-student in the AMC. Terri Rauhut, a 5-7 setter for the Missouri Baptist College, is the 2000 recipient of this award. The setter from St. Louis logged the second-best assist per game average in the AMC throughout the regular-season, recording 12.87 per outing. In addition, Rauhut totaled 425 digs, 52 service aces, 58 blocks and 61 kills.                    

The AMC Coach of the Year is Melinda Wrye-Washington from Columbia College. The first-year head coach amassed a 34-1 record in the 2000 regular-season. Her squad held the #1 spot in the NAIA Top 25 Poll for eight consecutive weeks.

A complete list of the 12-member AMC All-Conference team, the Honorable Mention squad and the Academic All-Conference team, are listed below. Members of the Academic All-Conference team have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Player

School

Pos.

YR

Hometown

Endrina Sosa

Columbia College

Outside Hitter

SO

Merida, Venezuela

Nino Gonzalez

Columbia College

Outside Hitter

FR

Aragua, Venezuela

Juliana Godoi

Columbia College

Setter

SO

Sao Paulo, Venezuela

Angie Molina

Columbia College

Middle Hitter

FR

Barinas, Venezuela

Amanda Dorries

McKendree College

Middle Hitter

SR

Breese, IL

Jessica Waldron

McKendree College

Outside Hitter

JR

Red Bud, IL

Jennifer Freund

Missouri Baptist College

Middle Hitter

SR

Eureka, MO

Brandi Schroeder

Missouri Baptist College

Outside Hitter

SO

Pacific, MO

Terri Rauhut

Missouri Baptist College

Setter

SO

St. Louis, MO

Stephanie Sebacher

William Woods University

Middle Blocker

SR

Jonesburg, MO

Alana Groom

William Woods University

Setter

FR

Lee’s Summit, MO

Nikki Morgan

Williams Baptist College

Outside Hitter

JR

Piggott, AR

Player

School

Pos.

YR

Hometown

Kelly Bernard

Harris-Stowe State College

Setter/Outside Hitter

SR

Pacific, MO

Karen Allen

Harris-Stowe State College

Setter/Outside Hitter

SR

St. Louis, MO

Renee Baughman

McKendree College

Outside Hitter

SR

Noble, IL

Leslie Walker

McKendree College

Outside Hitter

JR

Cahokia, IL

Liz Hughes

Missouri Baptist College

Outside Hitter

JR

Chicago, IL

Jennifer Curry

William Woods University

Outside Hitter

JR

Norman, OK

Alicia Hutchison

William Woods University

Outside Hitter

JR

North Bay, Ontario

Angie Beck

Williams Baptist College

Outside Hitter

JR

Piggott, AR

Columbia College
Juliana Godoi, Tricia Weisenborn  

Harris-Stowe State College
Karen Allen, Stacey Frohlich Johnson

McKendree College  
Renee Baughman, Angie Baumgartner, Krysten Camden, Sherri Eaton, Gina Heinen, Ashley Herzing, Sarah Humphrey, Amy Johnson, Susie Mueller, Joni Nottingham, Jessica Waldron, Leslie Walker

William Woods University
Stephanie Sebacher