News for Immediate Release                           
November 16, 2002    

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

Columbia Cougars Clinch Tenth Consecutive Conference Tournament Title

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia Cougar women’s volleyball notched its tenth consecutive AMC postseason tournament title today, defeating the Missouri Baptist University Spartans by scores of 34-32, 30-24 and 30-20. With the win, Columbia will receive the No. 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 playoff. 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. The winner of the Region V tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in San Diego, Calif. at Point Loma Nazarene University on Dec. 4-7.

In a vote by league coaches, Cougar senior outside hitter Endrinha Sosa has been named the AMC Most Valuable Player for the 2002 regular season. It is the second time the Merida, Venezuela native has collected the award. In her final campaign as a Cougar, Sosa led her team to the AMC regular season title and a 26-4 overall finish. She tallied 312 kills, averaging 3.6 per game. In addition, she averaged 4.6 digs and totaled 30 service aces and 32 blocks during the regular season.

Sandra Gomez-Botero, a rookie outside hitter for the Cougars, is the AMC Freshman of the Year. Gomez-Botero, who hails from Antioquia, Colombia, appeared in 56 of Columbia’s 90 games, recording 171 kills and 138 digs. In addition, she tallied 19 assists and 19 service aces.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is bestowed upon the top transfer-student in the AMC. Theresa Mason, an outside hitter for McKendree College is the 2002 recipient of the award. Mason appeared in 119 games for the Bearcats, notching 279 kills. The DuQuion, Ill. native also tallied 293 digs and 25 blocks.

The AMC Coach of the Year is Jay Potter from Missouri Baptist University. The Spartan head coach amassed a 24-5 overall record in the 2002 regular-season. Potter led Missouri Baptist to a second place finish in the AMC regular season, finishing with an 11-1 mark.

A complete list of the 12-member AMC all-conference team, the honorable mention squad and the academic all-conference team, are listed on the following pages. Members of the academic all-conference team have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Hannibal-LaGrange College
Abigail Carroll, Lori Coley, Sarah Dorsey, Joni Hartman, Elizabeth Rudnick, Sara Verdeyan

McKendree College
Krysten Camden, Angie Durham, Erin Fahey, Melanie Hemker, Lindsey Henry, Ashley Herzing, Jennifer Lerch, Becky Loeschner, Lindsay Lott, Susie Mueller, Amie Westlake

Missouri Baptist University
Julie Brinker, Andrea Ellis, Adrienne Francis, Sarah Inman, Laura Karsch, Lori Hambleton, Anne Rauhut, Brandi Schroeder, Brandy Werner

William Woods University
Kathy Gettinger, Chrissy Long, Heather Roberts

Williams Baptist College
Ashley Easter, Bekah Lockhart