Concordia St. Paul Women’s Volleyball Earns DII National Championship!

Photo Caption: 2007 Concordia women’s volleyball team(Front row left-right) Kasey Woodcock, Rachel Knutsen, Meghan Ellis, Mary Slinger, Kate Bennett, Whitney Meierotto(Back row left-right) Maggie McNamara, Blair Murphy, Sadie Kessler, Emily Palkert, Maria Steinhagen, Raina Hein, Krista Erickson
Team Accomplishments
NCAA Division II National Champions
NCAA North Central Region Champions (3rd time in five years)
NSIC Regular Season Champions for fifth straight season
Tied 2006 school record with 36 wins

Individual Honors and Awards in 2007
Maggie McNamara
AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association)
First Team All-American
AVCA First Team All-Region
Daktronics First Team All-Region
First Team All-NSIC
NSIC Setter of the Week (five times)
NSIC All-Tournament Team
NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team
NCAA North Central Region All-Tournament Team
CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors Association) Second Team Academic All-District
NSIC All-Academic
NCAA single-season assist record (2,093), breaking her own record from last year (1,979)
NCAA assists per game leader (second straight year) averaging 14.54 assists per game

Emily Palkert
AVCA National Freshman of the Year
AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
AVCA First Team All-Region
AVCA Region Freshman of the Year
Daktronics Second Team All-Region
NSIC Newcomer of the Year
First Team All-NSIC
NSIC Player of the Week (twice)
NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team
NCAA North Central Region All-Tournament

Maria Steinhagen
AVCA Third Team All-American
AVCA First Team All-Region
NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team
NSIC First Team All-NSIC
NSIC All-Academic

Mary Slinger
AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
AVCA First Team All-Region
NSIC Libero of the Year
First Team All-NSIC
NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team
NCAA North Central Region All-Tournament Team
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 27)
NSIC All-Academic

Whitney Meierotto
AVCA National Player of the Week (Aug. 27)
First Team All-NSIC
Daktronics Second Team All-Region
NSIC Player of the Week (Aug. 27)
NCAA North Central Region All-Tournament Team

Brady Starkey, head coach
AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year
AVCA North Central Region Coach of the Year

Photo Caption: Governor Tim Pawlenty invited the team to the capitol as a gesture of congratulations and thanks on behalf of the state for bringing national attention to the city with their championship. The team toured the capitol and talked with Pawlenty about capturing the title. They presented the governor and his staff with national championship gear.