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 EricksonTeam AccomplishmentsNCAA Division II National ChampionsNCAA North Central Region Champions (3rd time in five years)NSIC Regular Season Champions for fifth straight seasonTied 2006 school record with 36 winsIndividual Honors and Awards in 2007Maggie McNamaraAVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) First Team All-AmericanAVCA First Team All-RegionDaktronics First Team All-RegionFirst Team All-NSICNSIC Setter of the Week (five times)NSIC All-Tournament TeamNCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament TeamNCAA North Central Region All-Tournament TeamCoSIDA (College Sports Information DirectorsAssociation) Second Team Academic All-DistrictNSIC All-AcademicNCAA 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 gameEmily PalkertAVCA National Freshman of the YearAVCA Honorable Mention All-AmericanAVCA First Team All-RegionAVCA Region Freshman of the YearDaktronics Second Team All-RegionNSIC Newcomer of the YearFirst Team All-NSICNSIC Player of the Week (twice)NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament TeamNCAA North Central Region All-TournamentMaria SteinhagenAVCA Third Team All-AmericanAVCA First Team All-RegionNCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament TeamNSIC First Team All-NSICNSIC All-AcademicMary SlingerAVCA Honorable Mention All-AmericanAVCA First Team All-RegionNSIC Libero of the YearFirst Team All-NSICNCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament TeamNCAA North Central Region All-Tournament TeamNSIC Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 27)NSIC All-AcademicWhitney MeierottoAVCA National Player of the Week (Aug. 27)First Team All-NSICDaktronics Second Team All-RegionNSIC Player of the Week (Aug. 27)NCAA North Central Region All-Tournament TeamBrady Starkey, head coachAVCA Division II National Coach of the YearAVCA North Central Region Coach of the YearPhoto 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.