Five Lady Blues earn All-MIAA honors, Herron named Coach of the Year

For immediate release - Nov. 10, 2005
The Washburn volleyball team landed three players on the MIAA first team, which was released by the conference Thursday. Erica Cowhick, Tessa Jones and Monica Miesner were All-MIAA first team selections, while head coach Chris Herron was named MIAA Coach of the Year. Andi Moran was a second team selection, while Mandi Cox was an honorable mention selection.

Cowhick, a 5-7 sophomore libero from Topeka, has 615 digs this season for the Lady Blues which is just seven shy of Shanna Haslett's school record. She is second in the MIAA with 5.35 digs per game and was named MIAA Specialist of the Week after a career-high 43 digs against CMSU Sept. 27.

Jones, a 6-1 sophomore right side from Lee's Summit, Mo., is seventh in the MIAA with 4.40 points a game, eight in hitting at .291, eighth in kills per game at 3.55 and seventh in aces with 0.34 a game. She was named MVP of the MSSC Invitational and Colorado School of Mines Tournament and was named MIAA Hitter of the Week Aug. 29 after hitting .432 at the MSSU Invitational.

Miesner, a 5-11 sophomore outside hitter from Florissant, Mo., leads the team and is second in the MIAA with a 3.87 kills/game average. She is also sixth in the MIAA with 4.45 points/game, eighth in aces with 0.34 a game and ninth in digs with 4.05 per game. Miesner was named MIAA Hitter of the Week Oct. 24 after averaging 14 kills per match and hitting .382 in three MIAA sweeps.

Moran, a 5-11 freshman setter from St. Louis, Mo., is third in the MIAA with 12.03 assists per game and is second in the MIAA with 0.46 aces per game. She was named to the all-tournament teams at the Missouri Southern Classic and Colorado Mines Tournament and was named MIAA Specialist of the Week Sept. 26 and Oct. 31. Moran had a career-high 72 assists at Central Missouri State Oct. 25.

Cox, a 6-0 sophomore middle hitter from Richmond, Kan., leads the MIAA and is 21st in NCAA DII rankings with a .368 hitting percentage. She was named MIAA Hitter of the Week Monday (Nov. 7) after a career-high 19 kills and a .533 hitting percentage at No. 20 Rockhurst on Nov. 1.

Herron, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Lady Blues, led Washburn to its second MIAA title in school history and a 33-1 overall and 15-1 MIAA record. Washburn has won its last 20 matches, including 13 straight in MIAA play. The Lady Blues will earn their third NCAA Tournament berth in four seasons under Herron after never reaching NCAA Division II postseason play prior to his appointment as head coach.

ALL-MIAA VOLLEYBALL TEAM
First Team
Erica Cowhick, WU L 5-7 So. Topeka, Kan.
Kim Edwards, ESU S 5-7 Sr. Sioux City, Iowa
Becky Haug, CMSU MH 6-0 Sr. Lee's Summit, Mo.
Tessa Jones, WU MH 6-1 So. Lee's Summit, Mo.
Monica Miesner, WU OH 5-11 So. Florissant, Mo.
+Sarah Shearman, TSU OH 5-8 Jr. Manchester, Mo.
Kelsey Wackerman, TSU OH/S 5-11 Jr. Camdenton, Mo.
+=Repeat first-team choice from 2004

Second Team
Leah Griswold, ESU OH 5-9 Jr. Marysville, Kan.
Andi Moran, WU S 5-11 Fr. St. Louis, Mo.
Pam Radell, PSU L 5-10 Sr. Pittsburg, Kan.
Andrea Robertson, CMSU MH 6-0 So. Hermann, Mo.
Katie Tarka, CMSU L 5-9 Jr. St. Charles, Mo.
Micaela Walter, TSU MH 6-0 Sr. Topeka, Kan.
Sammie Williams, PSU RH 6-1 Fr. Fort Osage, Mo.
Kaci Young, CMSU S 5-8 Sr. Littleton, Colo.
Eight listed on second team due to tie in voting

Honorable Mention
Courtney Aguilar, ESU L 5-6 Jr. Lenexa, Kan.
Misti Baser, SBU L 5-3 Jr. Owensville, Mo.
Alyssa Berg, MWSU OH/MH 5-10 Jr. Bellevue, Neb.
Ashley Blickenstaff, MWSU MH 6-0 Jr. Stamford, Neb.
Marian Broderick, MWSU L/OH 5-8 Sr. Wichita, Kan.
Natalie Browning, ESU OH 5-9 Sr. Paola, Kan.
Brooke Butler, CMSU OH 5-9 Fr. Tulsa, Okla.
Mandi Cox, WU MH 6-0 So. Richmond, Kan.
Lauren Cummings, NWMSU MH 6-0 So. Ankeny, Iowa
Hallie Delagardelle, MWSU OH 5-10 Fr. Dike, Iowa
Therese Hand, MWSU S 5-7 Sr. Boulder, Colo.
Sarah Hoffmeister, MSSU OH 5-8 So. Joplin, Mo.
Sarah Joles, MSSU S 5-8 Fr. Blue Springs, Mo.
Chelsea Kenney, SBU S 5-8 So. Stockton, Mo.
Melissa Malone, MWSU OH 5-10 Jr. Roca, Neb.
Ashley Mehrer, MSSU MH 6-1 Jr. Kansas City, Mo.
Megan Norman, MSSU L 5-6 Jr. Stockton, Mo.
Megan Remley, TSU MH 6-0 Sr. Kearney, Mo.
Whitney Stare, SBU MH 6-0 Fr. Allen, Texas
Laura Toman, PSU OH 6-1 So. Wichita, Kan.
Sarah Trowbridge, NWMSU OH 5-9 Jr. Boone,Iowa
Sarah Wohlgemuth, PSU S 5-10 Sr. Atchison, Kan.

Most Valuable Player
Kelsey Wackerman, OH/S, TSU

Freshman of the Year
Sammie Williams, RH, PSU

Wilson® Coach of the Year
Chris Herron, WU