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MVNU's Dunster Named Susan R. Hellings Award Recipient
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Jenny Dunster, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s volleyball team, was recently selected as the 2005 Susan R. Hellings Award recipient by the National Christian College Athletic Association.

The Susan R. Hellings Award is the highest honor given by the NCCAA to a volleyball player. It is named in honor of a former Houghton (N.Y.) College volleyball player, who excelled on the court, in the classroom, and made a difference in her Christian walk. The award recipient must be a junior or senior student-athlete that excels on an outstanding team. She must be an excellent student-athlete, demonstrating leadership ability and having a clear Christian testimony both on and off the court.

Dunster, a senior middle hitter from Apple Creek, Ohio, has compiled 530 kills, 196 blocks, 42 aces, and 597 digs so far this season for the Lady Cougars. The former Central Christian High School standout has also registered a school-record 926 serve attempts this year. For her career, Dunster ranks seventh in school history in career kills (1,448), second in career blocks (672), seventh in career digs (1,563), and first in career serve attempts (3,000).

This season, Dunster has been honored as the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year as well as being selected to the NCCAA East Region Team, the American Mideast Conference South Division Second Team, and the NCCAA All-American First Team.

A standout in the classroom, Dunster has posted a 3.7 grade point average as a Criminal Justice/Psychology major. She has already been named to the NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete Team this season, and she was an NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete last year.

In addition to being a team captain, Dunster serves as a praise team leader and a music worship leader. She is also a small group leader.

"Jenny is a very deserving recipient of this award,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. "I can see Christ in her by the way she diligently works at her academics, by the way she always works hard at being the best volleyball player she can be, by the joy she finds in others growing in their faith, and by the way she treats people. Susan Hellings was all about having multi-dimensional talents and using them in multi-dimensional ways for Christ and His kingdom. That describes Jenny perfectly - multi-talented with a great heart for Christ.”

Dunster becomes the third MVNU volleyball player to receive this prestigious honor joining Jodi Webb (1995) and Deanna Stayman (2001).

The Lady Cougars are currently 40-11. MVNU will compete in the NAIA Region IX Tournament at Saint Vincent (Pa.) College on Friday and Saturday. The Lady Cougars will face the University of Maine at Machias in the quarterfinals on Friday at 7:00 p.m.