Heading into the 2006 season, head coach Paul Swanson and the team knew that the Lady Cougars’ biggest challenge would be finding a way to replace outside hitter Amanda Stevens (2,004 kills, 2,519 digs, and 214 aces), middle hitter Jenny Dunster (1,475 kills, 1,588 digs, and 680 blocks), and setter Allison Klusmann (4,046 assists), who had played a big role in the team’s success in previous years and ranked in the top 10 in school history in various categories.

In addition to the lineup changes, the team also knew that it would face another challenging schedule as the season got under way. MVNU ended up playing eight matches against teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25 at the time of the contest, and the Lady Cougars also faced several other teams that received votes in the weekly polls. Four of the team’s opponents - Madonna (Mich.) University, Columbia (Mo.) College, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University, and Cedarville University - eventually qualified for the NAIA National Tournament.

MVNU got off to a 13-4 start to begin the season as the Lady Cougars finished fourth at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Invitational out of 12 teams and went unbeaten at the 12-team Cornerstone (Mich.) University Invitational but finished second due to game record. MVNU also finished second out of eight teams at the Indiana Wesleyan University Invitational.

At that point, the Lady Cougars began American Mideast Conference South Division play with a few non-conference matches and tournaments mixed into the schedule. MVNU posted a 10-6 record in conference play and handed Walsh University, who finished the year ranked 16th in the NAIA poll, its only conference loss. The Lady Cougars finished the regular-season portion of their schedule with a 25-14 overall record.

During this stretch, Swanson notched two coaching milestones as he broke the NAIA’s all-time wins mark with his 798th career win in a victory at Geneva (Pa.) College on September 28. Then, in the win over Walsh on October 7, he became the first NAIA coach and only the ninth active college volleyball coach to reach the 800-win mark.

Having earned the NCCAA East Region title with victories over Malone College, Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College, and Geneva during the regular season, MVNU also earned a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament for the sixteenth straight year. The Lady Cougars went 3-1 in pool play at the 10-team event at Northwestern (Minn.) College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and advanced to the semifinals where they fell in four games to eventual NCCAA national champion Cedarville.

Then, MVNU switched its focus to the AMC Tournament at Roberts Wesleyan where the Lady Cougars were seeded fourth in the AMC South Division. MVNU eliminated AMC North Division third seed Notre Dame College before falling to Tiffin University, the AMC South Division second seed. However, the Lady Cougars kept their season alive by knocking off Geneva, the AMC North Division second seed, in the fifth-place match to advance to the NAIA Region IX Tournament for the 13th straight season as well as reaching the 30-win mark for the fourteenth straight year.

MVNU swept Roberts Wesleyan in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Region IX Tournament, but the Lady Cougars saw their season come to an end as they fell to host Walsh in straight games in the semifinals.

"This was a season of many positives and some struggles,” said Swanson, who finishes his 23rd season at MVNU with a 795-282 mark with the Lady Cougars and an 810-297 career mark in 24 years at the NAIA level. "We played a very challenging schedule, and our inconsistency did not allow us to succeed as much as we expected. However, we did win 31 matches and that is a lot in anyone’s book.”

Individually, seniors Katie Ickes, Rachael Walpole, Katie Vipperman, and Jessi Weaver wrapped up their careers at MVNU. Ickes, an outside hitter, pounded 322 kills to go with 50 blocks and 74 digs. She finished her career ranked twelfth in school history with 1,215 kills. She also compiled 237 career blocks and 320 career digs.

Walpole, a setter/outside hitter, finished the year with 279 kills, 47 blocks, 41 aces, and 337 digs. She also led the team with 1,417 assists. In just three seasons on the team and only one season as a setter, Walpole ranks ninth in school history with 1,665 career assists. She also finishes her career with 979 kills, 234 blocks, 58 aces, and 516 digs.

Vipperman, an outside hitter, closed out her career with her best season yet as she registered 130 kills, 52 blocks, and 40 aces - all career highs. She was also second on the team with a career-high 514 digs, and she had the sixth-highest single-season serve total in school history with 887 serve attempts. Vipperman finishes her career ranked eighteenth in school history with 1,093 digs.

Weaver, an outside hitter, wrapped up her career at MVNU with 10 kills, 10 digs, three blocks, and three digs as she saw action in 18 games for the Lady Cougars. In her two seasons on the team, she registered 38 kills, 23 digs, and 13 aces.

"We are losing a 1,000-kill front row performer in Katie (Ickes), one of the most versatile players in our program’s history in Rachael (Walpole), one outstanding back row player in Katie (Vipperman), and a consummate team player in Jessi (Weaver),” said Swanson of the senior class. "Besides their volleyball abilities, they are also all great people, who have enriched the lives of everyone associated with our program.”

Junior middle hitter Shena Beheler put together one of the best individual seasons in school history as she set new school records with 792 kills and 4.63 kills per game. She also led the Lady Cougars with 242 blocks, which ranks as the sixth-highest total in the program’s history. For her career, Beheler has already moved into second place in school history in both kills (2,084) and blocks (737). She also registered 32 assists, 52 aces, and 463 digs this season.

"Shena has certainly shown that she is an exceptional player,” said Swanson of Beheler, who was named the NCCAA National Player of the Year in addition to receiving many other honors. "She has earned every honor she received this year.”

Junior libero Tiffany Milburn also set new school records with 851 digs and 1,439 serve reception attempts in 2006. In addition, she had the fifth-highest single-season serve attempt total with 892, and she finished with 67 aces. For her career, Milburn has moved into second place in serve reception attempts (2,750) and sixth place in digs (1,756) on MVNU’s all-time lists.

Sophomore middle hitter Lindsey Anderson had a breakout season as she posted 294 kills, 110 digs, and 65 blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Anyssa Incerpi added 13 aces and 48 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Audrey Rider finished with 69 kills, 22 blocks, 16 aces, and 43 digs.

Freshman right-side hitter Courtney Springer put together an outstanding first collegiate season as she was second on the team with 344 kills to go with 141 blocks, 74 assists, 29 aces, and 295 digs. Freshman middle hitter Stephanie Zollars added 168 kills, 148 blocks, and 28 digs, while freshman setter Kaylin Austen handed out 484 assists with 129 digs.

"I am very proud of the exceptional character each player has exhibited in representing MVNU and the Lady Cougar volleyball program,” said Swanson.

While the loss of the four seniors will leave a void for Swanson and the Lady Cougars in 2007, the returning players will provide an excellent foundation for the team as it looks to build another winning season.