Julie Haumschild, Kaylin Austen, and Courtney Springer have helped lead MVNU to a 138-41 overall record (.771 winning percentage) over the past four years. The Lady Cougars have won four National Christian College Athletic Association East Region titles, played in two NCCAA National Tournaments, captured one conference title (2007), and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in program history in 2007.

Haumschild, an outside hitter from Warsaw, Ohio, is in her third season with the Lady Cougars after playing on the women’s basketball team as a freshman at MVNU. After playing in just 20 sets during her first two seasons, the former Danville High School product has seen action in 118 sets this year and started 35 of the team’s 39 matches. This season, Haumschild has recorded career highs in kills (178), digs (91), and blocks (39).

"Julie has been such a positive addition to our volleyball team,” said MVNU coach Paul Swanson. "All of us associated with the team have come to love and appreciate her. She brings so many specific high quality character traits to our team - hard work, determination, perseverance, a positive attitude, cooperation, and encouragement.”

"Two things will always stand out about Julie to me,” Swanson continued. "She is extremely cooperative and will do whatever is asked of her at any time and with a good attitude. Secondly, Julie is one of the most improved players I have ever coached. I have been so impressed with her improvement each of the three years she has played. It has culminated with her earning the opportunity to start in her senior year.”

Austen, a setter from Shelby, Ohio, has made her mark as one of the best players at her position in the program’s history. The former Shelby High School standout holds the school record with 5,420 career assists, which is more than 1,100 assists than the next person on the list. She also ranks 19th in program history in career digs (1,144) and is just 11 digs shy of posting the highest career total of any setter in school history. In addition, she has recorded 130 aces, 148 blocks, and 174 kills while playing in 542 sets. Austen was an AMC Second Team pick and a member of the NCCAA All-National Tournament Team as a junior and was an NCCAA Second Team All-American as a sophomore.

"Kaylin has served her team in a tremendous way over the last four years,” said Swanson. "That is what the role of a setter is - to serve your team. Others get the glory while you collect the assists. After splitting time as a freshman setter, she has become our full-time setter for the last three years and what a career she has had.”

"Two things stand out about Kaylin to me,” Swanson added. "Even though she has always been a setter, she is a very good all-around player. She does everything well. As a setter, she also manages a game very well. She knows who to set when and where and why. She is a very intelligent and competitive setter. Our team’s success is directly related to Kaylin’s intelligent decision-making and competitive drive.”

Springer, a right-side hitter from Van Wert, Ohio, has played in 586 sets over the past four years and left her mark all over the MVNU record book. The former Crestview High School star currently ranks third in career serve reception percentage (93.9 percent), eighth in career digs (1,610), ninth in career serve reception attempts (2,349), and tenth in career kills (1,460). She has also compiled 149 aces, 313 assists, and 421 blocks. Among her many honors, Springer is a two-time AMC First Team selection, a two-time NCCAA Second Team All-American, and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 2007. In addition, she is a standout in the classroom where she was an NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete last year and is up for those honors again.

"Courtney has played only one position for us in her four years at MVNU - right-side hitter,” said Swanson. "Being a lefty, this has been a natural for her, but she has played it with such excellence. Even though she is not tall, her outstanding jumping ability has made her a dominant front row attacker and blocker. Her intelligence, uplifting personality, and strong character have made her much loved and appreciated by her teammates.”

"Two things about Courtney stand out to me,” Swanson continued. "People notice Courtney’s excellent front row skills because she jumps so well, but her back row skills have really won a lot of matches for us. She is easily one of the best back row players in our program’s history. Secondly, during her junior and senior seasons, she has had to deal with some chronic back problems. I have admired her courage and perseverance in working with these back issues. Despite the pain, we are thankful she has been able to continue to play.”

The Lady Cougars are currently 32-7 overall and 9-2 in the AMC. The winner of Thursday’s match will host the five-team AMC Tournament on November 13-14 with the winner of that single elimination event earning the conference’s second automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on November 21. Shawnee State University has already locked up the AMC regular-season title and with it the conference’s other automatic berth.