"MVNC Volleyball Players Receive NCCAA Region Honors"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

   Four members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's volleyball team and their head coach where honored on Monday when the 1998 National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Team was announced.

   Tara Seiter, a senior middle hitter from Waldo, Ohio, was selected as the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year for the third consecutive season to headline the 1998 All-East Region Team. Seiter leads the Lady Cougars in kills (523), kills per game (3.96), attack percentage (.343), blocks per game (1.55), and aces (51). She has also compiled 44 assists and 404 digs.

   Rachel Widener, a junior outside hitter form Elyria, Ohio, joined Seiter on the All-Region Team for the third straight year. Widener leads MVNC with 437 digs and a 95.2 serve reception percentage. She has also recorded 32 aces, 36 assists, 65 blocks, 281 kills, and a .315 attack percentage.

   Mandy Hendrickx, a senior setter from Hudson, Ohio, was an Honorable Mention selection on the All-Region Team. Hendrickx leads the Lady Cougars with 711 assists and is second on the team with 47 aces. She has also recorded 290 digs to eclipse the 1,000 dig mark for her career.

   Jessica Huffaker, a junior middle hitter from Grove City, Ohio, joined Hendrickx as an Honorable Mention pick for the second straight year. Huffaker has posted three aces, 28 assists, 77 digs, 97 blocks, and 231 kills so far this season.

   Head coach Paul Swanson was also chosen as the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year for his efforts in guiding the Lady Cougars to a 40-2 mark so far and the NCCAA East Region title. This is the sixth straight season that Swanson has received this honor.

   MVNC will return to action on Tuesday evening when the Lady Cougars will host the University of Rio Grande in an important American Mideast Conference match that is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.