The Washington University volleyball team captured its 10th NCAA Division III national title Nov. 21 by defeating top-ranked Juniata College, 3-1.
“From the time that you see us step out on the court, with the intensity and the emotion and the focus that we have, this is easily one of the greatest success stories I have ever been a part of,” coach Rich Luenemann said.
Sophomore middle hitter Lauren Budde was named the most outstanding player of the championship tournament after leading the Bears with 15 kills and five total blocks in the victory over Juniata. Sophomore outside hitter Kristen Thomas and freshman libero Kelly Pang joined Budde on the all-tournament team.
“I think that it is very important to keep in mind that even though we have several girls on the team who have won at nationals and been in this position before, a majority of the girls on the court were freshmen and sophomores,” senior captain Laura Brazeal said. “And for them to come out and play at this level was amazing.”
It was the third national title for Luenemann, who also led his team to the pinnacle of Division III volleyball in 2003 and ’07. The title match marked the sixth time Luenemann has guided a team to the national championship match, and he improves to 3-3 all-time in national title contests and 43-8 in all NCAA tournament competition.
One of the most intense rivalries in the country, the match marked the fifth time WUSTL and Juniata have met to decide the national championship, with the Bears holding a 3-2 edge in those meetings.
Things didn’t start out positively for the Bears. Too many errors, both forced and unforced, cost the team the opening set in an 18-25 loss. The team rallied to win the next three sets 26-24, 25-17 and 25-21.
Serving was a weakness for WUSTL in the first set, but it was a strength in the match overall.
“Any time that you can serve tough, that means you make the other team’s setter run the offense from the 10-foot line, which means you put their offense in jeopardy,” Luenemann said. “Our serving was an incredibly important part of this game. It kept Juniata attacking off the net, and it kept them from using their fast options.”
Seniors Erin Albers and Brazeal will graduate with two national championships, becoming the first senior class to do so since WUSTL ended its string of six straight national championships in 1996.
“With both teams, it was an amazing experience because the team really came together toward the end of the season,” Brazeal said.
“This year especially, we started off with great team chemistry from the beginning, and that is what made this season amazing for me — and I think for the other girls as well,” she said.
Thomas hit .333 in the national championship match, tallying 12 kills, five digs and two service aces. She reached double-digit kills in all three matches at the NCAA championship.
Pang, who was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III National Freshman of the Year, compiled 30 digs in the title match. She also increased her WUSTL single-season record dig tally to 702, shattering the old mark of 606 set by Nicole Hodgman in another national championship season, 2003.
This title is the latest in an impressive run for WUSTL athletics. The Bears now have won 17 team national championships in school history (10 volleyball, four women’s basketball, two men’s basketball and one men’s tennis).