The 2009 NCAA Division III national champion volleyball team will be honored with a Celebration of Champions at 3 p.m. Feb. 7 in the WU Field House. The ceremony will begin promptly following the conclusion of the men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader against Emory University.
As a part of the celebration festivities, WUSTL will honor its 2009 NCAA Division III national runner-up women’s soccer team, which advanced to the NCAA championship game for the first time in program history.
The event will include remarks from Washington University coaches, administrators and student-athletes, a presentation of championship rings to the 2009 volleyball team, and the unveiling of the 2009 national championship banner.
Free national championship posters will be available to all fans in attendance, and a limited number of championship T-shirts will be available to WUSTL students and faculty with an ID. The Bears will hold an autograph session immediately following the event.
The volleyball team captured its NCAA record 10th national championship with a 3-1 victory over rival Juniata College Nov. 21, 2009, in University Heights, Ohio. It marked the third national championship for head coach Rich Luenemann and the team’s first since 2007.
The Bears boasted three American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America selections last season, with freshman libero Kelly Pang garnering National Freshman of the Year and first-team All-America honors, while senior middle hitter Erin Albers and freshman setter Marilee Fisher were named second-team All-Americans.
Luenemann was named the AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.
The women’s soccer team fell to No. 1 and defending national champion Messiah College, 1-0, in the national championship game Dec. 5, 2009, in San Antonio.
The Bears tied a school record with a 17-4-3 overall record and won their fourth-straight University Athletic Association championship.
Seniors Libby Held and Caryn Rosoff garnered National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America honors.