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Final NAIA National Ranking - 25th Up Next: Season Completed
Clark inks familiar name “This is a huge bonus to our program!” Clark stated. “Kari is a natural athlete with a competitive spirit that will raise everyone’s level of play. I know she will make a tremendous contibution to our defensive efforts and to the overall focus of the team.” Flunker’s four-year basketball career at CU is legendary. She led the Jackets to a 124-18 overall record, back-to-back NAIA national runner-up finishes, and three straight American Mideast Conference titles. Flunker, a two-time AMC Player of the Year and the 2005 NCCAA Player of the Year, has eight career school records to her credit including most points scored (2,275). The 5-foot-7 defensive specialist, who was the Northern Lakes Conference volleyball Player of the Year during her senior year at Florence (WI) High School, expects to strengthen an already talent-laden CU volleyball team. The Jackets were a best-ever 44-10 last season, won the AMC South Division crown with a 16-0 mark, claimed the NAIA Region IX championship, and made their first-ever appearance at the NAIA Nationals. Among others, senior setter Kelsey Jones, the NCCAA Player of the Year, and sophomore middle hitter Sarah Zeltman, an NAIA Third Team All-American, return this fall. When asked about playing volleyball now, Flunker responded, “I guess the biggest reason is that I realized that I have the rest of my life to teach and coach, but not to participate at a high level in college athletics. So, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity that Coach Clark has offered. “I am looking forward to a new challenge, playing something different from basketball, and seeing how it all works out. Also, to have the opportunity to develop close relationships with another set of teammates will be awesome.” Four sign with CU volleyball Springfield, Ohio native Libby Short, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, is from nearby Shawnee High School. She was the Springfield News-Sun Co-Area Player of the Year and was voted to the All-Ohio Division III Third Team. Her older brother, Ryan, will be a sophomore on the Yellow Jacket basketball squad. Cari Greetham, a 5-8 outside hitter from Wellington (Ohio) High School, was the Lorain County Conference Player of the Year and the district Player of the Year. She graduated as her school’s all-time leader in digs and assists. Cari has multiple Cedarville connections. Both of her parents are graduates of the school; her father, Fred, is a member of the CU Athletic Hall of Fame as a former baseball standout; older brother, Forest, played baseball at CU from 2001-04; and older sister, Jackie, will be a senior outfielder on the Lady Jacket softball squad. The third player to sign is Westerville, Ohio product Kelly Theiss, a 5-9 outside hitter from Northside Christian High School. She was voted Player of the Year in both the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League and the Buckeye Christian School Association after leading her team in nearly every statistical category. The most recent signee is Cincinnati native Maija Hampton, a 5-6 outside hitter from Central Baptist High School. She graduated as the school's all-time leader in kills, digs, aces, and blocks and was her team's leader in kills over each of the last three seasons.
Zeltman named NAIA All-American Zeltman named AMC Player of the Year; Jones, Clark honored Zeltman and Jones were part of the All-AMC First Team while Julia Bradley and Lauren Mable were chosen to the All-AMC Second Team. Zeltman was also voted the AMC South Division Freshman of the Year. It's the third straight time a Lady Jacket has won the award with Mable earning it in 2002 and Bradley achieving the honor in 2003. [ALL-AMC SOUTH DIVISION TEAM and ALL-AMC SOUTH FRESHMEN TEAM]
Jones, Clem take NCCAA top honors Jones was presented the NCCAA’s top honor after taking Cedarville to the semifinals. She was named to the NCCAA All-America First Team along with Julia Bradley while Lauren Mable was selected to the Second Team. Jones and Sarah Zeltman also earned spots on the NCCAA National All-Tournament Team. Clem received the coveted Susan R. Hellings Award that recognizes an excellent volleyball student-athlete, who demonstrates leadership ability and has a clear Christian testimony both on and off the court. She joins Lori Bunger (1999) as the only two Lady Jacket Hellings Award recipients. [NCCAA AWARDS and NCCAA TOURNAMENT INFORMATION] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
