George Washington University Athletics
Volleyball Announces Yearly Team Awards, Captains for `08
5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
May 1, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC -- The 2007 George Washington Volleyball Team Awards were presented Apr. 30 at its annual season-ending banquet. Each award winner was selected by her teammates for their contributions throughout the course of the 2007 season.
Senior outside hitter Janine Brown was named the team's Most Outstanding Player and Offensive Player of the Year. The team captain and starting outside hitter, Brown led the Colonials in points (532.5), kills (481) and digs (380) and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team. She will serve as a volunteer assistant coach at GW in 2008.
Junior libero Maggie Wright was named Defensive Player of the Year with 333 digs (3.23 dpg) and 23 aces. Leah Hill was voted the Rookie of the Year with 359 digs and 25 service aces. Most Improved Player honors went to junior Jackie Yaniga who recorded 32 total blocks. Senior Erica Williams was voted Most Inspirational Player. Williams was second on the team in total blocks with 58.
GW posted a 13-17 overall mark in 2007, 5-8 in the A-10 last season and qualified for the A-10 Tournament for the first time in three years.
2007 GW VOLLEYBALL TEAM AWARDS
Most Outstanding Player: Janine Brown (6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter)
Rookie of the Year: Leah Hill (5-9, Fr., Outside Hitter)
Most Improved: Jackie Yaniga (5-11, Sr., Rightside Hitter)
Defensive Player of the Year: Maggie Wright (5-5, Jr., Libero)
Offensive Player of the Year: Janine Brown (6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter)
Most Inspirational: Erica Williams (5-9, Sr., Middle Hitter)
In other GW volleyball news, senior Maggie Wright and junior Abby Syverson have been voted to represent the 2008 squad as team captains, head coach Jojit Coronel announced Wednesday. Wright and Syverson were selected in a vote by the players.
"These two standout players not only have shown their leadership qualities on the court but also off the court," Coronel said. "Both players lead by example, work very hard in everything they do, and are individuals of incredible character."
Wright returns for her senior season as a libero and was voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II University Division Volleyball Team last season. Syverson returns as one of the team's anchors in the middle and right side. She was voted to the 2006 Atlantic 10 Conference All-Freshman team. Both players will lead the 2008 squad as they aim for a return trip to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship (St. Louis, MO) and a berth in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship at Omaha, NE.
The Colonials are scheduled to return to campus for preseason training in August. New to the team will be five incoming freshmen who figure to make an immediate impact on the success of this year's squad. GW will open the 2008 season on Aug. 29 in the third annual DC Challenge with American, George Mason and Georgetown. GW will co-host the DC Challenge with George Mason University. GW will play American at GMU on Friday, August 29, at 5:00 pm. On Saturday, August 30, GW will host the remaining four matches of the DC Challenge competing against George Mason at 11:00 a.m. and Georgetown at 7:00 p.m. All matches at GW will take place at Charles E. Smith Center, 22nd & G Streets, NW.
