Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University volleyball standouts Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and Emily Kahlig (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) have capped a tremendous 2014 season with All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
Seidenstricker, a junior right-side hitter, was named a first-team All-American, while Kahlig, a sophomore middle hitter, earned third-team recognition. The All-America award is the third in as many collegiate seasons for Seidenstricker and the first for Kahlig.
Seidenstricker was the AVCA’s NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2012, and she followed that up with a second-team selection a year ago. In 2014, Seidenstricker returned to the first team after leading the Tigers with 383 kills and 55 service aces. She also piled up 382 digs, which ranked second on the team, and 58 blocks, good for fourth. In addition, Seidenstricker was charged with just 15 reception errors in 436 attempts.
In just three collegiate seasons, Seidenstricker has accumulated an astonishing set of awards, in addition to the All-America honors. She has claimed first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) following each of her first three collegiate seasons, and she has picked up a series of special awards as well, including the league’s Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in 2012 and Player of the Year in 2014. In addition, Seidenstricker has been named to the NCAC’s All-Tournament team three straight years, including a Tournament MVP award in 2014.
Seidenstricker also earned first-team All-Great Lakes Region honors each of the last three years, and she was the 2012 Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year. Finally, she has earned first-team Capital One Academic All-District 7 two straight years, and she is a candidate for a second consecutive Capital One Academic All-America award.
Kahlig ranked third on the team with 194 kills to go along with 90 blocks, good for second on the team. Her attack percentage of .308 also ranked among the best on the team and the NCAC. Kahlig earned honorable mention All-NCAC in 2013 and moved up to first-team in 2014.
The Tigers finished the 2014 season with records of 29-4 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the conference after winning their 20th NCAC regular season and tournament championships. Wittenberg, ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout the campaign, earned its 19th straight NCAA Division III Tournament bid (20th overall).
The season ended in heartbreaking fashion as the Tigers lost in the NCAA Division III Tournament Round of 16 for a third straight year by a narrow 3-2 margin.
Written By: Ryan Maurer