Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University volleyball standout Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) has capped a tremendous 2013 season with second-team All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
The All-America recognition is the second in as many collegiate seasons for Seidenstricker. She was the AVCA’s NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2012.
Seidenstricker, a sophomore right-side hitter, led the Tigers for a second straight season with 376 kills and 72 service aces. She also piled up 384 digs and 47 blocks, which ranked second and third, respectively, on the team. In addition, Seidenstricker was charged with just 14 reception errors in 384 attempts.
In just two collegiate seasons, Seidenstricker has accumulated an astonishing set of awards, starting with first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honors in 2012 and 2013. She was the league’s Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year a year ago, and she has picked up NCAC All-Tournament team awards each of the last two years.
Seidenstricker also earned first-team All-Great Lakes Region honors in 2012 and 2013, and she was last year’s Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year. Finally, in addition to the aforementioned All-America awards, Seidenstricker was recently named first-team Capital One Academic All-District 7, making her a candidate for Academic All-America honors.
The Tigers finished the 2013 season with records of 25-9 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the conference after winning their 19th NCAC regular season and tournament championships. Wittenberg, ranked in the top 13 nationally throughout the campaign, earned its 18th straight NCAA Division III Tournament bid (19th overall).
The season ended in heartbreaking fashion for a second straight year at the hands of top-ranked Calvin in a regional championship match. The Tigers rallied from two sets down only to lose 3-2 to Calvin, which will continue national tournament play Thursday, Nov. 21, in the national quarterfinals.
Written By: Ryan Maurer