Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University volleyball standouts Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder), Emily Kahlig (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) and Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) have earned 2014 All-Great Lakes Region honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
This is the first all-region honor for Kahlig, the second for Vodopich, and the third for Seidenstricker. Kahlig and Seidenstricker earned first-team honors, while Vodopich earned honorable mention for a second consecutive year.
Student-athletes who make the first team in regional voting are automatically considered for All-America awards, which are announced at the AVCA’s annual banquet the night before the national quarterfinal matches, hosted this year by Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.
Seidenstricker, a junior right-side hitter, leads the Tigers for a third straight season with 345 kills and 50 service aces, in addition to 338 digs and 65 blocks, which rank second and third, respectively, on the team. The 2012 NCAA Division III Freshman of the Year, Seidenstricker has been charged with just 13 reception errors in 372 attempts in the 2014 season. She has earned first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honors three times in her career, in addition to the league’s Player of the Year award in 2012 and 2014.
A sophomore middle hitter, Kahlig ranks third on the team with 184 kills to go along with a team-best 86 blocks. Her attack percentage of .324 also tops the team and ranks among the best in the NCAC. Kahlig earned honorable mention All-NCAC in 2013 and moved up to first-team in 2014.
Vodopich recently moved into the top five in Wittenberg history for career assists after leading the Tigers with 777 assists in 2014. She also has piled up 44 service aces, 95 kills and 244 digs to earn first-team All-NCAC for the second straight season.
The Tigers finished the 2014 regular season with records of 27-3 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the conference en route to their 20th NCAC regular season and tournament championships. Wittenberg, ranked fourth in the nation, earned its 19th straight NCAA Division III Tournament bid (20th overall), which starts today with a first-round match at home against Cabrini College.
Written By: Ryan Maurer