General Information - Capital University

Crusaders Volleyball team makes
more strides in 2006
For the second-straight season, Capital University’s volleyball program continued its ascension into
the national spotlight. The Crusaders made their second-straight and second-ever appearance in the
NCAA volleyball Championship and won the school’s first match in postseason play, a 3-2 victory over
Coe (iowa) College.
Though the team lost in the second round against top regional seed and No. 2 nationally Washington
(Mo.) University, Capital finished its season with a 26-10 record overall and set several milestones
along the way.
The Crusaders, who finished third in the Ohio Athletic Conference, ended the season ranked No. 24
in the nation. Head coach Pam Briggs won her 300th career match in October and led the team
to its fifth straight 25-plus win season, while a trio of talented seniors in Jordan Centers, Heather
Kwiatkowski and Marie Zumberger also left their marks on the program.
Centers led the team in kills (512) and also tied a school record with 127 games played. She was
named First-Team All-OAC, AvCA Second Team All-American, Academic All-OAC and First Team
Academic All-district. Zumberger ends her career as the school’s all-time leader in digs (1,986)
and single-season digs (892). She was named Second Team All-OAC and Academic All-OAC.
Kwiatkowski, the lone senior to spend all four years in the program, ends her Capital career among
the school leaders in games played.
Junior Jessie Hampson continued her solid play in a Crusader uniform. Hampson, the 2005 OAC
Player of the year, was named First Team All-OAC, AvCA Second Team All-American, Academic
All-OAC and Second Team Academic All-district. She led the OAC with a .335 hitting percentage and
total blocks. Her 447 kills ranked second on the team and she also ranked second with 321 digs.
Three sophomores, Kara Guster, Heidi rose and Kelly Steineman, all saw extended playing time.
Guster was an All-OAC honorable mention selection, who led the team in assists (581), while rose
and Steineman both were among the team leaders in blocks. Freshmen Sarah Gallik, Allison Hostetler
and Jenna Zumberger also provided a glimpse of the future. Gallik and Hostetler were third and fourth
on the team in kills, while Hostetler tallied 139 blocks, the second most on the team. Zumberger’s
478 assists also ranked second-best on the team.
Jordan Centers played in a
school-record 127 games in 2006
as she led the Crusaders in kills on
her way to All-American honors.
2006 rEviEW
9
2007 volleyball