February 2007 - Austin College

HOMETEAMVolleyball Team HasOutstanding RecordThe Austin College volleyball team had anotheroutstanding season in 2006, its first in the SouthernCollegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), posting a 34-8overall record and finishing the year ranked 17th in the country, thehighest final ranking in program history. The team earlier in theseason earned the program’s highest national ranking when it reached15th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.The Kangaroos finished the season with a 14-4 record inconference play and earned the distinction of being the lone SCACteam to defeat conference champion TrinityUniversity, toppling the Tigers 3-2 on Oct. 21.The ’Roos faced their toughest schedule inrecent years, playing four teams ranked in theAVCA Division III Top 25, as well as NAIATop 25-team Texas Wesleyan and Division II’sSoutheastern Oklahoma State University.Despite the strong schedule, the ’Roosraced out to a 12-0 start before falling to No. 5-ranked Emory University. After a win overBridgewater State, the ’Roos droppedconsecutive matches to nationally rankedTrinity and Southwestern University beforerebounding with six straight wins.Over the next 19 matches, the ’Roossuffered just four losses to close out the regularPHOTO BY ARYA REJAEEseason en route to earning a chance to compete in the NCAANational Championship Tournament. The ’Roos season came to anend against Emory in the first round of the tournament when theylost a 3-2 heartbreaker.Veronica Stephens ’07 surpassed the 5,000-assist mark for hercareer, easily a school record. She averaged 12.6 assists-per-game,placing her among the national leaders in that category. Stephens alsoled the team with 68 service aces and was a two-time SCAC Player ofthe Week and an AVCA DIII Player of the Week. Becca Harpham’07 wrapped up her career in fine fashion,averaging 3.4 kills-per-game and 3.5 digs-pergame,while also finishing third on the teamwith 66 service aces. Harpham also was a SCACPlayer of the Week.Stephens and Harpham were named FirstTeam All-SCAC, while Kaitlin Listol ’08earned Second Team honors after averaging ateam-best 3.6 kills-per-game. Listol also had 67service aces and averaged 3.1 digs-per-game.The three ’Roos were named to the AVCA All-South Region First Team, and Stephens andHarpham were named AVCA Second Team All-America. Listol earned Honorable Mention All-America status.COURTESY PHOTOBaseball Team Joins Habitat EffortMembers of the Kangaroo baseball team wereamong many workers on a Habitat for Humanityhouse built in November at Ameriquest Field inArlington, Texas, in partnership with TexasRangers Baseball Foundation. Coach CarlIwasaki and 17 members of the team spent aday building and 20 members of the campusHabitat chapter later spent a day putting upsiding. The house came “home” to Denison,Texas, for completion in December. AustinCollege JanServe volunteers helped with finalprojects on the house.32 FEBRUARY 2007