The team carried its largest roster in years with 16 players competing for the Panthers.After working hard for a couple of weeks in August, the Panthers traveled to Claremont, Calif. to compete in the Pacific Coast Classic.Prin grabbed an impressive victory over UC Santa Cruz, and dropped a couple of 5 game battles against Pomona Pitzer and University of Redlands. We had a great chance to meet with alumni and prospective students while we were out there, and the team gave a clinic to The Clairborn School’s volleyball team.Coach Sprague upped the level of competition this season, competing against some of the nation’s best in Iowa and at Washington University, as well as the Pacific Coast Classic. The SLIAC competition was deeper and stronger this year, but Principia maintained its quest for the top spot going 1-1 with the other top contender Webster University. In the post season tournament, Principia had a hard fought match with Webster in the finals, but ended up at #2 for the season.Christina Speer earned the distinct honor of being named SLIAC Player of the year for the second year in a row, and teammates Calais Brown and Rachael Richards were named to the SLIAC All-conference team as well.The Panthers finished up the season 23-12.The team voted freshman Isabelle Tetu as the Most Improved Player, junior Lindsey Farrell as Most Inspirational, and chose Calais Brown, Christina Speer, and Rachael Richards as the Most Valuable Players.This marked the fourth straight year for the Panthers to put together a 20 plus win season.
2006 in Review
We welcomed in four new freshman that were great contributors from the beginning. Katie Duntley and Mary Warrington played at the Middle Blocker position, Anne Goodrich-Stuart stepped in as an Outside Hitter, and Teddye Shaffer trained as a Defensive Specialist.
What a year of milestones! This squad was undefeated in Conference play, 9-0 on the season. As the SLIAC season champions, we hosted the SLIAC post-season tournament in hopes of earning a berth in the NCAA National Tournament. After a grueling 5 game battle with Webster University in the finals, Principia finished the season as tournament runner-ups and wished Webster well as they continued on to the first round of Nationals.
The 2006 squad was 26-6 overall, posting the best record of all time for Principia Volleyball with a 81.2 winning percentage. This season was the first time Principia had posted a win over Webster University with Coach Sprague at the helm, and also the first time for sweeps over Fontbonne and MacMurray. Sophomore Christina Speer was voted MVP of SLIAC Volleyball, and joining her for All-Conference honors were Jenna Edginton, Stacy Rader, and Rachael Richards. Coach Mary Ann Sprague was named SLIAC Coach of the Year as well. Christina Speer also ranked as high as #2 in the nation for Division III in Kills during the season.
Coach Sprague had a goal going into the season to attain a Regional ranking for the Central region, and the team did just that, maintaining a spot in the rankings throughout the season.
Mission
The mission of the Principia College volleyball team is to serve the Cause of Christian Science by providing an amazing vehicle for developing spiritual maturity through the passion of volleyball. Through the daily challenges of being a collegiate athlete - the intense training and high level of competition - the women of the volleyball program dedicate themselves to being students of Christian Science and striving to soar above all suggestions of limitations.Volleyball at Principia College is the ultimate team sport. Every play depends on the total contribution of each individual's effort to overall team performance. Every day demands selflessness and a passion for hard work. Every season provides insight into one's soul and rewards us with the closest sisterhood to be found.
The standards of the Principia College volleyball program are:God-centered -- The volleyball team will train to consistently turn to God first and wholeheartedly for direction and protection, healing, progress, and excellence.Christian Leadership -- The program will train the women in accordance with Principle. Through the players' examples and unfaltering consistency, they will be able to communicate their great ideal to those they are leading.Excellence -- The women learn to train with consistency, discipline and obedience, and to embrace competition as a mutual quest for excellence.Womanhood -- The program will consistently provide opportunities for the women to put down limitations based on gender, grow in grace, and treasure and demonstrate their completeness.
Academic Philosophy for Principia Volleyball Team
Principia College is an NCAA Division III liberal arts school, and is also a religious institution. The entire curriculum revolves around a “whole man” concept. The whole man is comprised of the spiritual, moral, social, mental, and physical aspects, and Principia strives to make demands of the students in all of those areas.
As a coach, these ideas factor into everything the volleyball program does. The student-athletes do not have the opportunity to excel in sports until they have proven their ability and desire to excel in the classroom. Their academics success is pre-requisite to their participation in athletics. First and foremost, however, is their commitment to daily prayer and meeting the challenges of each day through God. Many times, these challenges are presented in the classroom, and many times on the volleyball court. All of the situations that push the student-athletes out of their comfort zone are blessings in the end.
As a whole, the players on the volleyball team are committed to glorifying God in all they do, and organizing their lives with the priority of a whole man education. This shows in their work ethic and discipline in the classroom and out.
2005 in Review
We were young, but we accomplished a lot. We moved up another notch to #3 spot in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. We beat the #2 team Fontbonne in one of our contests, but couldn't contain their offense in our second meeting. We had 3 freshman in starting positions, and about half of the season was spent training these athletes to step up to the college level and pace. They did a great job, and our upperclass core of leaders held the team steady while the freshman were getting used to the college game. Captains Robin Sell and Jenna Edginton, as well as juniors Stacy Rader and Amanda Davenport were instrumental to our team's success this year as they worked to create a team that wouldn't back down -- ever!
We had great solid passing this year with Stacy Rader, Jenna Edginton, Darcey Moser and Stephanie Stanley stepping up with confidence. This group provided tough-nosed backcourt defense as well. It was hard to move on from 4 year All-SLIAC setter Heather Erwin's prowess in running the offense, but freshman Rachael Richards combined with Ashley Manker and Darcey Moser gave us what we needed to progress offensively through the season, and also helped us provide a stronger block on the right side. Robin Sell and Amanda Davenport were just the veterans we needed in the middle spots. With a young supporting cast, these two set the pace for our offense and did a great job sealing the block as well.
Freshman outside hitter Christina Speer led the SLIAC in kills, and she progressed into a dominant stature among the SLIAC's finest. She was named SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, as well as being named SLIAC 1st team, and gathering two SLIAC player of the week honors in 2005. Christina also earned a spot on the Illinois College all-tournament team. Junior outside hitter Jenna Edginton finished the season with her second year in a row as a 1st team All-SLIAC member, and was named all-tournament at the Penn State Behrend tourney and the Monmouth tournament. Jenna was chosen as MVP of the Illinois College tournament, and was named MVP of the team be her teammates.
Junior Libero Stacy Rader was named 2nd team All-SLIAC and finished the season #4 in the SLIAC for digs. Senior Robin Sell received SLIAC honorable mention and was named to the SLIAC Championship All-tournament team. Robin was also selected as Most Inspirational by her teammates. Freshman setter Rachael Richards was chosen as Most Improved by her teammates.
Freshmen Christina Speer, Colie Bushong, and Sara McDaniel trade their spandex for basketball shorts, and freshman Rachael Richards and junior Jenna Edginton start preparing for Track & Field. Jenna will be looking to continue her nationally ranked Javelin career, as Rachael breaks into the middle to long distance scene training for the 800 and up. Darcey Moser was just voted as the Vice President of the Principia Student Athlete Advisory Committee and will be link to the student athletes needs and desires as the building of the new athletic training center and Natatorium continues.
The rest of the team will be coaching in our Youth development programs. We offer programs for 3rd - 12 th graders and conduct our clinics and practices in St. Louis. Our spring season starts in March and will culminate in a 16 team tourney in Lincoln, Ill in April.
