2008 Season Recap

The University of Dallas Lady Crusaders volleyball team's exciting season came to a close with a 16-16 record. The season included the breaking of several records and the development of the younger players on the team. The team enjoyed two five match winning streaks during the season despite the rigorous schedule which featured three teams that made the NCAA tournament. Several players had outstanding seasons.

Sophomore libero Kelli Fuentes (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.) compiled 4 new team records and reached as high as 6th in the NCAA with a 6.57 average digs per set. Among the categories in which she is the record holder at UD are: digs in a match at 60, digs in a season at 736, digs per set in a season at 6.57, and average digs per set in a career at 5.65. Furthermore, she was in the'08 AVCA 30-dig club 8 times, with her 60 dig performance against St. Thomas proving the highest dig total in a five set match in all of Division III this season. At the conclusion of the 2008 campaign, she was named team MVP by a vote of her teammates. The sophomore libero also won AD3I player of the week honors three times.

Sophomore middle blocker Celina Farrell (Corinth, TX/Lake Dallas H.S.) also won the honor twice. Senior setter Krysta Hample (Loveland, CO/Loveland H.S.) continued her great play for the Lady Crusaders breaking two individual team records and ranking as high as 31st in the NCAA in average aces per set at 0.77. Hample easily broke the all time individual record for average aces per set in a career at 0.62, as well as the all time record for aces in a career at 290. Another senior, Scarlet Walls (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.) also made the most of her final year earning AD3I player of the week honors once and setting the all time record for assists in a career with 2,705. Both Scarlet and Krysta completed their careers by lettering all four years.

Representing the strong freshman class, 6'0" middle blocker Danielle Fuchs (St. Charles, MO/Duchesne H.S.) averaged over three kills a set, once entering the NCAA top 50 in the category at 3.61. Fellow freshmen Liz Baska (Tonganoxie, KS/Tonganoxie H.S.), Emily Meyers (San Juan Capistrano, CA/JSerra Catholic H.S.), and Lauren Wilder (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) all lettered their premier season with the Crusaders. With the strong returning players, the 2009 team will look to build on the successful 2008 campaign.

Fuentes Awarded 3rd AD3I Player of the Week, #6 on NCAA Digs Per Set List, Named 2008 Team MVP

Sophomore libero Kelli Fuentes (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.) recorded a new individual match record with 60 digs, and set a new individual season record for digs. Fuentes was honored by AD3I for the 3rd time this season in being named Player of the Week.

Krysta Hample and Fuentes are both among the leaders in the following NCAA Division III Statistical categories:

Hample - #36 in Aces per set (0.71)
Fuentes - #6 in Digs per set (6.57)

These categories and more can be found at NCAA.com

More details and Dallas Volleyball match stories can be found at Volleyball News, along with stats and scores at Schedule & Results.

2008 University of Dallas AD3I Players of the Week:

Celina Farrell, Soph. (Corinth, TX/Lake Dallas H.S.): 9/1-9/7
Celina Farrell, Soph. (Corinth, TX/Lake Dallas H.S.): 9/8-9/14
Kelli Fuentes, Soph. (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.): 9/15-9/21
Scarlet Walls, Sr. (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.): 9/22-9/28
Kelli Fuentes, Soph. (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.): 10/13-10/19
Kelli Fuentes, Soph. (Garland, TX/Rowlett H.S.): 10/27-11/2

The University of Dallas is a charter member of the Association of Division III Independents. Please click on the heading below to check out all the latest information.

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Crusader Volleyball History

Volleyball began as a varsity sport in 1974, coached by Paul Swegler. Currently, the team competes at the NCAA Division III level as an independent, and has had winning seasons 7 out of the last 10 years.

In recent years the team has traveled to California, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, Maine, Ohio, Virginia and Illinois for matches against other NCAA Division III schools. This year the team will travel to Minnesota and Arkansas. In addition, the team hosts the University of Dallas Volleyball Festival in early September each season. Home matches are played on campus in the Maher Center.