SEASON RECAP
Wittenberg University's volleyball had what was arguably one of the best
seasons in school history in 1996. The Tigers received their second-ever
bid to the NCAA Division III touranment and won their first-ever first
round game. The team finished second in the North Coast Athletic
Conference but had great success through the season against what was
certainly the most difficult schedule in the program's history.
Wittenberg defeated perennial power Bluffton College for the first time
in 12 tries in the first round of the NCAA Division III Great Lakes
Regional before losing to Ohio Northern in the second round.
In 1996 Wittenberg set a school record for victories with a 32-11
record. The Tigers played such notable Division III powers as Thomas
More, John Carroll, Kalamazoo, Ohio Northern, St. Olaf, Central (Iowa),
St. Benedict (Minn.), Ithaca, Juniata and Trinity (Tex.). The Tigers'
schedule included trips to tournaments at Washington University-St.
Louis, Trinity University-San Antonio, Tx., and Junaita College, Pa.
Junior outside hitter Kim Woodring (Mansfield, O./Madison) led Division
III in both kills and digs, a first in NCAA history. She also set a
Division III record for kills in a match with 55 against ONU and in a
season with 821, an average of 5.6 per game. Woodring was featured in
Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" for her accomplishment.
Sophomore outside hitter Dawn Reinhardt (Canal Fulton, O./Northwest) has
recorded the second-highest kills in Division III history with 789.
Junior setter Beth Nowicki (Bowling Green, O./Bowling Green) is second in
career assists in NCAA history with 5,116.
A WINNING PROGRAM
Over the last six seasons Wittenberg has compiled a 180-78 record (.698)
and since joining the North Coast Athletic Conference in 1989 the Tigers
are 50-14 (.781) in regular season league play. Wittenberg was second in
the NCAC in 1990, 1991 and 1996 and won the championship in 1992, 1993
and 1995. Beth Green was a dominant player for Wittenberg from 1990 to
1993, as she was a four-time first team All-NCAC pick and was named
Player of the Year in the NCAC two straight times.
COACH CONNIE SUROWICZ
Connie Surowicz has been a winner wherever she has coached, and after her
third year at Wittenberg she has an 81-39 record. Surowicz came to
Wittenberg from Walsh University, an NAIA power, where she was coach for
two seasons. Prior to that, Surowicz was coach at Louisville High School
where she led her team to a record of 116-79. Louisville won a district
championship in 1987 and Federal League titles in 1986, 1988 and 1989 and
the Northeastern Buckeye Conference crown in 1990. She was named Federal
League Coach of the Year in 1989.
ALL-AMERICA
Sophomore Dawn Reinhardt (Canal Fulton, O./Northwest) was named second
team All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for 1996.
Reinhardt was third in Division III in kills per game (5.09). She was a
first team All-NCAC pick last fall. As a freshman in 1995 she was
selected Newcomer of the Year in the NCAC.
The Tigers will be able to boast in 1997 that they have three
All-America players as Kim Woodring (Mansfield, O./Madison) was first
team in 1995 and setter Beth Nowicki (Bowling Green, O./Nowling Green)
was also first team All-America in 1995 as a member of Thomas More's
volleyball team. Both players joined Reinhardt on the AVCA Great Lakes
Region first team in 1996.
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NCAA STAT LEADERS
Junior Kim Woodring (Mansfield, O./Madison) became the first player in
NCAA history to lead the nation in both kills (5.62 per game) and digs
(5.72). Teammate Dawn Reinhardt (Canal Fulton, O./Northwest) was second
to Woodring in kills (5.09), while Beth Nowicki (Bowling Green,
O./Bowling Green) was third in assists (11.90). In team categories,
Wittenberg was second in kills per game (14.6), 10th in assists (12.10)
and 11th in digs (21.87).
ALL-NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Three Wittenberg University volleyball players were named to the
All-North Coast Athletic Conference team. Sophomore outside hitter Dawn
Reinhardt (Canal Fulton, O./Northwest), junior setter Beth Nowicki
(Bowling Green, O./Bowling Green), and Kim Woodring (Mansfield,
O./Madison) were all selected first team All-NCAC for 1996.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Wittenberg's volleyball team exemplifies the term student-athlete. Eight
of the 14 varsity players in 1996 were selected to the Fall Semester
Dean's List. The team's aggregate grade point average for the semester
was a fantastic 3.439 on a 4.0 scale.
WITTENBERG HAS SUPERB ACADEMIC REPUTATION
Wittenberg University has maintained an outstanding academic reputation.
The school, which has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, has been selected the No.
1 regional liberal arts college in the Midwest by U.S. News and World
Report for three of the last four years. In addition, Wittenberg is
mentioned in glowing terms in nearly every college reference manual.
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
Wittenberg's fitness center is second to none among colleges of its kind
in the nation. The $350,000 facility, opened in February of 1993,
includes five benches, five squat racks, five inclines, 25 Olympic bars,
dumb bells from five to 120 pounds, 8,000 pounds of free weights and
seven pieces of Nautilus equipment. Areobic equipment includes two
Windracer bikes, three Stairmasters, two treadmills, five lifecycles and
three rowers. The HPER Center provides an outstanding place to play and
practice. A modern, colorful and spacious facility, it is considered one
of the best of its kind among small colleges.
LOOK AHEAD TO 1997
Wittenberg can expect to be competitive once again in the North Coast
Athletic Conference, but has its sights set higher. Coach Surowicz,
following her philosophy that to be the best you have to play the best,
has greatly upgraded the Tigers' schedule, playing in some of the best
NCAA Division III tournaments available. Wittenberg will play at Thomas
More, Hanover, Ohio Northern, and Calvin. In addition Wittenberg will
host its own invitational on Sept. 29-30.
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