Three Tiger Volleyball Standouts Earn All-America Honors

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University volleyball standouts Amy Cox, class of 2011 from Newark, Ohio, Katie Sumner, class of 2012 from Dublin, Ohio, and Miranda Sagle, class of 2012 from Springfield, Ohio, have earned All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Cox, Sagle and Sumner were eligible for their first All-America honors after previously earning first-team All-Great Lakes Region honors. Cox went on to earn first-team All-America, Sumner claimed a spot on the second team and Sagle garnered honorable mention recognition.

"It's great to see the AVCA recognize the hard work and effort these three student-athletes put into their season," said Head Coach Paco Labrador, who earned his third NCAC Coach of the Year nod in 2010. "With a setter and two middle hitters recognized, it's truly a trio of awards that should be shared with the team. Setters and middle hitters need great ball control players around them to be successful. I'm proud of how each player on the team performed her role."

Amy Cox

Cox successfully made the switch from right-side hitter to setter in 2010 and flourished, leading the Tigers and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) with 1,025 assists and ranking among the team leaders in kills (110), aces (19), digs (178) and blocks (32). She earned first-team All-NCAC honors after garnering second-team All-NCAC at her previous position a year ago, in addition to second-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV in recognition of the combination of athletic and academic accomplishments. Cox also was named 2010 NCAC Tournament MVP.

"Amy is quite a story," Labrador said. "I can't say enough about her work ethic and leadership.

"Last January when I asked her to switch to setter, I knew she would be successful. If you give Amy eight months to work at something, she will achieve that goal every time. I can't think of another time when a player 'stepped up' so much for the greater good of the team."

Katie Sumner

Sumner was steady all season, emerging as a force both offensively and defensive in 2010. She ranked second on the team with 220 kills and her .387 attack percentage was also better than the previous school and conference records. She added a team-high 37 service aces, and her 79 total blocks ranked second on the team. Sumner earned first-team All-NCAC for a second straight year in 2010.

"At 5-9, Katie might be one of the shortest middle hitters to get this award," Labrador said. "She is a role model for younger players. If you are short for your position, you have to be fast and smart. Katie is both.

"She works tirelessly in the weight room and on the court perfecting her 'slide' approach, which forces her opposing middle blocker to match her quickness. She always finds a way to get it done. She is great from the end-line, too. Not many teams have a middle hitter leading the team in aces."

Miranda Sagle

Sagle enjoyed a breakout season in 2010, her first season as a starter. She finished third on the team with 207 kills on just 404 attempts for a phenomenal .416 attack percentage, which shattered the school and conference records. Also a first-team All-NCAC honoree in 2010, Sagle also led the Tigers with 89 blocks, including 23 solos.

"I predicted that Miranda would have a breakout season this year," Labrador said. "She showed flashes last season, and I knew that she would be hungry to train and develop the consistency she needed in the offseason.

"Miranda had some great performances in Spain and carried that momentum into the fall. When she is hitting at the top of her jump and reach, she can hit some incredible angles on the net. I know she will work just as hard to improve in the offseason this winter. I'm excited to see how she will improve on an already superb .416 season hitting percentage."

The Tigers finished the 2010 season with a 32-3 overall record after losing to Calvin in the championship match of the Springfield, Ohio Regional on Saturday, Nov. 13. Wittenberg earned its 15th straight NCAA Division III Tournament bid (16th overall) by winning the NCAC Tournament title for a 16th time since the Tigers joined the league in 1989. Wittenberg tied Hiram at 13-1 atop the NCAC regular season standings, also the Tigers' 16th title.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence

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